NURSES' CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21085, 9 February 1934, Page 3

NURSES' CONFERENCE

FIRST IN CHRISTCHURCH ADDRESS BY HOUSE FATHER More than 40 nurses from all parts of New Zealand were presenti last night at the opening meeting of the Nurses' Christian Union Conference, held at College House'. This is the first occasion on which the conference has been held away from Wellington. The Rev. Basil Taylor, of Hinds, the house father, presided. After some community singing Mrs Stephen Parr sang the hymn "At Even When the Sun was Set." The Rev. A. Hopper, of Papanui, led the meeting in prayer, and an address was given by Mr Taylor. "I thought that there was no better thought which I could speak on at this opening meeting of your conference than that; which is contained in the Epistle to the Hebrews—'We would sde Jesus'," said Mr Taylor. He was reminded of Andrew's meeting with Jesus When Andrew had seen Jesus he had followed Him, and Jesus had turned to him and asked him what he wanted On the Lord's invitation he had gone? to His home with Him and spent the night there Then he had cone to his brother, Peter, the fisherman and, telling him of his experience had brought him to see the Messiah. And so it had come about that Peter, too, had become a discipie. "You will never be the same again," said the speaker, "after you have seen Jesus He will change you—l don't know how—but He will. You will never be the same again after this conference, if ir brings you to see Jesus." It had been so in the case of all who had seen Him—men, women, publicans, profligates.

Christ's Influence Over Women It was interesting to study the different feasts that, had been given to Jesus. Only one had been given by a professedly religious man. At this feast was a poor woman, a sinner who had felt that her sins were forgiven. She, in her gratitude and love, had broken a box of priceless ointment over His fee}: and wiptti them with her hair. Christ, seeing the scorn on the face of the Pharisee, had reminded him that no slave had been provided to wash his feet, in accordance with the custom. "I do not believe that Christ was the effeminate person He is often made out to be," continued the speaker. "He was perfect in stature, strong and manly. Do women look up to a weak

| man? Do fallen women look up to an I effeminate man? What they admire is ! a man that is strong and well; and they reverenced Jesus." Many people believed that they had no need for the Gospel because they did not sin, they paid their bills, kept the law, and did no harm to their neighbours. But actually they were breaking the greatest commandment—"Thou rhalt. love the Lord with all thy heart and with all they mind and with all thy strength." "The Christian should be the most joyful person on the earth. Whenever we read of Christ coming into the life of anyone we read that he was filled with joy." An example of that was seen in the conversion of Paul, j who counted al! his social standing J and all his learning as nought com- | pared with his knowledge ot Jesus. To get the full benefit of Christ's I teaching it was necossary to be willing I to leave all to follow Him wherever He might lead. Those who had that spirit would most certainly notice the change in their lives. The meeting closed with a hymn and supper was served. Representative Gathering: i itepresentatives from public and pri- : vate hospitals, sanatoria, Plunket so- | cieties, in fact from branches of nursI ing in all parts of New Zealand are ! present at the conference. Those from outside Christchurch are being accommodated in the Watts-Russell and Stanford wings of College House. Amongst those present last night vert' Mrs Basil Taylor, the house mother; Mrs Hopper; Mrs Tylhe Brown, Dominion president; Miss J. W. Samson, Dominion secretary; Mrs T. N. Gibbs, local president arranging the conference; Miss M. Oppenheim. conference secretary; five missionary nurses—Miss V. Bar grove, of the C.M.S. Hospital, Hanchow, China; Miss Neal, of the Bolivian Indian Mission; Miss Cowles, from East Bengal; Miss V. Dawes, from the Melanesian Mission; and Miss M. Stewart, from i the Solomon Islands. Miss M. Lamble, director of the division of nursing, Miss N. Patrick, Dr. Platts-Mills, of Wellington, and Dr. and Mrs Ulric Williams, of Wanganui, are expected to arrive shortly to take part in the conference.

The conference will continue till Tuesday. To-night the annual general meeting will be held, and to-morrow the nurses will have an outing at "Otahuna," as the guests of Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. It was asked that the names of all those intending to participate should be handed in by midday to-daj'.

Appreciation was expressed by tho visitors for the manner in which they were being accommodated.