DIOCESAN MOTHERS’ UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 69

DIOCESAN MOTHERS’ UNION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual business and social meeting of the Mothers’ Union associated with the diocese of Dunedin was held in St. Paul’s schoolroom on Thursday evening. Bishop Richards presided, and there was a surprisingly large attendance when the state of the weather is taken into consideration. The meeting was preceded by a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was also’largely attended. The Rev. AV. A. Hamblett conducted the service, Bishop Richards read the lesson, and the Venerable Archdeacon Curzon-Siggers preached the sermon. The offertory, which was devoted to the Soldiers’ Memorial Window Fund, amounted to £3 4s 6d.

The annual report stated that steady progress had been maintained during the year. There were nine branches, with a membership of 279, and several new branches were being formed. All Saints’ had the largest membership—B6 members. The meetings were well attended, and it was encouraging to see so many young mothers and children. Some very instructive addresses had been given. _ This branch took especial interest in missions; £l5 was sent to the China Mission £1 was sent to the Melanesian Mission, £1 to St. Mary’s Orphanage, and £ll 13s to the Men's Mission. The balance sheet showed

a small credit balance, after paying all expenses. The St. Paul’s branch had a membership of 41. This branch gave much hjlp to the Anglican Boys’ Home. The St. Matthew’s branch had a membership of 25. A number of young mothers attended the fneetings, but were not yet enrolled. This branch kept an orphan in St. Mary’s Orphanage. The branch at St. John’s, Roslyn, had increased from 27 to 40 members. The branch at St. Mary’s, Mornington, had a membership of 16 and was very active. The membership of St, Martin’s branch, North-East Valley, had increased to 35. This branch was largely composed of young mothers, and all were very keen. The Gore branch had 15 members, and expected a considerable increase next year. A babies’ wardrobe had been handed to the Plunket Society in Gore for an Anglican mother residing in the district. The Tayauv.i branch had a membership of 16.

Bishop Richards, who moved that the annual report be received, said the union was very fortunate in having such an able secretary as Mrs Falconer. —(Applause.) He was pleased to welcome Mrs Staples; who had come all the way from Gore to attend tho meeting, and Mrs Henley, who had come from England, and who now resided in Napier. Considering the ■weather the gathering was a very fine one and showed that the members of the union were determined to do their very best for it. As long as they tried to have . a deep spiritual background such gatherings as they were holding that night came in their natural course, and were very appropriate. The establishment of a Jading library was a real step forward. .They were greatly indebted to Lady Alice Fergusson for her gift of the first five books for the library. He hoped the library would be a success, and he had no doubt it would prove to be a very useful institution The union was to be congratulated on having a literature secretary, to which position Mrs Birch had been appointed. This was a new departure m the diocese, and the results so far fully justified the action taken. The first Mothers. Union was formed in connection with bt. Matthew’s Church while the Venerable

Archdeacon Curzon-Siggers was near ot hat parish. He hoped the time was lot very far distant when they vould have a branch of the union n every parochial ditsrict in the iiocese. It was one of the most useful institutions in the diocese, and its influence for good could not be over-esti-mated. A satisfactory feature of the year’s operations had been a number of unsolicited donations, which showed the appreciation in which the union was held. The speaker mentioned that a great gathering of the Mothers’ Union would be held at Westminster, in 1930 when the next L-mbeth Conference would take place. The branches in New Zealand were invited to forward suggestions for discussion at the conference. The motion was seconded by Mrs button, who spoke in highly appreciative terms of the excellent work done by the secretary, who had been most energetic and thorough in carrying out her duties and had endeared herself to everyone with whom she had come in c tact. The report and balance sheet were received. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Bishop Richards for the interest he had always displayed in the welfare of the union. Kirs Falconer and Mrs R. C. Jones were appointed to represent the union at the Dominion conference, to be held in Wellington on September 28. An address on the aims and objects of the Mothers’ Union was given by Mrs Henley. She said the principal object was to uphold the sanctity of marriage and to uplift home life. They tried to uphold a standard of right, which was a very difficult matter in these days. The Mothers’ Union was essentially a prayer union, and no fewer than 400.000 women all over the world were associated with it. If they could establish correspondence with the women in the backblocks they would accomplish a very useful object. The mothers were really the makers of the Empire, and on them rested the responsibility of training the children, who would be the citizens of the future.. What counted with the union was not rank, but the use they made of their gifts on behalf of God and in the home. The union could wield a tremendous influence for good. The speaker emphasised the value of training the children and the necessity for daily prayer, and the bringg of God into everyday life. Until

they had God in the homes they could not have Him in the land. Mrs Henley was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her thdughful and insnirational address. The business proceedings were ended with the pronouncing of the benediction, and th- meeting then took the form of a social gathering