THE MODERN GIRL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 255, 27 September 1932, Page 9

THE MODERN GIRL.

BISHOP’S AVARNING. “CONFUSED AnF BEWILDERED AVORLD.” A warning to the modern young girl about to embark upon the struggles of life not to adopt “Self-realisation” as her slogan, was made by the Bishop of Salisbury (Rt. Rev. St. Clair Donaldson) when he presided at the annual parents’ day of Sandeeotes School for Girls, Parkstone, England. Addressing his remarks to the .children the Bishop said it was the stream of life that rapidly passed through school that made a visit to such places interesting. Young boys whom he had seen at school ten years ago were now stuffy middle-aged men, such was the speed of the stream. When embarking upon life, as the majority of the girls that afternoon would soon be doing, they had to face three issues. The first was, “Were they prepared to accept the leadership which properly and rightly would be offered them?” The honour of their school, as well as their own, depended upon the answer. They need not be leaders if they did not wish to. Many people went through life hiding themselves and refusing any leadership. Girls at the present day were being offered opportunities that had never been offered to their sex before. They were being called upon to live a life in a world that was confused and bewildered. There was a moral, economic and religious confusion prevalent and it was a difficult world to live in. BE PREPARED.

To be a leader courage was required. The . Bishop said he was of an opinion that the new freedom women were now enjoying would have a great influence in the world. Girls would have to be prepared to seize and grapple with their opportunities. “Are you going to fall back on selfprotection?” he asked. “You can avoid bearing your witness, but that would be a cowardly thing to do. Are you going to live a life of service and giving, or adopt as your slogan, “selfrealisation?” One of the great characteristics of the present day was achievement. Records were being smashed in various spheres—transport, motor boating, flying, etc. AVornen, even more than men, were seized with a desire for achievements. They had a certain desire to compete with men and prove their capacity in various directions.

' THE DANGER. Such achievements centred the attention of the world upon the individuals, and they derived a great deal of publicity and built up reputations. Reputation was bound to follow the successful person, but there was a danger of people becoming selfish. The speaker recommended his listeners to adopt the slogan, “Living is giving.” The second issue they would have to fhee was one of service. They should not be self-absorbent, but endeavour to be successful, as success made them better instruments for assisting their neighbours. . . The third issue was one of religion. At the present time there was a great conflict proceeding. Christians from their own experiences knew that Christ still lived, but the rgst of the world contended that he was dead. “Are you going to declare and foster your religion before men? 1 ’ lie asked.