1. The New Year: "We wish all our readers a very happy and prosperous new year. At a time like the present we naturally look backwards as well as forwards. We have all learned much from the past, we all look forward with hope to the future. Each life, each home has had its own blessings and its troubles, its joys and its sorrows. All have been sent as a part of our education to make us more useful in the future. May God give us grace to view life in this way, and so make New Year, whatever may be before us, a really happy one.
In our Church this year will be remembered chiefly by the advent of a resident curate and by the gift of an east window. What are we hoping to do in the coming year, the last of this century? Surely our principal work should be the deepening of truly religious life among us. We want the church to be much more than a mere philanthropic institution. Throughout the year that has now unfolded let us labour to induce more people to go regularly to church and, while there, to worship more devoutly. We hope during the year to try to make our church services more helpful, to use every effort to create earnestness and a more steadfast zeal for the things that concern our spiritual life."
2. British and Foreign Bible Society: "The Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the Public Hall on Wednesday, December 7th. Mr. Perkins delivered a lecture entitled "Round the World with the Bible." The lecture was beautifully illustrated by Lime Light Views from a lantern kindly lent and worked by Mr. Williams Bailey. The attendance was good and attentive. Hymns were sung by our Choir Boys. The Secretary in his annual report announced that the subscriptions were about equal to those of the previous years. A vote of thanks to the lecturer moved by Mr. Brocklebank and unanimously carried brought to a conclusion one of the most successful Bible Meetings ever held in Bunbury."
3. The Provident Society: "The Annual Distribution of Funds took place on Saturday, December 3rd. Before the distribution commenced, Mrs. Nightingale, on behalf of the members, presented Miss Dutton with a set of silver spoons and bon-bon dishes, which had been subscribed for by the members. Miss Dutton has acted as secretary of the Society for many years, and the members wished to present her with some tangible token of their gratitude and esteem for her. The number in the Society is larger than ever, which of course necessitates increased subscriptions from the public. We wish to heartily thank all our subscribers. We wish to point out to intending members that the Society is only open to residents in the Parish of Bunbury, which includes Tlistone. Non-residents are not eligible for membership. Further, that it is not lawful for any member to have more than one card, unless they receive no benefit. We are perfectly willing to take of people's savings, but we cannot undertake to pay benefit on more than one card from one person."
4. Temperance: "After Christmas festivities are over, we shall hope to call together our Band of Hope children regularly for practice of some service of song. Band of hope meetings ought to be educational as well as pleasant.
We hope to have a lecture delivered in January by the Police Court Missioner at Chester. The lecture will be entitled "Prison Life". Admission will be free and there will be other songs."
5. Magdalen Vagabond Concert: "On Wednesday, December 14th, the concert in aid of the scheme for the better lighting of our Parish Church was given in the Public Hall The concert was entirely owing to the efforts of Mrs. Gordon, the Oaklands. Our most sincere thanks must be given to Mrs. Gordon for the care and thought bestowed upon all the details connected with our evening's pleasure." The article concluded with a detailed description of the concert programme.
6. The Choral Society: "The members of the Choral Society will give their usual concert early in February. We are requested to state that no pains will be spared to make this concert one of the best ever given by the present Society. We understand that arrangements are being made for securing four excellent artistes as soloists ... The Choral Society is one of the very best institutions in our village and deserves to be much better supported than it is."
7. The Aldersey Grammar School: "On Wednesday, December 21st, the prizes gained by the boys during the half year were distributed by the Vicar, the Rev. W.R. Gardner, who strongly urged the boys to thoroughly appreciate and realise the great advantages conferred upon them by the head master. When the school was first founded in 1594 good manners formed one of the subjects of instruction; the speaker called upon the boys never to forget that good manners played a very important part in daily life, that all of us were expected to exhibit kindly feeling and consideration for others. The Vicar brought a crisp interesting address to a close by asking his hearers to cultivate a right spirit in all things and especially in their games."
The article concluded with a report of tier Majesty's Inspector, T.S. Gleadowe, Esq. "The boys are being most effectively taught and discipline and tone are excellent. My Lords have sanctioned the omission of the annual inspection of your school due in November, 1899. The highest possible grant has been awarded to all subjects inclusive of drawing and specific subjects - algebra and agriculture."
8. Parish Registers: Details of seven Baptisms, two Marriages and one Burial, were reported. Three of the Baptisms were of two brothers and one sister.
9. Nurse's Report: "November 9th to December 9th, 1898. Cases on books, 20; Maternity, 2; Convalescent, 3; Cases still on books, 18; Visits paid during the month, 201."
John Elsworth - Churchwarden in 1999
next page some (New Year) "Holy Humour" (and other miscellanea)