Home Words – Windsor Parish Magazine -1886

January

“I WAS HUNGRY, AND YE GAVE ME MEAT.”

It may be said that there is no precept in the Bible that is more cheerfully obeyed than that of dealing  our bread to the hungry. “One touch of nature makes us wondrous kind,” and we all feel what would be the misery of real want of necessary food. The beggars in the street, utterly undeserving as are many of them, trade upon the pain that it is to the kind-hearted to fear that they are really cold and hungry. And it is little to say of our parishioners, that they would not willingly allow a single case of hunger to exist unsatisfied within our borders. The feeding of little children is peculiarly interesting to those, at least, who know how their own darlings are tenderly cared for. The late minister of education (NIC. Mundella) once said, ” I am as strong for political economy as any man, but when it comes to feeding little hungry children, l am content to throw aside all scruples.” It is thought, then, that a few words upon the best way of relieving the support of our poorest families would be acceptable at this season of the year. We may say that all agree it is not to be done by grants of money, but by supply of actual food in some shape or another. There are two plans in good practice, and we will give our reasons for preferring the second.

The first is that of “Penny Dinners,” and some of their advocates profess that they are self-supporting. This must be understood, we suppose, as to the provision itself that is cooked. If the expense of service, fuel, kitchen, and kitchen requisites be included, nothing worthy of being called a “dinner” can be provided lor the money. A hundred persons cannot be dined for 8s.4d.  A considerable subscription or large gifts of food must be taken for granted. The objections to these dinners are these. Even the penny, or, if you suppose two or more children in the largest families, the two or three pence, cannot be provided repeatedly in the week by the penniless. It is found already in some places that the thrifty wife of the well-to-do artisan takes advantage of the arrangement, while the thin, pinched child of the ne’er-do-well in the alley goes unfed! And further, that supposing the children to be really food-less, dinner is a somewhat late meal for the hungry ones. You would not like to put a foodless child down to three hours’ schooling in the morning on the promise that after twelve the little thing shall have something to eat. We do not in our own families have so much work first and all the eating afterwards. No, nor in our stables• A free breakfast then seems to us a better thing. It causes less trouble and less expense, and applies itself more easily. The children are “warmed and filled” before they are made to sit on school forms. A careful selection is made from those families where the father is out of work. Very strict examination as to desert is omitted. The one point taken is actual necessity at the moment. The kindness of the neighbours enables us to entertain some thirty-five children three times a week. The limit is really placed by the size of the room. But we assure our friends that when they see their own breakfast tables well supplied and well surrounded, they may have the comfort of knowing that all the very poorest children have a meal as plentiful and as wholesome. So the thanksgiving of many redounds to the glory of God

WILLIAM WHITTINGTON

ON Friday, Dec. 3rd, was laid to rest, at our Cemetery, one who for more than twenty years held an important and responsible position in this parish.

The end came after a long and painful illness, which compelled him to resign the charge of our Boys’ School after the last summer holidays. It was hoped that rest and change of air and scene might restore his failing health, but on his return home, some weeks since, it was felt by those who knew him best that his days here were numbered; and on Saturday, Nov. 28th, at the age of 51, the call came.

The Service at the grave was read by the Vicar, and the Lesson by the Rev. C. Hughes. Boys selected from our two Church Choirs chanted the psalm and sang two hymns. Many former pupils of the deceased, and other friends, attended the funeral, testifying by their presence the respect in which the name of William Whittington was held. We may add that some lovely wreaths were sent by various friends.

February

Church of England Temperance Society (C.E.T.S.)

