Great Hormead
The Bunties
"The Bunties" Pierrot Troupe gave a variety entertainment at the Village Hall on Friday evening last to a very appreciative audience. The programme was the same as that presented at Buntingford.
At the close Mr Codrington proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Troupe, who he said, had given a delightful programme.
Cheers were then given for the Troupe, after which Mr Scarborough Taylor returned thanks.
Wyddiall - The New Rector
Induction of the Rev. W. Mc C. Kerr
The Institution and Induction of the Rev W. Mc C. Kerr as Rector of Wyddiall was conducted by the Lord Bishop of St Albans on Monday afternoon last. The new Rector was formerly Rector of Meesden and is Rural Dean for the Buntingford Deanery. There was a large congregation present at the service.
The visiting Clergy were the Rev. A. Howard (Layston), the Rev. E.E. Empringham (Cottered), the Rev. F.R. Williams (Anstey), the Rev. H. Shepherd (Gt. Hormead), the Rev. A.G. Langdon (Munden), the Rev. A.G. King (Westmill), the Rev. H.F. Webb-Bowen (Barkway), the Rev. F.W.B. Jobson (Braughing), the Rev. A.J. McKinney (Buckland), Canon Shorting (St Albans), and the Rev. W.J. Stewart (Langley). The Rev. Dr H.V.S. Eck, of Ardeley, acted as the Bishop's Chaplain.
Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, C.B.E., the Patron of the living, presented the new Rector to the Bishop in the following words: "Reverend Father in God, I present you this meet and proper person to be insitituted to the cure of souls in this parish."
The new Rector, standing before the Bishop, then took the various oaths required, after which there was silent prayer. The Bishop then took the new incumbant by the hand and, preceded by the Rev. A.G. Langdon (who acted for the Archdeacon) and the Patron (Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis) he conducted him to the five principal parts of the Church - the Font, the Prayer Desk, the Lectern, the Pulpit, and lastly to the Altar, during which appropriate verses of the hymn, "We love the place, O God," were sung, and certain questions were put to the incumbent, at each place to which he answered "I will do so, the Lord being my Helper."
The incumbent then knelt before the Bishop at Altar rails, and after prayers the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" was sung, the Bishop sung the first and third lines and the congregation the second and fourth of each verse. The Bishop then read the letters of Institution, and afterwards, with his hand on the head of the incumbent, pronounced a Benediction.
The incumbent was then led by the hand to the Church door and to the belfry, where he tolled the bell to signify to the parishioners that he had taken possession.
The Bishop then delivered a very stirring address. He said with the institution of their new Rector they were beginning a new chapter in the history of that parish. The great object in every parish, county and country was that men should have life and have it more abundantly. Christ's work goes on through us. Our Lord used a human body to make God known to us, and men came to know that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God because they looked at Him in the face. No man could mistrust a Man with a look like His. It is a terrible thing when a man loses his grip on life, and when we hear of men committing suicide we say they are temporarily insane, because normal people want to live.
We must get back to God and find out the laws governing human life. We have seen tremendous progress in many things. Wireless, for instance, and even greater things than that were spoken of. There was a talk of television; so in addition to people ringing you up on the 'phone and talking to you, there was a prospect of them actually seeing what you were doing. A few years ago a man who could drive a motor car was considered a kind of super man.
All material progress has come from study and research, and by following the laws of nature; all theories respecting farming woud "go west" if the laws of nature were not obeyed.
Fellowship is one of the laws of God and those who belonged to large families knew what that meant. If there were any present who were members of a large family let them thank God for it, for they had received their education, especially if they happened to be the youngest member of the family, for their elder brothers and sisters would see to it that they roughed it.
God had given us parents, brothers and sisters, and we had to learn to live together - sometimes with people we did not like, but all had a common job to do for God, and without Him we can do nothing.
During the singing of the last hymn a collection was taken for the Ordination Candidates Fund, and the service concluded with the Blessing pronounced by the Bishop.
After the service the Bishop, the Clergy, and members of the congregation were entertained at Wyddiall Hall by Sir Charles and Lady Heaton-Ellis.
