BERKELEY. The "British Workman" was opened on Saturday, Feb. 14th, and has been crowded every night since with a number of men, many of whom would otherwise, no doubt, have spent their evenings in the Public House. The utmost good humour and propriety have hitherto prevailed, and the general working of the Institution is closely watched by a Committee of Communicants of the Church, who are determined to prevent anything like gambling or unseemly conduct, and to make the "British Workman," if possible, a means of raising the social and religious standard of the people. The manager is civil and obliging to all, and is doing his best to make everything pleasant for those who go to the house for a quiet evening's amusement. The house is not open on Sundays. The Schools were inspected by the Rev. G. R. Moncreiff, Her Majesty's Inspector, on Friday, Feb. 13th. The following is an abstract of the School accounts. The expenses for the year 1873 amounted to £262. 3s. 8d. Canon Madan very kindly called a Special Ruridecanal Meeting of the Diocesan Association on Monday, 16th instant, to consider the plans for the New Church at Purton. The plans sent in by Mr. Waller, Architect, were approved, and subsequently sent to the Secretary of the Association. The Church Building Society has made a Grant of £30 towards the School Chapel at Wick. With this we have, in all, Grants to the amount of £180, and the site and materials of the old Barn. If a Board School had been decided on, none of these Grants would have been made, and the site and all materials must have been bought so that the Voluntary System saves the Parish at least £400. A Penny Bank, similar to one which has long flourished at Frampton, is about to be opened at once. Lord Fitzhardinge has kindly given his name as a Manager. The sad accident, by which William Morgan lost his life, caused much excitement at the time. Much kindly feeling and true sympathy were felt for him and his widow by the people of Berkeley. £21. 5s. 3d. have already been paid into the hands of the Treasurer, Rev. J. L. Stackhouse, for her, and more is promised. CHURCH REGISTER. BAPTISMS. Feb. 2-Sarah Ann, daughter of John and Celia Jenkins, Alkington. 8-Henry Frank, son of William and Sarah Timbrell, Berkeley. 15--Sarah Ann, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Watkins, Halmore. MARRIAGE. Feb. 18-Albert James Fryer to Harriet Walker Bow. BURIALS. Daniel Baker, aged 69 years. Harry James Young, aged 2 years. Sarah Ann Jenkins, aged 6 weeks. -00 COALEY. Additional Curates' Society.-A Sermon was preached for this Society on the evening of Feb. 22nd, by the Rev. S. York. The weather prevented the usual attendance, but the collection amounted to £1. 8s. During the past year several ladies have met at the Vicarage, and have made useful articles of clothing, which have been afterwards sold, in some cases to the poor of the Parish. £4. 9s. have been collected in this way, which, added to £1. 8s. by sermon, and 9d. by box, made a total of £5. 17s. 9d. transmitted through Rev. Canon Madan to the Society. This is a great advance on previous years: in 1873 there was only £1. 1s. 6d. collected. In Feb. the distribution of Coals was made to the poor, and on a more liberal scale than before: Thus 119 families were supplied with the best Gresley Cobble Coal, delivered at their doors-they contributing 6d. per cwt. The coal was supplied by Mr. H. Blandford, of Dursley, and the farmers very liberally gave the hauling. Amount of coal distributed, 18 tons 8 cwt. The poor have expressed themselves very thankful, with but two or three exceptions. The National School was inspected on Feb. 17, by Her Majesty's Inspector, Mr. Balmer. There has been a marked improvement in the discipline and attendance of the School under Mr. Fisher. The average for the year is higher than before, and there were ten more children presented for Examination who had made their necessary attendances. But the attendance is still far below what might be expected from the amount of population,-indeed, only one-half of what is expected by the Government. The fault lay with the parents who keep their children at home on any small pretext. The New Act for Agricultural Children is already at work, and had better be studied, or next year it will be found that the children will be excluded from employment on the land. The Night School closed on Feb. 24, having been open twice a week since Oct. 28. The average attendance has been more than 20, and there is but one lad who has attended less than 18 times, the highest attendance was 32. The number of names on the Register is 28. The elder lads have paid great attention and have made good progress. The younger boys might have done better had they not been so fond of play. Here, as in other parishes, it appears that there are but few cases where the lads care for selfimprovement, to any extent, who have not attained 16 or 17 years of age. As in previous years a supper will be provided during this month, to be paid for out of the balance of the School fees, when the candles and copy books have been paid for. A fatal accident happened on Feb. 7, to a scholar of the School. Frank Tiley was allowed by the waggoner to ride on the shafts of a waggon heavily laden with coal; he became giddy, fell, the whole passed over him, and he died the same evening. Another instance, added to the many, of the extreme danger of riding on the shafts! The poor little boy was a great favourite both at home and at school. He was most careful in his own prayers, and would hear his brothers say their prayers most regularly. He died apparently without pain, having said aloud the Lord's Prayer; and seemed unconscious he was so near death. May his gentle spirit be with Christ. A Confirmation will be held on April 8, at Dursley Church. Candidates must give in their names to the Vicar at once. CHURCH REGISTER. BAPTISM. Feb. 8-William Thomas, son of Henry and Emily Maria Smith. MARRIAGE. Feb. 7-William Reading to Elizabeth Webb. BURIALS. Feb. 11-Frank Tiley, aged 8 years. Sarah Smith, aged 62 years. |