GIRLS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11446, 8 December 1897, Page 3

GIRLS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

The sixteenth annual meeting of the Girls’ Friendly Society was held in the Young Men’s Christian Association Rooms yesterday afternoon, when Bishop Julius presided. In opening the business, his Lordship thanked the ladies and associates fer the great and steadfast work done by them in the past, and referred to the boon such a society as theirs was to the young girls of Christchurch. Ho was of opinion that a higher appeal to the girls’ feelings was necessary, and to secure that end the Society’s meetings would require to be less of an amusing and more of an instructive type. He apologised for the absence of Mrs Julius, who was unable to attend through illness. In moving the adoption of the balancesheet and report, the Rev E. P. Cachemaille said that if the field was to be thoroughly entered upon they would require more associates and officers. He thought that when the girls came to the rooms in the evening they were generally very tired after a hard day’s work, and they needed amusement rather than a dry course of instruction.

In seconding the motion, the Rev Hoggins deplored the fact that at present, in many cases, a domestic servant’s life was a practically colourless and friendless one in their mistresses’ homes, and he thought that in that circumstance might be found one of the reasons why so many belonging to the unfortunate class were drawn from the ranks of domestic servants. Another matter which he recommended to the Society’s earnest consideration was the training of State orphans. These he would like to see handed over to the charge of a religious institution connected with the Church, and trained in a suitable manner, intellectually and morally, to fit them for the life before them.

The. motion was then put and carried unanimously. The following officers were elected for the current year : Vice - president, Mrs Mathias; treasurer, Mrs Weston; diocesan secretary. Miss Ainger. Mesdames Gox, Hawkes and Langdown and Miss Fenwick were elected to serve on the committee.

A hearty vote of thanks rvas passed to the [officials of the club, and especially to Mrs Wigram, for valuable services rendered in the past. The meeting then terminated.