30th November 1923 - Buntingford Independent Foresters' Friendly Society

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Buntingford Independent Foresters' Friendly Society

Special Meeting of Members

Important Business Transacted

A special general meeting of the members of this Society was held at the Foresters' Hall on Monday last.

The Chief Ranger, Bro. J. Cutts, presided, and was supported by the Sub-Chief Ranger, Bro. E. Saunders; the Secretary, Bro. Ernest G. Thody; the Asst. Secretary, Bro. B.E. Thody; Bro. J. Cornwell, Trustee; the Woodwards, Bros. E. Bolton and G. Wallis; and the Beadles, Bros. D. Wallis and W. Budd.

There was a good attendance of members.

The Secretary stated that the Committee had been requested by the Ministry of Health to consider the advisability of amalgamating with some parent Society, in order that the assets and liabilities might be consolidated.

The Committee had carefully investigated the matter, and had approached the Cambridge General Benefit Society, who were willing to take over the management and liabilities of such Club matters that related to the National Health Insurance.

The Secretary said he wished it to be clearly understood that only such matters as related to the National Health Insurance would be dealt with by the Cambridge Society, and that the Buntingford Independent Foresters' Society would continue to exist in its entirety, just as it was before the National Health Insurance Act came into force.

The following resolution was then put to the meeting, and was voted on by ballot, the result of which was as follows:

For the resolution - 136

Against - 13

The Cambridge General Benefit Society covers a wide area in Herts., Cambs., and Essex, and amongst other Society's amalgamated are the Buntingford Union Association, and the Bishops Stortford Foresters' Friendly Society.

The Buntingford Independent Foresters' Society is open to membership to all between the age of 10 and 40 years. There is a Section for juveniles, and the sick and disablement benefits compare favourably with any other Society in the country.

18th June 1926 - Buntingford Congregational Church

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Church Anniversary Services

Very successful and encouraging services were held on Wednesday week at the Congregational Church in connection with the Church Anniversary. There were very good congregations, including visitors from the neighbouring Churches.

Rev. W.T. Hailstone (Braughing), Rev. W.E. Mawby (Barkway) and Mr J.W. Harvey (Wood End) were also present. Mr Herbert Cutts was at the organ.

In the afternoon Divine Service was conducted by the Rev. T.H. Cooper, M.A., of Bushey, Herts., and Chairman of the Herts Congregational Union. Taking the texts, Rom. xiv. 7, "None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself," and Genesis xxxii. 24, "And Jacob was left alone," Mr Cooper preached on the following lines: One of the greatest reasons for attending church services is that we may see life in its proper setting and proportion.

Day by day we are confronted with whatever makes our life's work. But we have spirits to be trained, and a real kinship with God Himself; then it is necessary that we start apart from life and look at it from the standpoint of Eternity and of God.

We go into the House of God that we may look at life from that deeper standpoint which makes us aware of ourselves also to those Churches which, in the wider Congregational life of the county, he would visit as Chairman. He extended a cordial welcome to Mr I. Bell, of Puckeridge, who was to be the Chairman for the evening meeting; and to the Ministers and other friends from the surrounding churches.

At the evening public meeting Mr Bell made an excellent chairman, and though he contended that speaking in public was not his strong point yet he carried out the duties of his office very ably.

Mr Mawby produced a deep impression by his earnest address, which was along the lines of the Ministry and the Pew. The Ministry was a life of continual discovery; there should be a "Fellowship" existing between Pulpit and Pew. He appealed for life to be lived from the supreme standpoint of Christ. We must never lose our place in the visible Church, and since we are the salt of the earth we must see to it that the salt never loses its savour.

Mr Cooper said that an anniversary occasion ought to be a time for a retrogression to Jesus Christ, so that we might maintain the purity of the tone of our lives, and be reminded again that to serve Him is the most inspiring thing in life.

Sometimes amid the problems of life, we seem to be making no impression, but we must take heart and courage and keep plodding on where God has placed us. As we get back to Christ we shall be more fruitful in service and more loyally His followers...The Christian Church rightly understood is none other than the Body of Christ; of this Body Christ makes use; He wants to do through the Church the same kind of thing that He did when He was here in the flesh.