It seems only right in the columns of our Parish Magazine, to draw attention from time to time to some of the various works which are going on amongst us, and this month we would let our readers know something about our Temperance society. Any at all conversant with the homes and habits of the poor knows only too well that far the greater part of the distress and poverty in our large cities is directly trace- to excessive indulgence in strong drink. And need we say that much misery is caused in higher circles of life by this same agent. The rich well as the poor must confess that great unhappiness has been brought into their family circle by the curse of intemperance. This being so, it is our bounden duty, as living members Of Christ’s body, to do something to diminish the evil effects of this sin. Therefore, every Monday night we single out this one sin, we make definite attacks upon this one stronghold of the enemy, and God has blessed the work. Our meetings are well attended; they are carried on by the enthusiasm of men who are grateful for what the Society has done for them, and now they lay themselves out to help in the rescue of others. During this winter many have been lifted up from the mire of the sin of drunkenness; they have stood firm, and now released from the bondage of this sin, have advanced further and been seen regularly at church. That is the bright side of our work; there is the dark side also. Some of whom we had good hope, who seemed in earnest, steadfastly purposing to be true to their pledge, have gone back, and in the hour of temptation fallen away. Still these are but few, and they would admit that they were happier men when members of our Society, sober and in their right mind. Besides this, we have our children’s branch. The boys and girls meet on alternate Mondays. These meetings are managed by ladies, and the children seem thoroughly to enjoy them. We put great faith in this work amongst the young. If we can teach them and train them, when little, in the ways of strict temperance, we have less fear for them when they go out into the world, to grapple with its temptations. Longing for the time to come, when our nation shall be less guilty in the deadly sin of drunkenness, we try to persuade parents to bring up the children of our town upon the principles of total abstinence.

There are many workers who deserve our warmest thanks for their kind help so cheerfully given, week after week. May we ask those who are not able to attend our weekly gatherings, to make an effort to be present at our Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Albert Institute, on Monday, February 22nd, and thus show their interest in a Society which has done much in the past, and we hope will do much in the future, for the good of those amongst whom we live.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

By the kindness and liberality of their teachers and a few friends, the children attending our Sunday Schools were entertained at tea. The boys on Monday, Jan. 4th, the girls on the following evening. After tea, the prizes and certificates for regular attendance were given away on Monday by Mrs. Gee, on Tuesday by the Vicar, who also kindly gave a short address to the children on both evenings. The entertainments provided this year were two of Miss Corner’s little plays, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella and the Glass Slipper,” both stories well known in the nursery. The boys, who had been trained in the former by Miss Gould, did their various parts admirably; not less so the girls in the latter, whom Miss M. Goodhurt had taken in hand. We cau scarcely sufficiently thank these two ladies for the great pains and trouble they took in the preparation; we must also thank many other friends who helped in various ways. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Miss Browning, Mr. Nutt and Mr. Goertz, etc., lent a variety of things, which were most useful, and Mr. Bamfyldc most kindly put up our platform, curtains, etc., etc., entirely free of charge. We must not forged to congratulate the children on their good behavior. It was really a pleasure to help to entertain them. We never remember a treat going off so well.

MAY

THE SCHOOLS

The annual distribution of the Champagué Bibles took place the Girls’ Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening, March 23rd, at 7 0’clock. They were awarded after a written examination held the week previous. It was stated that the boys did not do so well as the girls this year, which was scarcely to be wondered at when we remember how very much disturbed the work of the Boys’ School has been during the last twelve months, a complete change of staff having taken place. The Canon in residence (the Rev. J. N. Dalton), presided, and after passing a few friendly criticisms on the paper work of the children which had been shown to him, he handed the Bibles, together with 5s. to the following:

Girls. A. Colemanl, A. Short, P. Harding, H. Allen, L. Wilkinson, E. Silver, A. Knock, and F. Clark.
Boys. E. Coleman, F. Allen, F. Jeffries, E. Kemp, J. Slark, and C. Bailey.
The Prizes for regular attendance and general good conduct during the past year and known as ” Griffin” prizes, were awarded at the same time to 21 boys and 20 girls.
Miss Gibbous, who had lately held an examination in the Schools, reported very favourably of the work done, and, as usual, gave a large number of prizes to those children who had successfully passed, and also to those who were quite regular in attendance.
The Vicar and other friends of the Schools also gave Prizes, amongst others Mrs. Ger and Mrs. Holland, for Needlework. No less than 48 framed certificates were awarded to those pupils who had never missed one attendance during the year 1885.
The Diocesan Inspector (Rev. C. E. Adams), visited our Schools on March 5th and 6th. He reports as follows:

Boys. “The School is now in very good order, and the Religious Instruction has evidently been very carefully given. The answering in each Division was general and good. The 1st Class especially showed a very good knowledge of all their work, including the Services of the Prayer-book. The tone of the School is thoroughly good, and the boys are evidently interested in their work.” Prize: Frank Jeffries.
Girls. “The Religious Knowledge and Tone are very satisfactory. In each Division the Scripture Subjects were very well known. The 1st class showed a creditable knowledge of the Services of the Prayer-Book. The papers of Upper Standards were very good.” Prize: Annie Short.
Infants. “This is an admirable School. The children are well-taught, and the order and tone are excellent. Each Division answered nicely, and the Repetition was accurate and good. The written work was very good and free from mistakes.”
Spital. “The children have been very carefully and well taught, and showed a knowledge of Holy Scripture and Catechism, unusually good for their years. The Repetition was relevant and accurate.”

