ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 283, 28 November 1940, Page 14

ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

MOTHERS' UNION. GREAT INFLUENCE FOR GOOD. "The Mullet*-' I'liion is from streiijjth to strength, and its influence for jjood i- tremendous." >aid Bishop >imkin. in his addiess at the annual l'esti\al of t lie Mothers' I'liion of the Auckland Diocese, held in St. Mary's Cat liedra 1 yestcr«lay. "In no aspect i> tlii- more noticeable than in its work anion;' the Maori people." lie continued. "1 have recently been travelling round the north of the dioivse. and visited evciy Maori pastorate but two. In all. I found direct evidence of tlie influence of the Mothers' I'liion. Maori mothers are striving to conduct little Sunday school*, and to bring to tii-ir children the truth* which they . through the union, have come to grasp more earnestly than l>etore." The bishop said that the organisation «.\s doing •nuch to com Kit the evil of drinking and t'.ie growing tendency to gamble, and he urged memliers to do all in their power to help the Maori people. Consecration of Union. The secret of the success of the Mothers" I'liion. said the bishop, was to be f.iund in the consecration of Mary Sumner, who had founded the organisation wars ago. to the cause which she had taken up. It wa* the cause of the sanctity of the home, of the hallowed marriage tie. and of holy motherhood. "< oiisecratioii may l»e of two kinds." the bishop said. "It may be consecration of ourselves for some purpose, cr consecration for others. The first cause ir> apt to tire because it is too selfcentred: it is liecause the Mothers' Cnion works for others that its strength increases. The Bishop quoted Mary Sumner's motto. "Be yourself what you would ha\e your children to be." as an excellent one for mothers to follow.

He appealed to mothers to endeavour to give tiieir children an understanding of the great blessing of Holy Comiiitini>>ii. So many children who were riiiiiir:iicii tailed to come to Communion n gularly. and it was the duty of mothers )>v their example to endeavour to inculcate in them the habit of being regular communicants.

The afternoon ceremony was outstanding for the record attendance of meml>ers. It was preceded in the morning by Holy Communion, which was attended liy .V)I» mcmliors. The Maori members were particularly well represented. The service was conducted by Bishop Simkin. assisted by tire Rev. \V. X. Panapa, us chaplain. Archdeacon H. Partridge, Dean \V. Fancourt and the Rev. H. B. l>a \ i-on.

The fe-i ival in the afternoon was addressed by Bishop Simkin, for whom Mr. Panapa was again chaplain. Assisting with the service were Dean Fauomrt. (.'anon R. (J. Coat*. the Kev. R. Clark and the Rev. .T. H. Cable. Afternoon tea was afterward* served to the members by Bishop and Mrs. Simkin at their home. Selwvn Court.