MOTHERS’ UNION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25161, 17 April 1947, Page 2

MOTHERS’ UNION

ANNUAL FESTIVAL The fifty-fourth annual festival of the Mothers’ Union was celebrated in Christchurch yesterday. About members attended an impressive service in the Cathedral. Bannerbearers from 32 branches, and a choir of 40 members marched in procession into the cathedral where Holy Communion was celebrated by Archdeacon A. C. Purchas. The absolution and blessing were given by his Grace Archbishop West-Watson. After lunch, which was held in St. John's schoolroom, Archbisop WestWatson spoke on the aims of the Mothers’ Union, and on the Church in Japan. The Mothers’ Union throughout the world was now preparing for a rededication of its members to the service of the Church, he said. The need for a long-term policy of faith, hope, and love was being generally realised by Church leaders. This rededication by New Zealand members should be not only to benefit themselves, but to give them strength to help in the healing of other nations, said the Archbishop. Mentioning his forthcoming visit, to Japan, Archbishop West-Wat-son spoke of the need for a united Christian Church there. It was. felt by many, he said, that the union should come from within, and not be imposed by the government from without. Miss Stella Purchas, who is at present on ' furlough from China, where she has been serving as a missionary for a number of years spoke on conditions there during the years of the Japanese occupation. Miss Purchas was interned during the war, and she described life in an internment camp, khe also spoke of the problems now confronting the Chinese people. It had been hoped that all would be well when the Japanese left, but now problems of profiteering, “racketeering,” and civil war, had sprung up, and the Government was not strong enough to cope with -them. However, the people w u r< ? n ?£ giving up hope. On the whole the Chinese Christian Church had come out strengthened from its ordeals during the war years, she said.