TWO QUAKER LADIES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 77, 24 December 1907, Page 3

TWO QUAKER LADIES.

THEIR-MISSION .TO NEW ZEALAND.' Two-.'Jadyr.-,members .of the Society of Friends Lave'arrived in Wellington: on an interesting mission—partly religious, partly social,' and educational. English Friends, or Quakers, .• as' they are often called, have ■_ observedwith some anxiety" that their .religious denomination has riot been showing satisfactory signs 'of. growth, in this country. There' are in the Dominion, only 240 members of the Socioty, 'and many' of ■ them are .'scattered about- the country, quite 'out of reach of-.the meetings which are held by, the few who live in. the; cities.. .Time after 'time during tho last few.years English frionds have made tho long'voyage'to New Zealand for the purpose ,of visiting ; these ; small meetings and scattered .members. . Efforts have v also been \ made'to keep in touch with the; New Zealand ' Friends by means, of .correspondence .and. by sending out literature.! Still, it.was felt that something, more was required. Henco the visit' of ; Miss Sarah. Jane Lury and Miss Elizabeth'Ruttcr./These ladies left-England last September, and, crossing America, attended-, several of the yearly meetings of Friends in:the;United-;States. They landed at Auckland a few days ago, and are now in .Wellington. . '•■;■■ -,: ;. ■ . ■■• .-' , . ■ ' Speaking to a Dominion reporter yester-day,-they explained that their, special object -in Wellington'is to , establish a home or hostel for young people attending tho secondary schools and colleges. , Such.an institution is, of course, meant the children of Friends, but other3' l also ;, will''b'c"received. The Quaker boarding schools in Great Britain play.an' important' part in-the' life of the. Society, and; it/is thought by tho Friends that • such a,! home as Miss Rutter and Miss Liiry are about, to start, is'thp'nearest approach to'-these that is possiblo in" New ' Zealand-at ■ the present time. It is hoped'that :it will form-a sort of social and religious nucleus or ' rallying point for Quakerism in tho Dominion. 'Miss Lury and Miss'-Rutter intend to conduct the institution personally until (as one of them said in modest'but determined tones) it is either a success or a* failure. If it proves a success,' they will c find someone else to : carry it on, while they visit, other places and finally return Home.' ■ '':.,-; '. ... ...,;..

They hope also to be of service in connection with-tho Quaker meetinß which is regularly held in''Wellington.-. The Friends now gather for worship in the private rosidenco 1 of one of their number,'but it is anticipated that' the meetings will in future bo held in some-more suitable-place,- where the public are more likely to attend. -It should be said here that, in the quiet and unceremonious meetings of the Friends, women,; equally with men, are free to take part,, and. their.-voices .are often hoard in {irayer and exhortation. They also share argely -in ; the- responsibilities of 1 church, government. Miss Lury and Miss Rutter are •convinced- that-'Quakerism, with .its simple and ■ spiritual creed, -has work to do to-day in New. Zealand, as well as in' other lands.