BERKELEY. The Flower Service took place rather too late in the season this year, but that could not be avoided. In consequence of this, the flowers were not so good as usual. They were however sent away quite fresh from the Church by the Night Mail, and arrived at their destinations in Birmingham and London in the early morning. They were sent to the General Hospital, Birmingham; Children's Hospital, London. E. (2 hampers); to the London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, London. E.; and to the University College Hospital. Letters of thanks have been received from each of the Hospitals and placed on the notice board in the Church. The Choir Outing took place on the 5th ult. The place chosen this year was Malvern, and the day was a most delightful one. On arrival some of the party went up one of the Beacons, but the greater number preferred putting off that exertion till after dinner, and employed the interval in strolling about the town, and in seeing the Priory Church. At one o'clock there was a general gathering at the Foley Arms Hotel for dinner, which was served in excellent style in a large and beautiful room overlooking a wide view to the south and east. Refreshed with their meal the whole party commenced the ascent of the highest Beacon, and thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the glorious view on both sides of the hills, which rewarded them for their toilsome climb. On the way the water at St. Ann's well was found most cool and exhilarating. The descent was soon made and then followed plain Evensong at the Priory Church. At tea it was discovered that one little boy was missing, and after a search in vain through the town, he was at last found crying bitterly at the station. The party this year included the whole Choir, men and boys, and also to the great delight of all they were accompanied by the Mayor, Mr. T. P. Bailey, and Mrs. Bailey, and Miss Hickes, and Miss A. Hickes. The Choir and Sunday School Teachers and others from Sharpness also went in the same train to Malvern, and made almost one party with the Berkeley Choir, except during their meals, for which the Sharpness Choir had made different arrangements. The Teachers of St. Mary's Sunday Schools met at the Chantry on the 6th ult., and had tea under the trees in the garden, and afterwards amused themselves with various games, till as Evening drew on they assembled together and sung Hymns by lamplight out of doors till it was time to leave. The Hon. Mrs. Spier, of Culdees, has presented two very handsome Alms Bags for use at St. Maurice, Newport. They are red, with a large gold Maltese Cross worked on the centre. Wednesday, August 27th, was kept as the Dedication Festival at St. Maurice, Newport. The Church was beautifully decorated by Mrs. Adams and Miss Allen with flowers sent by Mrs. Evans, Hon. Mrs. Spier, Mrs. Adams, Miss Allen, and others. The effect of the Decorations was exceedingly good, and it was remarked by one who has had some experience that it was an almost perfect Mission Church. Holy Communion was celebrated by the Rev. J. L. Stackhouse at 8 a.m. There was a Public Tea at Newport Tower, which was kindly lent for the purpose, and the tables were more than filled with people from Newport, Woodford, and Wick. At Evensong the Church was well filled and the Service was very hearty. An excellent extempore sermon was preached by the Rev. A. C. Eyre, Rector of St. John's, Gloucester. The weather unfortunately was wet, which prevented many from going to this Dedication Festival. The Halmore sewing class held its last meeting for the season on the last Monday in July. The Members had met every week since the middle of November, 1883. The gross amount spent on clothing was £21. 9s. 7d. Orman Reynolds, Pupil Teacher in the Fitzhardinge Boys' School, passed in the second class at the Examination in Religious Subjects, held in Dursley last June. OFFERTORY ACCOUNT, ST. MAURICE, NEWPORT. Received by Offertory, 9th August, 1883 Other Offertories Box at Church Door.. £ s. d. £ s. 2 12 O 2 12 8 Coke and Oil Insurance Sunday School Balance PUBLIC TEA. OPENING DAY, 1883. Received by Tickets Paid for Cake, &c. .. Printing Tables Sundries CHURCH REGISTER. BAPTISMS. August 3-Abraham Charles, son of Abraham and Emma Organ, Berrycroft. ,,-Emma Jane, daughter of George and Laura Webb, Berrycroft. 10-Elizabeth Mabel, daughter of William George and -Gerald Albert, son of Robert Albert and Annie 24-Harry, son of James and Sarah Elizabeth Baker, MARRIAGES. August 6--Robert Rickaby Whitfield, of Melton, Doncaster, to Sarah Jane Ayris, Berkeley. 18-William James Perkins of Heathfield, to Louisa Baker, Woodford. BURIALS. August 5-Jane Mills, Bevington, aged 56 years. 8-Charlotte Masterson, Berkeley, aged 41 years. 13-James Merrett, Berkeley, aged 4 years. 00 COALEY. September 2nd.-No Report received. 00 DURSLEY. The Harvest Festival will be held about the middle of this month. There will be Morning and Evening Services as usual. Offerings of flowers, fruit, and vegetables will be gladly received at the Church the day before the Festival, and will be given away afterwards among the sick, aged, or needy in the Parish. The Choir Practice, which was discontinued for three or four weeks has now began again. The Women's Branch of the Parochial Guild of St. James was entertained at tea by the Warden, on Tuesday, August 26th. They met in the Guild Room at the Chantry at 7 o'clock, and after tea spent the rest of the evening in round games, singing, &c. There are now 32 Members and seven Associates, and of this number 29 were present. THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE. St. Matthew, xix. 16-24. HEN a certain rich young man came to our Lord, saying, 'Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?' Jesus answered and said, 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. And the young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.' This was too hard a trial for the young man he had striven to be good, and he had kept the commandments, but he could not give up his wealth, or his worldly position; so he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.' This passage has been explained in various ways; one being that there was a narrow gate leading to the market-place, which was called the Eye of the Needle, through which beasts of burden had a difficulty in passing; but an entirely new light was thrown on the subject by the discovery of some fragments of a very ancient Greek copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew. One of these consists of a portion of the nineteenth chapter; and there, the word in the twenty-fourth verse, which is written ráunλov in most ancient manuscripts, and translated a camel, is written ráλwv, which would mean a rope, or cable; káλwe being one of the various terms used by the Greeks for a rope, and the passage reads,- 'It is easier for a cable to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." And this is probably the true reading; for it occurs in an ancient manuscript preserved in the Monastery of St. Sabbas, in Palestine, and also in another, believed to belong to the first century of the Christian era, and still existing in the Monastery of Mount Sinai. Not only would it be easy for a transcriber to make the mistake of writing one word for another, but in an ancient votive inscription in which an anchor and cable are dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea, by some persons, in token of their gratitude for escaping shipwreck, the word used for a cable is káunλor, being identical in spelling with the Greek word for a camel. The fragments of ancient manuscript above mentioned are five in number, the three principal ones being portions of the second, nineteenth, and twenty-seventh chapters of St. Matthew. They are written on papyrus, and from the form of the letters are believed to belong to the first century of the Christian era. They were discovered and |