YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16664, 8 April 1916, Page 5

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

AN HISTORICAL EVENT. •An event of far-reaching importance occurred yesterday evening under the auspices of the if.W.C.A., when 113 girls under 20 years of age met to celebrate the birthday o! a girls' department of the association. Quiet preparation has been going on for some weeks by Miss Mary Geddes (national secretary for Australasia). The object of tho girls' department is to teach girls to help themselves to improve their capability for home life and business, and to arouse and propagate the equivalent of the large civic s»pirit manifested by their brothel's in this critical time. The need of training has been recognised' and reF.ponded to by the girls themselves. This wns manifested by their eager interest and happy participation in t.hc proceedings at the, banquet held to bring the 'girls and new leaders together. _ Girls from very varied quarters met in the association's rooms, and thoroughly ./enjoyed' tho repast. The hall wis daintily decorated by the Guild of Helpers, and willing members waited on tho guests. A scries of toasts, proposed aptly by the girls and responded to by speeches and choruses, passed a pleasant evening for many who in later years will recall with nride their part in an h'storic event. This girls' department is the first formed in New Zealand. Miss Geddes, the guest of honour, was dressed in tho picturesque dross of national chief guardian of the hearth fire. She appealed to the girls td> avail themselves of the opportunities and privileges which tlie association offered to develop their characters along spiritual, mental, physical, and social lines. She set before them the law of the hearth fire: "On my honour I promise, wherever I may be, that, I will do my best to be contented, to bo courageous, to give service, to hold on to health, to think, to be trust--worthy, and to reverence God." Miss Geddes urged the girls to aspire to this ideal. A happy and memorable evening was closed by all singing the New Zealand Anthem.