S.S. TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of our little Parochial Association was held on Tuesday evening April 13th. More than 40 teachers were present, and they were addressed by the Rev. J. El. Thompson, Vicar of Datchet, who gave them some very kindly counsel and advice, which, we trust, they will lay to heart.

July

AN AFTERNOON CHOIR WANTED.

The Vicar would be very glad to accept the services of ladies and gentlemen who would undertake the singing at the Afternoon Service at the Parish Church. It is not desirable to require the attendance of the same choir boys three times every Sun- day, and, if they do so attend, all Sunday School teaching becomes impossible. There would, it is thought, be a gain in the fact that so much dependence, for the praises of the congregation, was not placed upon the School children of the borough. Many of these are not parishioners, and proper superintendence of their home life can scarcely be had.

August

OUR SCHOOLS.

The event of the past month has been the yearly examination of our schools by Her Majesty’s Inspector. Our readers are aware that schools depend largely upon the Government Grant, and that this Grant is increased or diminished according to the satisfaction given to the Inspector. His yearly visit is, therefore, looked forward to with much trepidation, and the income of the school cannot be ascertained until his judgment has been pronounced. The official report can hardly reach us by the time that this month’s Magazine goes to press, but we may say at once that there is no reason to be unhappy at the opinion the Inspector already expressed. He says he sees a “wonderful improvement” in the Boys’ School, and that the discipline of the Girls’ School is excellent, and we do not fear to receive an equally good account of the Infants’ when its report reaches us. We have but one cause of dissatisfaction, viz., the decrease in numbers. When we state that (including all four of our schools) we have shown the Inspector just 800 children, it will be thought that we have our fair share of the “raw material” to be manufactured into educated youth; but this is a decline of some fifty at least on former years, and as each boy or girl can earn us 17s. 6d., and we are paid upon the average attendance, we cannot hope, though actually doing better, for so large a Grant as that obtained last year. Our hope, we must state plainly, lies in increased efforts on the part of the School Attendance Committee. Strictly speaking, it is their duty, not ours, to bring the children within the school doors. The lowest class is slipping out of their hands. The idea of being obliged to go to school is losing its terror, and children that ought to be learning may be found at every band-playing und in most bye-streets. We trust that when the schools meet after the autumn holidays we may obtain the support which we so greatly need.

We may mention one munificent gift to our schools. Mr. Long, of Beaumont Lodge, at his sole expense, is about to build on to the Girls’ School the second classroom for which the late Government Inspector has asked.

September

THE SCHOOLS.

The Reports of H. M. Inspector have been received.
Boys. “The work of the last ten months has been wonderfully successful, and the boys have made such rapid progress that, although, of course, there is room for further improvement, the School has fairly earned the highest award. The actual results are good in reading, penmanship, arithmetic, and geography; very fair in spelling, and excellent in English.”

Girls. “The girls are in excellent order, <and have passed fairly well in the elements. Reading and penmanship good, especially the latter. Spelling is excellent in the 3rd Standard, good in the first; the recitation of the elder girls was excellent. Needlework is good.”

Infants. ” There is a great deal in this School which deserves high praise, such as the part-singing of the First Standard, the interesting and instructive games and occupations, the recitation and needlework, and the whole of the teaching and training of the upper First Standard. The Baby Class is sympathetically conducted.”

Spital.” The children are in very good order, and Cleary enjoy their school time. The object lessons, needlework, and other occupations are good.” Of the children we sent in for the Diocesan Prize Scheme Examination in May, all were placed, and some very well.

The following is the list just received Boys: G. Colcmao, 1st Class. F. Bailey, G. Bailey, 2nd Class. J. Whittington, J. Mossman, E. Coleman, F. Allen, E. Jeffries, W. Newcombe,

Girls. 1st Class  A. Short, A. Colsell, 2nd Class H.Allen, C. Clark, H. Stark, A. Ferryman, F. Colsell, C. Bailey, A. Short, E. Wells,

THE SCHOOL TREAT.

