VARIED PROGRAMME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 15, 18 July 1939, Page 14

VARIED PROGRAMME

FATHERS ENTERTAINED

ADDRESS ON "PERSONALITY"

The annual "fathers' night" held by the Khandallah branch of the League of Mothers last week was .a .wellattended and highly successful-func-tion. The success of the evening was due in no small measure to the efficient chairmanship of Mrs. E. S. Mirams, president of the.branch, who directed, a full and varied programme . with skill and charm. The stage was massed with Iceland poppies, - wattle, and pale hydrangeas artistically arI ranged against a draped background of black curtains. Visitors from several other branches were present, among them being Mrs. Young: and Mrs. Tilyard, from Lyall Bay, Mrs.' H. L. Cummings, president, and Mrs. W. S. Rollings, hon. president of the Ngaio branch.

Mrs. H. H. Cornish, provincial president, who also attended, gave an interesting outline of; the history of the League of Mothers, originally founded in Scotland and inaugurated- in New Zealand some thirteen years ago. "Today," said Mrs.'Cornish, "the league in New' Zealand has 101 branches with 6633 attending members. In addition | we have what we call a lighthouse! branch, established for. the benefit of the wives and families of lighthousekeepers, and last -year, at the request and through the assistance;of a,lady missionary, a branch was formed in .Pitcairn Island!"

The principal speaker for the* evening was Mr. W. Gillanders, who, though born in New Zealand, has for some years been resident in Oaklands, California. Mr. Gillanders spoke on "Developing a Personality."

"We have," said the speaker, regarding the mastery of fear, "a life to live, a destiny to achieve, work to do. So many lack confidence and are ■- afraid < of life. To youth I would say—learn to be unafraid." Mr. Gillanders referred freely to the life of .Theodore Roosevelt, who began as a timid and ill-developed youth and through sheer determination and: force of character, became one of the greatest figures of his day. He spoke of the control of desire, the consciousness of power, selfdetermination, the sense of:obligation, of duty, and the quality indicated '.by the words "I ought." In this exhortation was crystallised the obligation' of every. person to contribute •his quota to the welfare of his community. Next in the development of personality came the consciousness of destiny— the recognition that life has a pur-

pose and a worthy motive, and final-

ly, loyalty to some worthy passion, or ideal, or cause. "Everyone," concluded Mr. Gillanders, "should hold ;tif v** to vital principles, and lend his aid * *he building of a brotherhood of mai on earth."

A vote of thanks to the speaker for his instructive address was moved by Mr. E. S..Mirams, seconded<by Mr.: H. G. Philpott. Mrs. Rollings , and Mr.' Nelson also congratulated, the speaker' on the skilful handling of an important subject. The singing circle, under'the leadership of Miss Cooper/ sang "Ghosts of Little White Roses",and "John Peel," responding to a hearty encore with "There's a Friend in Every Milestone." Mrs. P. P. Lynch played several pianoforte numbers as incidental music. The meeting concluded with' the league prayer for peace and the serving of supper.