RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTHOOD

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 6

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTHOOD

evasion condemned METHODIST PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, February 16. The subject of the perpetuation of the human race and birth control was touched on to-night at the opening of the Methodist Conference by the president (the Rev. W. J. Elliott) in his opening address. ‘‘The tendencies of the age make it imperative that young men and women should be taught to cherish nobler conceptions of marriage, and the obligations of parenthood,” said Mr. Elliott. “It may be considered by some a serious matter to delete the word ‘obey’ from the marriage ceremony, but it is a more serious tiling to disguise from a bridal pair that the wholesome perpetuation of the human family is the first thing emphasised in the marriage ceremonv. 10-dav birth control is being tampered with to an unjustifiable extent, and it is alleged some of the best people are ceasing to produce their share of the population. _ A century ago it was assumed the inferior races would become extinct; today we are compelled to revise onr judgment, and the increasing pressure of racial competition requires us to adopt every legitimate means to preserve our” numerical status and strength. If civilisation is to be continued, then the dominant races must either increase their population or constrain the inferior races to decrease theirs. It is the biggest challenge we have to face on any battleground. Ministers and educators of consciences must definitely set forth the claims of society and the human race, and give no excuse to normal beings to evade the responsibilities of parenthood. Far be it from me to suggest that a measure of a woman’s influence is the one function of motherhood, or that every woman is destined to the reserve and seclusion of the domestic circle."