WOMEN’S WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 15

WOMEN’S WORLD.

(By “GERMAINE.”)

Mrs Sprott, wife of lit. Rev. Dr. Sprott, Bishop of Wellington, has been the guest of Mr and Mrs Waring Taylor, of Shannon. Mrs Brook, of Dunedin, is staying with her daughter, Mrs A. A. Langley. Miss Peggy Nathan is not expected to return to Palmerston North after her extended holiday in Melbourne for a few months yet. Miss I. Menhennet, who is much improved after her serious illness, is spending a short holiday at the beach. After a tour of the Rotorua and Auckland districts Mr and Mrs Hamil|ton, of Khandallah, are staying in Palmerston North as the guests of Mr and Mrs H. B. Free. Miss Baton, of Wanganui, is a guest of Mrs McKenzie Forbes, Alan Street. Miss Winnie McDougall is at present in a private hospital in Palmer'ston North where she has undergone an operation for appendicitis. Her friends will be pleased to learn that she is progressing satisfactorily. During the course of the gala day held at the Takaro greens on Thursday, the club president, Mr Cooksley, took the opportunity of wishing Mrs C. A. Ferguson, who is shortly leaving on a tour of the Islands, bon voyage. He also expressed the wishes of the club members that she returns greatly benefited by her trip. A new novelist, whose first book was published in London recently, is Mrs Katherine Woolley, the wife of Leonard Woolley, the archaeologist, who is in charge of the excavations which are being made at TTr, under the direction of the British Museum and the Pennsylvania University. Mrs AVoolley, who lived at Irak while her husband was at work at Ur, has made that place the setting for her novel. The special committee of the Manawatu provincial district Farmers’ Union branches has issued an invitation to the members of the Women’s Division of the Union, Palmerston North, to be present at tlxe civic recej>tion and entertainment in the A. and P. Association’s hall on the evening of March 6, in honour of the British farmers and their wives, who are at present visiting the Dominion. CROQUET. A very pleasant gala day was spent on Thursday by the members of the Takaro Croquet Club. During the morning various competitions were held, and the afternoon was devoted to half-hour games. The winners of the competitions were: Miss Tennant (golf), Mrs Lyal (French), Mrs Ball (ladder) and Mrs A. Wingate (half-hour games). While afternoon tea was being dispensed, the president, Mr Cooksley, took the opportunity or congratulating Miss McFarlane and Mrs E. Simpson on the successes achieved-in the Dominion, North Island and Manawatu tournaments. In the latter tournament, Miss McFarlane won the championship singles and, partnered by Mrs E. Simpson, won the championship doubles. On behalf of their club members, Mr Cooksley presented each of the young players with a beautiful bouquet. A most enjoyable day terminated by the giving of cheers and the singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows.” Miss McFarlane and Mrs Simpson leave next week to take part in the Dannevirke and Hastings tournaments. PLUNKET SOCIETY. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. * The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Plunket Society was held yesterday afternoon, Mrs H. B. Free presiding in the absence of the president (Mrs A. Coombs). Also present were: Mesdames J. Aitchison (secretary), Peren, A. A. Langsley, J. H. Whyte, J. Murray, Small, J. Mounsey, Grigor, Wilson, H. Sinclair, Bennett and Rodger 3. Nurse A. M. Kearns reported as follows on the operations during January (December figures are given in parentheses):—Visits to homes 205 (23/); visits to office, adults 645 (600). babies 527 (507), older children 155 :

(105); total 1327 (1212); number of new cases 30 (25). During the past two months parcels of clothing were received from Masdubost, Franklin, Tremaine, Young, Peren, Murray, Kreuse, Lassen and Relling. Toys were received from Mesdames R. Abraham and N. Wallace, a child’s perambulator from Juno Day, and a push chair was received from Mrs B. Masdubost. Visits to out-stations: Foxton 4 (4), homes 3 (4), office, adults 27 (35), babies 17 (30), older children 19 (20): total 63 (85). Sales for the. month: Karilac £l9 15s 3d, Karil £3 2s 6d, emulsion £2O 7s 6d, books £1 0s Gel, patterns 6s, membership fees (ss), Mrs Cornish and Mrs Finn; donations, anonymous ss, Mrs D. F. Forlong 7s 6d, Mrs Heaphy ss, Mrs Hudson £1 Is, Mrs Henderson £l, collection box £1 Is 4d; total £49 Is 7d (last month £4O 17s lid). Arrangements for the plain and fancy dress children’s party in March were finalised.

