ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

Women’s Institute Movement The Canterbury Federation of Country Women’s Institutes celebrated the fortythird anniversary and founding of the institute movement on Sunday. The movement was founded by Miss Anna Elizabeth Jerome Spencer at Omatua, Rissington, Hawke’s Bay, on February 19, 1921, A service held at Kirwee, conducted by the vicar for the Malvern district (the Rev. K. Scholar), was attended by members • from many institutes.

In his sermon, Mr Scholar traced the emancipation of women from early Old Testament times and pointed out that it was only in relatively recent years that the majority of women had gained freedom to express themselves in ways of service outside of their own home.

He said that the great men in history invariably had a woman behind them. Most women, in the rearing of children, did not . always recognise their potential power. Though few women can still take part in public and political affairs because of domestic ties, their potential influence is still immeasurable. Mr Scholar extolled the work of single women, like Miss Jerome Spencer, who was in her time, one of the few privileged through her spihsterhood, to have time arid opportunity as a leader of women.

Mr Scholar emphasised that mothers should impress on •teen-agers the importance of setting a high moral value upon themselves, because the opposite sex accepted them at their own valuation. The hall made attractive with arrangements of gladioli. Mrs R. E. McMeekin played for the hymns. The collection will be sent to the federation for the Templeton chapel appeal.