MOTHERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 12

MOTHERS' UNION.

MRS. SIMKIN WELCOMED. AFTERNOON RECEPTION. "I come to you, I hope, as a friend, not as a stranger, a« U so often the case," said Mrs. W. J. Simkin, wife of the new Bishop of Auckland, and president of the Mothers' Union, at a reception given in her honour by the executive of the Mothers' Union, in St. Matthews' parish hall, yesterday. "I have a difficult task in following Mrs. Averill, who rendered the union such wonderful service, ibut I know you will all rally rou»;d and help me to make the union the spiritual force it lias, always been -in the community. Archbishop Averill used to say that it never let him down, and I hope the new Archbishop will be able to say the same."

Mrs. Simkin went on to speak of the great service women could render the community, by making their homes places of peace and love in the difficult days that lay ahead. It would be when our men came home from war that these things would matter. "Let us stand fast by our principles with the same courage as our founders had," she concluded. In welcoming Mrs. Simkin as thennew president, Mrs. Coats, vice-president, spoke of the way in which Mrs. Simkin had endeared herself to the women of the country during the 11 years she had been secretary of t _the" Mothers' Union. She had in her hands then the leadership of the women in the district in which her husband was Archdeacon. Now, she entered a broader sphere, that of the whole diocese. "We kflow that we can go to Bishopscoui t whenever Ave are in trouble, and that we shall find an ever-ready friend in Mrs. Simkin." concluded Mrs. Coats. Mrs. H. B. Morton, vice-president, made a short speech. During the afternoon, a programme of items was given, including songs by Mesdames N. Mason, A. Jack and Miss B. Webb, and violin solos bv Miss V. Burdon. The accompanist was Mrs. T. H. C. Partridge.