Lecture.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8546, 15 June 1896, Page 2

Lecture.

Dr Emily B. Ryder, who has during the past week been delivering a course of health lectures to the women of Timaru, delivered an address yesterday afternoon in the Theatre Royal on the “ Child Wives of India.” There was a very good attendance, principally of ladies, the circle and stalls being quite filled, and the pit sparsely attended. The Rev. W. Gillies occupied the chair, and there were also on the platform the Rev. Mr Beecroft and Mr George Hogben, whilst an apology was received from the Rev. Mr Williams. The meeting was opened by the Rev. Mr Gillies with prayer*, after which he briefly introduced Dr Ryder. The lady doctor first of all referred to her studies in England, and her travels in Spain, China, and other places, and her landing in Bombay with a Hindoo companion. Dr Ryder explained that it was through accepting an invitation from an Indian gentleman to see his wife, that her deepest sympathies were fully aroused for the welfare and condition of the “child wives of India.” She found the wife to be only eight years of age, and then followed an interesting description of family and domestic circles as seen in this enlightened century in one of Great Britain’s chief possessions—lndia. It was through Dr Ryder being a woman doctor that she was able to enter those circles of domestic life which were sealed books to missionai-ies. The doctor throughout treated her somewhat delicate subject in a very interesting manner and fully enlisted the sympathies of her audience when describing the cases of girls of eight and nine years of age being linked for life with husbands of any age from 40 years to 60 years. Even from infancy

the children were set apart for certain men, proceeding to their homes on attaining the age of eight years. Dr Ryder indicated the directions reforms should take, remarking that they were of paramount interest to the medical profession rather than to the missionary, whose interference with such customs would be at once resented, and expressed the hope that they would soon see legislation given effect to which would result in this great wrong to the girlchildren of India being done away with. The fact that other great reforms had been successfully carried through, strengthened her and her many fellowworkers in the task they were striving so hard to accomplish.- A collection was taken up at the close of the address, Dr Ryder explaining that she wanted them to show their practical sympathy, also, with the cause she had that afternoon spoken to them about. The chairman having acknowledged how much the audience were indebted to Dr Ryder for her address, the Rev, Mr Beecroft pronounced the Benediction and the meeting closed.