WOMEN OF SCOTLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 204, 29 August 1934, Page 12

WOMEN OF SCOTLAND.

ST. ANDREW'S AUXILIARY MEETS.

The St. Andrew's Ladies' Auxiliary is steadily becoming one of the largest women's organisations in the city, and at its meeting yesterday afternoon in tho Penwomen's Clubrooma there wae another record attendance. Mrs. J. K. Black presided and extended a hearty welcome to all.

A feature of (he programme was a talk on the notable women of Scotland given by Mr. J. W. Shaw, who began by summing up the outstanding characteristics of Scottish women, dwelling on their grit, courage, and self-discipline, and the heritage the women in Scotland's history had handed on. Thesa women wero essentially home-makers, and this quality had made the country what it was. For the most part, sai-1 Mr. Shaw, Scottish women were no: given much place ill public life, and iti viewing" their history it must be borr;e

in mind that their influence was essentially a home one.

The speaker dealt first with Queen Margaret, a woman of outstanding character and grace, who did much to polish the crudities of manners in the country. She inspired religion in Scotland by her general piety and devotion, and later became known as St. M.argaret, her name being given to various institutions in this country. Black Agnes, the great defender of the Castla of Dunbar, Who, when in the absence of her husband the castle was beseiged, put up one of the finest defences in uarfan?. was next described. Another figure in history discussed was Mary Queen of Scots, who was, perhaps, the chief figure in Scottish history. Mr. Shaw explained that she suffered from extremists, there being people who lauded her to the skies and others w'io could say nothing in her favour, and lie pleaded that she be looked upon ae an ordinary human being, and judged as such. This queen lived in troublous times when there wan a cross-over of religion, a factor which was of importance in her history.

During the afternoon Bongs wore friven by Mrs. Keith Harrison, Mis« Doris Webb, Miss Mona Johnston, nu>] Miss Lilian Braithwaite, and an eloi'vtionary item was given by Mrs. Ferguson. A special welcome wa« extended to Mrs. FT. Kasper, who was present at the meeting.