Dorcas Society.

The report of this branch of work is very encouraging. Soon after the Annual Meeting in 1884, a great check to the work was sustained by the disastrous fire in St. John's Church, by which all the stock in hand of materials, clothes, as well as the sewing-machine, was destroyed. This was more than made up to the Association by the liberality of many kind friends who came forward with donations in money, materials, and also from Singer's Sewing Machine Company, an excellent machine. To Mr. Parker, the Society owe a debt of gratitude, for his kindness in giving his valuable time and services, and also to the ladies and gentlemen who assisted him at the concert, by which a sum of £40 was realized, after all expenses were paid. The amount of work done in the year will be seen by the following summary:—Meetings held, 48; average attendance, 7; garments made, 644; quilts, 26; donations (new goods), 135; material, 76. Distributed: New garments, 544; quilts, 26; yards of material, 90. Donations, second-hand, 1,421; distributed, second-hand, 1,454. Material in stock, about 120 yards.