Miss Marion Macklin, L.R.A.M., presided at the organ.
Buntingford Rural District Council
MONTHLY MEETING
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Council Offices on Thursday last week.
Present - Mr C Fraser (in the chair), Capt E.T. Morris, Capt H.H. Williams, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs A.W. Page, H.C. Marshall, W.J. May, E. Bygrave, J.C. Pigg, F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow, C. Hummerstone, G. Graves, and G.C. Wilson, with the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody) and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).
SURVEYOR'S REPORT
The Surveyor presented his report as follows:
Isolation Hospital
No cases of infectious disease have been reporte during the past month, and the hospital remains closed.
Waterworks
The consumption of water during the past month has been:
1st week - 238,000 gallons.
2nd week - 240,000 gallons.
3rd week - 250,000 gallons.
4th week - 244,000 gallons.
The water level has risen 12ins. and now stands at 40ft., being 3ft. flower than at February last year.
Licences
Application is made for the renewal of 9 petrol and 2 carbide of calcium licences.
Norfolk Road
Plans showing the proposed scheme in connection with Norfolk Road are submitted. The total length of the road is 537 feet, and width 28ft. In addition to the road it is proposed to provide two footpaths 4ft. wide and a storm water drain with four surface gullies. The tenements number 30 with a frontage of 709ft., whilst land with a further frontage of 366ft. remains undeveloped.
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It was reported that owing to the bad state of the roads it was impossible to get road material delivered in some districts.
Mr F.B. Cannon said he thought the road material should be carted during the summer months. This was generally agreed and the matter was left to the Surveyor to deal with.
Applications were submitted for one of the Council houses at Meesden, and it was agreed to let it to an applicant who was at present in lodgings.
An application for a subsidy in connection with a proposed bungalow at Cromer was considered and granted.
A letter was read from one of the tenants of the Sunny Hill houses, asking for permission to replace the kitchener in the living room by a register stove. After discussion the request was agreed to.
MOTOR TRAFFIC
The Chairman said the Sub-Committee appointed to go into the matter of the sign boards, warning motor traffic to slow down while travelling through the town, had approved of a warning board, and that tenders for supplying and fixing the boards had been received.
The tenders were as follows:
Mr C.H. Poulton 4 19 6
Messrs Hamilton 5 10 0
Messrs Attwood 5 16 0
On the proposition of Captain Williams, seconded by the Revd L.W. Wright, Mr C.H. Poulton's tender was accepted.
The question of suitable sites for the boards was left to the sub-committee.
Mr C. Hummerstone asked whether the large board at Hillside could be removed. It was an eyesore.
Mr F.B. Cannon said the "Buntingford" board was of no use to local residents, but no doubt strangers found it useful.
Capt. Morris: It's quite as well to leave the board where it is, because I am often being asked where Buntingford is. (Laughter)
HORMEAD ROAD
A letter was read from a householder at Great Hormead point out the bad state of the road near the "Three Horseshoes" Public House, and the Surveyor was instructed to attend to the matter.
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(With regard to the above matter - the BUNTINGFORD board - we would like to state that the board has been lying on the ground for several weeks. - Ed.)
Great Hormead
Women's Institute
AN OPEN MEETING
The February meeting of the Hormead Women's Institute was held at the Parish Halll on Wednesday evening last.
The meeting was an open one, and in additional to the members, there were several others present, and a most enjoyable evening was spent.
MALAY
An interesting lantern lecture on Malay was given by Mr S. Coddington, of Hormead Bury. Mr Coddington, who has spent many years in Malay, referred to the customs of the native and the industries of the State.
The pictures of cocoanuts [sic], tin mines and rice growing were excellent, and the school children present must have enjoyed Mr Coddington's reference to the elephants and monkeys, the later being used largely to pick cocoanuts.
At the close of the lecture Mrs Kitchen proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer for his interesting address. She was sure they had all enjoyed it immensely. The vote was carried with prolonged applause.
Tea was served to all present, after which there were various competitions and games. There were for entrants for the competition for the best cleaned shoes.