All those who kindly subscribed to this annual treat must have been gratified by the happy faces of the children, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. Though the expenses are considerable, and many have to be asked to help by their contributions, yet all must feel that this day is one of the brightest in the lives of many little ones, and that there is a pleasure in making others happy. The St. Stephen’s Drum and Fife Band preceded the Iong line of children. They looked quite a little army marching two and two with their banners flying. When they reached the field, the boys settled down to a cricket match. The 6th and 7th’ Standards played against the 5th, and managed to win by 14 runs. After tea there were various races; jumping of some of the boys was exceedingly good. Some of. the children enjoyed the songs and antics of three “niggers,” while the rest amused themselves by swinging and joining in various games. At 7.30 p.m. they all marched round the Acre after giving three cheers for the Vicar, dispersed to their homes, thoroughly satisfied with their day’s entertainment,

November

CIIILDREN’S BREAKFASTS.

We wish with the 1st of December to begin again the Children’s Free Breakfasts. The usual notices will be sent during this month to the present subscribers, and we hope to receive the same liberal help that was afforded us last winter. Fresh subscriptions are solicited from all who would like to give ever so little. The smallest subscription will be thankfully received by the treasurer, Miss Violet Gee, at the Vicarage, before the 1st of December. During the snow and extreme cold last winter we were able to give 35 children every morning their breakfast. We should much like to do so again if the winter should prove equally severe. But we are anxious in no way to interfere with the present subscriptions to the Soup Kitchen, which was last winter unusually well supported.

LAUD AND RANDUE’S CHARITIES.

On the 18th (St. Luke’s Day), the Trustees met, and out of 26 applicants selected the following : Sarah Knowles, Harriet Garraway, Elizabeth Trotter, Elizabeth Wroth, Anna M. Flowerday, Sarah Godfrey, Isabella Bowley, Emily Hockley.

It is now proposed by the Charity Commissioners that three maidens shall be elected every year. Bowley and Smith (young men, having completed their apprenticeships) received gratuities from the same funds.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACEIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this association was held on the evening of St. Luke’s Day. About 50 teachers were present, and the usual Office was said. The day was a very appropriate one on which to hold the meeting, for it was one of the days suggested by the Sunday School Institute for Intercession for Sunday Schools. The Rev. S. Phillips, Rector of Nuneham, near Oxford, gave the address.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND YOUNG MEN’S ASSOCIATION.

On Tuesday, October 19th, at the Church Street Rooms, between 40 and 50 young men came together to listen to an excellent address from Canon Capel Cure, of St. George’s. We hope this is only the first of many meetings to be held during the winter.

One of the junior members of All Saints’ Choir, Alfred Wilkinson, aged 10, passed away to his rest on October 12^th. He was laid beside three of his brothers in Clewer Churchyard on the following Saturday. Mr. Knight and the boys of the choir attended, and sang two hymns.

December

REV. STEPHEN HAWTREY.

There are many of our parishioners who will miss the venerable white head and well known figure of the Rev. S. T. Hawtrey. He was not a resident in our parish, but a most kind and friendly neighbor. He was quite ready to help our School building and School keeping. He was a member of our School Committee, and in past years a not unfrequent preacher in our churches. The present Vicar of Windsor remembers with gratitude how warmly and earnestly Mr. Hawtrey commended his to the prayers and sympathies of the congregation soon after his arrival in this town.

It was, however, in his own School and in his life-work among his scholars made his mark, and served his own generation.” Long before education became almost a craze of the day, and before it, was thought necessary to teach everything to everybody, Mr. Hawtrey set himself to educate thoroughly those who would not naturally go to our grander and more expensive public Schools. It is to him that we owe the existence in our town of buildings and premises, and a staff of teachers, that place a Church of England education within the reach of every resident of moderate means.

This establishment the founder has put under the governance of a body, of which the present Dean and Vicar of Windsor are members.

It is hoped that this School may be guided by sound and sate counsels, and under God’s blessing may flourish and abound among us.

A TRUANT SCHOOL.

While we are thinking of Schools, let us bear in mind that the provision for teaching the lowest, and least inclined to learn, will never be completed until there is established among us a School to which may be sent the idle lad, who will not mind his parents, and who baffles the School Attendance Officer. It is worth considering whether the St. Augustine’s Home might not be made available for the purpose.