The Church's concern will be primarily the spiritual interest of the community; she is also called upon to bear witness for her Lord, and it is in so far as the witness of everyone is added together that the music of life rises to God in sweetness. So we must keep the tone of our Christian service pure by caring for the things Jesus Christ cared for. So shall the Church be a true Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

During the meeting the Minister reported on the work of the Church and Sunday School, and at the close expressed the deep thanks of the Church to Mr Cooper, Mr Mawby and Mr Bell for their most helpful services and inspiring messages; to the Ladies' Committee, and whose who had assisted them in the preparations for the tea; to Mr Cutts, and to all who by time, service or gifts had contributed to the success of the occasion.

Offerings were taken during the day, and the financial results were also very satisfactory. The Benediction brought a most uplifting and encouraging Anniversary to a close.

4th June 1926 - Whist

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Whist

A whist drive, in aid of the Buntingford Tennis Club, was held at the Foresters' Hall on Wednesday evening.

Eight tables were in use, and the successful players were:

Ladies - 1, Miss M. Cornwell; 2, Mr H. Cutts (playing as lady).

Gents - 1, Mr S. Howlett; 2, Mr E. Ward.

Lowest Gentleman - Mr C. Robinson.

Lowest Lady - Mrs J. Aylott.

Voucher prizes were given.

21st May 1926 - Buntingford Congregational Church

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Sunday School Anniversary

Last Sunday a very happy time was spent in the Congregational Church, the occasion being the Sunday School Anniversary.

The visiting preacher was Mr C.V. Skipp, of London, E.C., who delivered very helpful and encouraging addresses, and whose visit was very much appreciated by the congregations that gathered during the day. 

There was special singing by the scholars, who had been admirably trained by Mr Herbert Cutts. A word of appreciation must be given to Mr Cutts for the preliminary care he bestowed on the training; to the scholars for the excellent way in which they responded; to Mrs Peacock for her services with the violin throughout the day, and to the many parents and friends, who, by their presence, showed their practical interest in the work of the school. The funds of the school were considerably augmented by the offerings taken during the day.

In the morning the Minister conducted the first part of the service, and welcomed our visitor. Mr Skipp's address was to the scholars. He spoke on birthdays. The Anniversary was a birthday, and just as on the occasion of our individual birthdays we look forward, so we can do on this.

As the years go by we must look forward, and strive that they may find us advancing in kindness, goodness, character, and in all that Jesus wants us to be; so that even as others who had looked forawrd have made the world a better place to live in, e.g., Livingstone, Capt. Cook, Florence Nightingale, Grace Darling, we too shall follow their example and be worthy citizens and at last win the "Well done" of the Master.

In the afternoon, Mr Skipp gave the scholars another earnest and thoughtful address. Basing his remarks on the Parable of the Sower, he said there were many kinds of hearts in the world e.g., the stony heart, where the seed of the Word of God could not penetrate because it was turned against holiness and mercy; the heart openly receptive to the Word of God, which it views as a beautiful thing, but there is no depth of character to bring the resolution to a head; the heart that wants God, and that gives a ready response to the Word, but it wants other things as well, things which cannot live with the good seed; there are hearts here in the springtime of life, with wonderful possibilities, tomorrow they will be a power in the world, and the preacher urged his young hearers to accept the Master, to take the seed of His kindenss, love and self-sacrifice unto themselves and to let the word He wants to speak to them abide with them all their days, then the good seed will grow, and they will become men and women after His own heart.

Mr Skipp conducted the evening service, and address the parents and teachers. Telling the story of the conflict between David and Goliath of Gath, he said that each child has a Goliath to fight, and that giant is his own self. The child must learn to conquer self and self-interest, so that it falls with a thud to the ground. This can only be done with the stone of Love, slung from the sling of the Spirit of God.

Since every man and woman, whether he or she turns out good or bad, comes into the world first a little child, and with clasping hands, pattering feet, and sparkling eyes, he appealed to his hearers to realize [sic] the great responsibility that was laid upon them as they looked into the face of the child.