A POPULAR SECRETARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16824, 7 April 1915, Page 7

A POPULAR SECRETARY.

FAKEWEIii-TO, ;^pSSj MAGNEIR WORK Om THE Y.W.C.A. The main Mil of the T.W.O.A. wa^ filled to ita utmost capacity last evening when, the members and friends bade farewell to thoir secretary. Miss , Mac Neil, who has been ©elected by, thet, Australasian Board for missionary work in China. The Mayor (Mr ,&. land) presided. ' i( -*' , The i chfiirmjfm referred to ilia value/ ' of the work of the Y.W.O.A. in Christ* church and to the valuable service rendered by Miss MaoNoil, not.' only to? the association, hut to the oity genw-" ally- -. '■"■ .-,'■, ■' :/'--.. ■' -,-'■'■"'.: '•'. "> -' .- ' The Rev J. J, Norths.representing: the Ministers' Association said that Miss Mac Neil had been doing a, very difficult, but a .very beautiful work .in this city.! She - had given many,.girls■ a definite and strong religious 'faith. , and in leaving them for China would', bo followed with the particular ,£&' fection and interest of those whom slid had helped. ' . - > Mrs Kayo, i>rosident of the Youngi , Women's Clm'stian Association, ex- * pressed her very sincere" regret at v the- Ci departure of Miss Mac Neil. When : we came, to Christchurch three and .ai half years ago, the association wast comparatively small, and only tho foundations of the work had been laid, but it hod been really strenuous work! at that time. During her stay with) them she had enlarged the vision; of ; tho hoard, the advisory board and tho* - of the association. Miss Mac Neil hod been a real worker. Slid went into the city factories and had) talks with tho girls there and induced 1 largo numbers to take a 'wider but A.., look: on life. ' " '.■•

The P. J. Cocks said ho highly - appreciated the efforts of tho Y.W.C.A. in doing a work which was absolutely, necessary and doing it in tho wisest way by teaching the girls- to help themselves. Ingoing to China, Miss Mac Neil was acting in the very best interests of the association, but;-ho, could not kelp-fooling a certain amount)' ./i of regret at losing her from Christchurch.. '...,.:.■. / ■', ■■!..; .!- Miss Owen, who has been Miss MaeNeiT> associate secretary, for the pftsli year, and who will follow her as oral secretary, expressed the regret of the staff at losing Miss Mac Neil, "hut; «i they feb that it had-been a great honour that she should liave been chosen . lor the work in China. ' Mr W. Goss, on behalf of the Ad- v , visory Board, said that Miss MacNeil' had had to carry out the work under' great, difficulties, but she Karl «?vtvii[ the board \ a vision of a largers.pha»v> of work,'and it was largely one to her--- ' that the association was now "iii .'.vcli

commodious premises. Miss K;- Bursoii) spoaking' on behalf of the members of the Y.W.C.A..'.ex-

pressed her appreciation of what" Miss Mac Neil had done for them in ' ivaking their lives brighter and happirr., . Tho Rev Dr Erwin said >t psvo Mm ": great iileasuro to pay. a .tribute to \}ii> ! great work Mik's'.MacNeil had <ip>.<;"f'>r | Itho girls of Clirtstehurch. She.haft i ;1;< ! never been satisfied un'.c-:s ihe wa3" ! helping otliars.' • _ ■ ; In ' reply, Miss Mac Neil said that,' 'during lier th«» yean; and a half stay |in Ch-Invehx-rch. i he. hnd f t- n v « n-.ry happy tinio, mvl h:id nutde friend,??'- 1 At firi*b tho wolk l«as...yory" difficult.' The secret of f'Jio;/? m -fcisss.of tho *a«sSocia?bion \ v - ,itti. T 1... V.W.C.A. and tho V.M.C.A wero concret-o fcxpretssiong ot iho tccJwill of tho- people: they w«ro Imsukks 0r.',"..' friendlinss?.- IPhe speaker traver«id the " ■ work of tho Y.W.C.A. iu tho rcisstou fields, and stated that was.uliich more to ho done before they.<:i>ald_ieo» ; that thev worn doing.their shorfi, T' ur r / . ing li^-" rfav in Christchuroh siho;had v ? recewacl the utmost cotirtesv. c-nndflr-. ariou and kindness from . tho people, and it had made w« "Xi r liiditer and hanpicr. Sho .rffirettwl ■: leaving Christchurch, but felt hnwwrad that-she had been selected for tho,;now work in China rtri <*f romembar her many frwnis iu t.-J.s , A*number of musical items vore con-. ,■_ tributed during the evening.. . ■.,. ', ;