After each report there is a discussion, in which new ideas are contributed, and every member is given some acquaintance with the general aspects of the parish industries. The following letter bids the workers to the meeting: ST. GEORGE'S RECTORY MY DEAR FRIEND: Will you oblige me by laying all other engagements aside and attending a meeting of St. George's Workers, Wednesday, February 24th, 8.30, in the chapel. I beg you to do as I ask if you possibly can. Come too, please, prepared to remain till 10.30. Your friend and Rector, February, 19—. W. S. RAINSFORD. II THE PLANT 1. The Church and Rectory-II. The Memorial House-III. The Deaconess House-IV. The Trade-School-V. The Sea-side Cottage. I. THE CHURCH AND RECTORY THE gates of the church stand open, like the gates of the New Jerusalem. By the door, in the yard, is a sign bearing the invitation, Church open. Come in, rest and pray. The church is thus at the service of the people, all the year round, from 8 A.M. until 5 P.M. This privilege was much used in the days when the church was in the midst of private residences. At present, that condition having changed, and the location being off the line of the daily movement of the people, on a quiet street, not so many come as formerly. But the tenement-house offers such scanty opportunities for privacy that the v open church becomes a refuge and a silent benediction. In some open churches a shelf of good books is provided for these transient visitors. Two assistant sextons are always present, except during the hour for luncheon, then some pensioner of the parish is on duty. In the vestibule is a framed list of the services. Just inside the church door is the Rector's box, designated for communications or contributions. On a small table at the head of each aisle are family-record blanks, forms for envelope subscriptions, forms of application for the year-book, and other such printed matter. Under one of the tables is a little closet, in charge of the head usher, containing smelling-salts and other simple remedies to be used in cases of fainting or other sudden illness. A space in one of the vestibules is curtained off and contains a couch for such emergencies. In another corner of the vestibule is the ushers' closet for hats and coats. St. George's Church holds 1575 persons. The following figures are given to show the accuracy with which all the facts pertaining to the parish are ascertained and recorded: The nave seats 1020; north and south galleries, 408; east gallery, 50; choir, 82; chancel stalls, 15. Each pew is supplied with prayer-books and hymn-books, and these are regularly inspected to see that the right proportion is kept and that all ragged books are removed. By resolution of the vestry, as a precaution in case of fire or other alarm, no chairs are ever placed in the aisles or chancel. For the same reason the church doors open outward. In one corner of the vestry-room is a closet for the vestments, with the names of the clergy over the hooks. There is a lavatory in another corner. A third corner contains a desk in which are kept the service-bookthat is, the book of record of services-and forms for returns of baptism, marriage, and burial. A closet under this desk contains extra surplices, with stoles and hoods, and markers for the books. The communion linen, in charge of a deaconess, is kept in a set of drawers. The chancel committee meets here on Saturdays to repair the vestments of the clergy and choir. The laundry work is given to a reliable woman who is paid for it. The following prayer is printed and framed on the wall of the vestry-room, and is intoned by the clergyman in charge of the service, with responses by the choir, before the beginning of the processional hymn: V. Lord, hear our prayer R. And let our cry come unto Thee. R. And our mouth shall show forth Thy O Lord, help us worthily to magnify Thy A plan of the church, such as is here given, is also framed in the vestry - room. A card sets forth certain facts about fees for marriages. The fee for the clergyman is optional. "Clergy are always glad to marry without any fee those who cannot afford to pay anything." No fee is to be paid to the sexton unless for extra work done, or unless the marriage takes place at an hour when the church is not commonly open. The organist has ten dollars for the small organ and twentyfive if he uses both organs. The choir is to be paid according to the number employed. When the church is used at other hours than from nine to five, there is a charge of ten dollars, and five more if the electric light is used. There are two rooms for the choir-one for the men and boys, the other for the women. Each is lined with closets for vestments, and for prayer-books, hymn-books, and music. All the music for the choir is substantially bound and kept in covered boxes. These boxes are arranged alphabetically for convenience in finding anthems. The duty of the librarian is to arrange the needed music for rehearsals and services in stiff folio covers. Each singer has his own hymn-book, which is kept in a compartment numbered to correspond with the number on his surplice. The rectory adjoins the church. II. THE MEMORIAL HOUSE Dr. Rainsford saw very soon after his coming to St. George's that "in order to do the work of Christ at all effectually in a city like New York, it is absolutely necessary to reach a large number of our people not only once in seven days, but during the working-days of the week. Thousands of young men and women, not always of the poorest class, go to the devil for need of some place where they can enjoy innocent recreation without the presence of active temptation." This statement appealed to a wise and wealthy parishioner, and the Parish House was built in answer to it. "Those of us who have comfortable homes," the Rector said, "little dream what temptations beset the young men and women of our city, who, many of them far from home, have no place of resort but the tenement-house or the boarding-house. On Sundays and week-nights, the public room in the boarding-house, if they belong to the more well-to-do class, is the only place open to them." Thus the Parish 'House was meant to be not only a place for the Sunday-school and other classes, but a "palace of delight," where young people could play games or read or dance or listen to music. Some people who read the parable of the prodigal son with great seriousness miss the fact that a part of the wisdom of the good father consisted in providing his son with music and dancing on the evening of his return. It is possible that had there been |