DISTRICT NEWS.

TRING.

The Pictures. - "The Black Chancellor," a powerful story of love and intrigue, has been graphically depicted during the week, and has been followed with close attention. Miss May Korrie has delighted the large audiences by her charming ballard singing.

Christmas Services. - At the Parish Church the first evensong of Christmas will be sung on Christmas Eve at 5.30. On Christmas Day there will be celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at 6, 7, 8, 10.10 and a Sung Eucharist at 12. Matins with sermon will be at 11, and evensong with carols at 3.45. At New Mill Baptist Church there will be a service on Christmas Day lasting about an hour, at 11 a.m., and at High Street Church a service at the same hour.

Church Finance. - It has been decided to enlarge the Freewill Offering Scheme now in operation in the Parish as regards Diocesan finance, so as to take in the funds of the parish generally and of the Church at large. The total amount raised in Tring last year for all purposes was £1,374 16s 10. Those who decide to contribute to Church purposes a fixed sum. given at regular intervals, will have numbered envelopes supplied to them, and will make their offerings in these envelopes in the alms bag-, and no further call for Church purposes whether at home or in the Mission Field, will be made them. On .Sunday morning the Vicar shortly and simply explained the scheme at the Parish Church, and pointed out what a great improvement upon the precarious method of raising money for Church purposes a cheerful, systematic and proportionate method of giving would be.

FUNERAL OF DR BROWN.

The funeral of Dr. James Brown, on Friday. 18th inst, afforded a striking demonstration of the esteem and affection in which the deceased gentleman was held by all classes the community. Long before the time fixed for the service the little Church of St. Martha's, at which the doctor was a regular worshipper, was crowded by a representative congregation, who were drawn together by a common sorrow, and by a general desire to show honour to the memory of a good townsman and a kind and sympathetic friend, who during his life in the town had made many friends, bur no enemies. Indeed one gentleman, who moves about among all sorts of people, was heard to declare that Dr. Brown was the only man whom he had never heard an evil word spoken of during all the years had been in Tring.

    It is impossible to name all who were present. but a few names will give some idea to those who know the place, of the representative character the congregation. Those in the Church or at the graveside, in addition to the family mourners, included the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Mr. J. G. Williams, Miss H. G. Williams, the Rev. W. and Miss Neame, the Rev. E. W. Betts (formerly rector of Drayton Beauchamp), Mr. S. W. Jenney, Mr. H. Jenney, Mr. A. W. Vaisey, Mr. Roland, M. Vaisey, Dr. O'Keeffe, Dr Anderson, Mr. Bentley Asquith and Miss Asquith, Messrs. James Honour, W. N. Mead, W Rodwell, J. Griffin, J. Pratt, W. J. Dawe, D. Bishop, D. Whiting, W. Brandom, the officers staying at Harvieston, the household staff from Harvieston, a large number of ladies, and residents from the neighbouring villages.

    The body was drawn from the gentleman's residence to the Church and from the Church to the cemetery, on a hand-bier, which was followed by a few relatives and personal friends. A number of motor cars and carriages, and a long procession on foot, including many of the doctor's patients, brought up the rear. The service was impressively rendered by the Rev. H. Francis, vicar of Tring. and the Rev. H. T. Wood, rector of Aldbury and Rural Dean. The internment took  place in a moss-lined grave in the new cemetery. The floral tributes were many and beautiful.

    Preaching on Sunday morning at the Parish Church, the Vicar referred to Dr. Brown as a kind and generous-hearted man, the kind friend of the Church and advisor of many, who made no difference between rich and poor, but was the same to all,  Over and over again he (the preacher) had heard people say "I shall never forget his kindness to me." They thank God for such a life.

The Rev. Guy Beech, preaching at St Martha's on Sunday, referred in touching terms which greatly moved his hearers, to the life and death of Dr. Brown, discerning in his character and career as parallel to St. Luke, the good physician.

TRING IN WAR TIME.

    Tring has settled down in its new character as a military centre, and quietly pursues the even tenor of its ways was if it had been always used to the presence of thousands of blue and khaki clad soldiers in its midst, whose training seems to be the principal business in life. The men meet one everywhere, at every street corner one comes across platoons, being formed up, in every street one passes companies marching to the music of the bagpipes or the bugles, during all hours of the day; and in the evening the men, discharged from their drills and exercises appear pervade the place. But no one thinks it strange; it no longer calls for remarks. The Constitutional Club has been thrown open free to the soldiers, and its privileges are keenly appreciated by the men. During the day the reading room is largely patronised, and at night the card room and the billiard rooms are crowded. The Picture Hall. too is a favourite resort of the soldiers, and they forma large  majority of the crowded audience at every performance.

    The conduct of the men on the whole is splendid. At the Constitutional Hall, at the Picture Hall, and at other place-. where they gather, one hears nothing but praise of their good behaviour. This is most satisfactory, and has done much to reconcile the residents to the inconvenience which their presence in the town must inevitably cause.

    Most of the men have been away for their leave, and early in the new year they will all be back from their holidays, and their training will be going on with all its accustomed strenuousness.

    The General commanding the 21st Division has relaxed his restrictions with regard to the hours the public houses in the district may be opened.  They can now be kept open for civilians until 10 p.m., but no soldiers can be served after 8.30.

THE ESSEX CHURCHES.

... . The Rev. T. A. Adkins. who for the past four years has acted as Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Forces at Warley, is leaving for Tring, where will take up duty as chaplain to the 1st [sic] Division While is away his work will be undertaken by the Servite Fathers, of Fulham.

Chelmsford Chronicle, 25th December

12TH BATT. NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.

The 12th Service Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers, which battalion is largely composed of miners and others from Newcastle and the county of Northumberland, is expected to proceed to the front at an early date. The men are in urgent want of mufflers, shirts, socks, pants, gloves, etc. Parcels containing goods should addressed to Capt. D. Graham Pole, 12th Service Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, Tring. in Herts.

Newcastle Journal, 31st December

The following are particulars of the appointments of the newly ordained:

 Deacons.— F. E. Compton. St. John’s Hall, Durham, and St. John’s Hall, Highbury. to the curacy Christ Church, St. Albans; G. W. Field, Keble College. Oxford, and Bishops’ College. Cheshunt, to the curacy of Aldbury; N. Miller, Queens’ College, Cambridge to the mastership of Berkhampstead School; G. W. Russell. Hertford College, Oxford, and Wells Theological College, to the curacy of Great Berkhampstead; A. R. A. Watson, Exeter College, Oxford, and Cuddesdon Theological College, to the curacy of Elstree.

Bedfordshire Times, 25 December