MOTHERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 9

MOTHERS' UNION.

TO THE EDITOR OJ "THE PRESS." Sir,—l should count it a favour if you could find room for the following letter from Lady Alice Fergusson, which explains itself.—Yours, etc., EVA ROBERTS, Diocesan President, Mothers' Union. May 2nd, 1926. Government House, Auckland, April 19th, 1926. Dear Mrs Roberts, The copy of a letter to the Christchurch "-Press" of April 10th lias been forwarded to me (evidently written by a member of the Mothers' "Union, though-it is only signed "Mother") 011 the subject of the proposed new mothers' organisation. As I ain very anxious that there should, not be any misunderstandings in tlK> matter, \ should bo so glad if you could make the truth of it known. The writer of the letter is evidently not aware that an undenominational sister organisation to the Mothers' Union already exists in the Scottish Mothers' Union, establisliod in Scotland in 1891, which has a membership of between 40,000 and ;>O,OOO. It is affiliated to tho Mothers' . Union and works'in harmony with it in every way. The constitution is practically the same except for the rule that all officials and workers must be members of the Church of England. ~ Workers, in Scotland are drawn from all denominations. There does not seem to be any fear on the part of tho central organisation in London that the Scottish Mothers' Union, because it is undenominational in character, will ever fail to uphold the sanctity of marriage. This is its first object, just as it is. the first object of the Mothers' Union. The English and Scottish organisations are represented on each other's' councils, and give all sympathy and support to each other. It is on these lines that it is proposed to form an undenominational ''sister union" in this country, which may reach those women to which a purely Church of England Society is not likely to appeal. Although members of other Churches are allowed by the rules to join tho Union, it cannot bo denied that owing to its being a Church of England organisation its influence' is restricted. The promoters of the undenominational Union in New Zealand are hoping for the sympathy and support of j the Mothers' Union, especially in view of tliQ fact that it was upon these lines that the Mothers' Union was first started by the late Ladv Glasgow in 1892.. I feel sure that all of us who have the principles of the Mothers' Union at heart will rejoice at ail effort to | extend them more widely. As Doniinion president of the Mothers' Union in New Zealand, may I express the hope that nil sympathy and goodwill may be extended to the new organisation. Yours sincerelv, '' (Sgd.) ALICE FERGUSSON. !