BEING A NEIGHBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 8, 10 July 1922, Page 5

BEING A NEIGHBOUR

DUTY TO OUR PARENTS

THE SACRIFICE OF MOTHERHOOD

A TALK TO SENIOR CADETS.

A helpful lectur« on the subject of "Neighbours" was delivered by Airs. M. H. Chatfield, Dominion vice-president of the National Defence League, to Senior Cadets at the Community Club on Wednesday evening. There were close upon 100 cadets present, and they gave Mrs. Chatfield a most attentive and appreciative hearing. ■ ■ ■ . r WHAT PARENTS GIVE UP. The lecturer, who was received with' hearty applause,, said the question "Who is my neightbour?" was asked .long ages ago, and was still being asked again and again to-day. They aIJ knew the good and the bad, the pleasantness of the one and the unpleasantness of the other. That, however, made only one view of "neighbouring," and a narrow one, thpugh important in its way. "It is," Mrs. Chatfield said, "the.'neighbouring' of life that is so necessary, and which needs special consideration just now, when the Great War has made such a social upheaval. Early in life it matters a great deal what sort of 'neighbours' we are to our fathers and mothers—to oui schoolmates, to our brothers and sisters, teachers, and friends. Later on, to our employers, to our young girl and men acquaintances, to our business relations, and to our possible wives or husbands. ~ :. "Take the father and mother first. I am speaking of .good parents. We all know that, unfortunately, there are some who lack the propei sense of duty, and so are among the worst failures in the world, doing more harm than it is possible to calculate. But the good father and mother are worth the very best we and give them. Do wk ever think of the many things they have to do without because we. want so many things ? Upkeep of home, clothes, food, doctoring, dentistry, amusements, trips away, and countless small items, all to bo thought'of and provided. Do we ever think of these things, or notice what father and mother have not got? Do we realise' when we are older that mother went into the Valley of the Shadow of Death when bringing us into the world? I don't think that those who snigger about motherhood, and talk about it in secret as if it were something to be ashamed of, or joked about, can realise that it is, or should be, the most wonderful and beautiful thing in the world. MOTHERS WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES. "We (quite rightly) could not do enough that the lives' of our soldiers were made happy and comfortable before they went to the war. We made heroes of them; we feted them; we saw them ' off with tears and honours, because they were risking' their lives for us. Well, mothers all over the world do that every day. Nc mother knows, when her time is come to go through the terrible trial of motherhood, that she will come through alive. Think of it—after months of suffering, when her general health and powers of resistance are much lowered, then she has to face a dreadful trial of bravery and endurance. • Countless thousands of women —far more than the number of soldiers'-who have fallen in battle—have given up their lives for the little children,at the time of bringing them into the world. No honours or, decorations for these mothers; no national memorials; no world-wide appreciation; just the quiet grave and a beautiful memory. .

"When one thinks of- these things, should not mother be the first person to he considered in every home? She started out on tTie Great Adventure of married life knowing quite well that perhaps for her the greatej adventure of death mipjht follow. But, because of her love for her- husband, and for her wish to'have a home and children of her own, with a brave heart and smiling face she took the risk which belongs to her sex alone. Later on, anxiety and selfsacrifice in countless ways' come to the lot of the mother. How many of us in looking back, even in a short life, can fail to see that these things are true? No human being is perfect; but because of the great fact of motherhood women should be honoured and protected by all men and reverenced by girls. Remember that .the reward and the truest joy of life come to a woman through her children; and that, though many attain to honour and happiness of other kinds, motherhood is the crown of all..

'"Fatherhood brings responsibilities which will be considered later; but every boy and girl who carries out the old command, 'Honour thy father and thy mother' does his or her best to be a good neighbour to them; for honour implies good and willing service, unselfishness and love. Given these three, things, no man or woman could ask more of % their children.

"How can we 'neighbour' our brothers and sisters? Surely that can be easily seen. To be kind; to protect the younger ones; and, if you are a younger member of a family, you can- be unselfish and helpful to the older ones. Bullying and 'creek' are two terrible pitfalls, to be avoided by the older and younger members of'a family; there is no decent .'neighbouring' in either of these.

"Then, to 'neighbour' our friends is a bigger question, because the tie of blood is not present, which is an incentive to protection. . Take the friendship of boys and men for each othei. How many beautiful stories there are of such friendships; since the days of David and Jonathan, the world has record, of many and many such. You are members of the same football, cricket, or shooting team; you belong to the. same social club; you have the same interests, and drift into friendship because, of these things—and the friendship in that way is good.

"ASSISTING THE POWERS OF

DARKNESS."

"Now comes the question of 'neighbouring.' Take an instance of bad 'neighbouring' first. Supposing that when you. were all dressed in your best for a,' volunteer parade, or for a social, and I asked you to wade in a filthy pool, or walk through a fowlyard or pigstye— you would naturally'and rightly think it a. horrid suggestion ; you would have far too much consideration for your boots and clothes to do anything of the sort. •But if I gave you an evil book or paper to read, took you tc see some vile picture, or told you some abominable story— how would it appear- to you '! People who do these things are treating the minds and intellects- of others with far less consideration.than they would show to the boots of their victims. I use the word 'victim' because I mean it. The person who damages the mind of another never knows where the harm will stop. It may spread in the mind till, like a poisonous weed, it chokes nnd destroys all thai is good and beautiful there. The more tender and receptive the mind, the worse are the consequences of evil communications. Then, as likely as not, the evil is handed on to yet another and nnotliei till, like the nrovorbial snowball—in. this case a. sootbnll —the originator of the damage would be ncrhaps aghast' with horror at the way be. or she. had assisted the' Power.* of TJnrknesi in the worW. Xo '<rcod neighbouring' in that, is there'"'

OBSEHVE THE CIOKDEN RULE. Mrs. Chufcfleld proceeded to warn them

against tempting others to take strong drink, and urged that every young man and girl should do the very best by their companions, and should always expect the best from the opposite sex. She exhorted them to live clean and wholesome lives, not only for their own Eakes, but for the sake of theirs; if they became employers in after life to treat their employees as they would wish to be treated if they were in their place; and if they became employees to give of their best. The whole question of how to "neighbour" parents, friends, and business relations resolved itself into the Golden Rule : "Do as you would be done by.", A good neighbour was a good citizen, an inspiration to those around them, and had a far greater and better influence than they ever guessed.

"It is to be hoped," she concluded, "that in future, New Zealand will have a splendid choice of men and women citizens for our high civic and political positions, so that the example of this little country—far off from the centre of things as it is—may be of outstanding service in the upbuilding and maintainin" of our great Empire. Home : Country : Empire : three splendid and wonderful things. Doing our duty in the first, leads to doing our best in the others. If you young New Zealanders only- realised what tremendously important people you are! I don't mean that you are to sit up and 'pat your own backs/ and grow a tremendous conceit, of yourselves because, of your importance; but rather let the fact make you beware, lest you shirk your duties or fail to grasp your opportunities for doing good. With importance comes responsibility; and things look in the world to-day, as if the men and women of the future are going to have many big difficulties to face, and they will need all the .wisdom and fortitude that they can possibly gain. . . Be a good neighbour. Live cleanly. Build good character." (Prolonged applause.) The lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. The mover said he had not received the benefit of 6uch fine and Helpful advice when he was a youth, and if they were wise, they would profit by the advice Mrs. Chatfield had so ably given them. The hostess for the evening was Mrs. Murdoch, who, with her assistants, had supper arrangements in readiness .