MOTHERS’ UNION. BRANCH FORMED AT SHANNON. Several members of the local branch of the Mothers’ Union journeyed to Shannon yesterday afternoon to assist in the formation of a branch of tho union in that iocality. There was a good attendance in the Parish Hall, which was decorated by a few tastefully arranged vases and bowls of flowers, about 45 people being present. llev. Mr Young, vicar of the parish, said that he was very pleased to see so many present. They had gathered together there because there were one or two things which tho ladies of Shannon did not know and that he was unable to teach, but were very important for them to know. However, they could get in touch with thousands of women who were also trying to find out these things and cooperate with them. With this idea, Mrs Sprott, of Wellington, had been asked to come and explain the objects of the Mothers’ Uniou movement. The Bishop had also been asked but had been unable to come. It was probable that he would visit them later and deliver an address one Sunday. Mrs Sprott was introduced. She expressed her very great joy at being asked to come, as she had a strong desire to help the Mothers’ Union. She had been a member for many years and thought that she might be of assistance ,becauso of her practical experience. She then gave a short sketch of the origin of the movement, its work and ideals. Fifty-four years ago, a vioar’s wife asked four other women to come together and discuss with her the common problems of their daily life. The}’ called themselves the Mothers’ Union. The movement became known and spread to other parishes and dio- 1 ceses until now there was not a diocese of the Church of England without its Union of Mothers. There were more than half a million members of tho union throughout the world. The Mothers’ Union was a spiritual union working to gain something for tho families of its members, and to lift them to a higher way of living. Christ did two things when on earth ; He raised women from being very inferior creatures to the status of reasonable human beings with souls, and taught the value of home life. People all over the world gained inspiration from the word “home” and the thoughts it brought. The mother was the chief influence in the home and much could be done if all mothers were united with one high ideal —the uplift of the home. 'Tiro Mothers’ Union had taken the Virgin Mary as its patron and members looked on her as a mother and made her a model for themselves. On March 25 thev celebrated her patronage and on that day every member tried to go to holy communion and through the day they thought of all the other members all over the world. This was a wonderful idea and the existence of the union was valuable for that alone.

Quantity was not needed in the membership so much as quality. It was essential that everyone who joined should mean to keep the three central promises she made. This ought not to be difficult, as they were promises every woman made. The first promise was to uphold the sanctity of marriage. They should regard their marriage vows seriously. Jf one had taken a step in youth, feeling that it was for the best and after having prayed for guidance, and. one felt dissatisfied on looking back, one should remember that the same dissatisfaction would probably be felt if the step had not been taken. If a woman once took a vow like that she should try to keep it even if there were difficulties. She should ask God’s help to persevere, but the last thing she should do was to break the bond. “I want to emphasise,” said Mrs Sprott, “that, taking life as a whole, there are really very few unhappy marriages. Thousands of people live

very happily together. I know a great many people who are about to celebrate their jubilees—l, myself, am among them—and they are just as fond of each other as they were in their youth. Marriage is not a failure. Some think it is a failure because there are a few discontented, people making a fuss.” The speaker strongly disapproved of three years’ separation being considered grounds tor divorce without any further cause. She hoped that if ever there was a referendum on the divorce question mothers would see that the marriage laws were not tampered with.

Tho second promise was that members should bring up their children to do their best for Gad. The Mothers’ Union existed especially to develop the spiritual side of home life. One felt so helpless and ignorant, when it came to spiritual training that it was necessary to unite to obtain power and strength for carrying out tho duties to which parents were committed when their children were baptised. To pray regularly for strength and power to carry out their work and for those united with them was the third promise required of members. This object was the great bond which united •all the members of the union. A system had been arranged by which three days in the year were allotted to each diocese and on those three days every meeting prayed for that particular diocese. In old age people often regretted that they had not recognised the gift of prayer and used it more. Whether they got what they wanted or not, those who prayed were always answered. Sometimes the answer was quite different from what had been expected, but it was probably more for tho best. If one only knew what was lost by not praying enough, one would be very humble. It took people time to realise the potency of prayer, which was a tremendous force. Mrs Sprott then dealt with details of organisation. Membership of the Mothers’ Union was not limited to young mothers. Grandmothers, with their experience and example, were especially wanted. Married people without children or unmarried women with mothers’ hearts, who coilkl understand children, were all needed to help on the great ideal. The union was controlled by the Church of England, but people of any denomination might join. Several questions were theq dealt with and Mrs Moore, of the Palmerston North branch, delivered a message from Lady Alice Fergusson. It had been mentioned to Lady Alice that a branch of the union was being formed in Shannon early this year and she had expressed great pleasure, sending “best wishes and loving thoughts.” Twenty-five of those present signified their intention of joining the Mothers’ Union and two delegates from Tokomaru were appointed. This concluded tho proceedings which, all agreed, were highly satisfactory. A dainty afternoon tea was then served by the ladies of Shannon and tho meeting broke up after a very interesting afternoon.