THE Y.W.C.A.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4561, 17 April 1942, Page 7

THE Y.W.C.A.

A GLOWING TRIBUTE “A proverb often repeated on the old continent in our countries of Belgium and Holland and far over the frontiers of France is ‘Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut.’ In English we would say, ‘Woman’s will is God’s will.’ I do not know whether this is always true, but having seen the Young Women’s Christian Association at work in several countries of Europe and its splendid work over here, I am convinced that the Y.M.C.A.’s will try to be as near as possible to God’s will. But if I say, ‘Woman’s will is God’s will,’ I am thinking not only of the social welfare aspects of your activity. The longer I am in America and observe the spirit which dominates your association, the more I see the political importance of your ideals. For if this world is to be saved from the present assault which presents the State as the supreme abstraction, there is only one force idealistic enough and strong enough to vanquish it, and that is the family. We must never forget what Hitler wishes is: Destruction of religion, destruction of freedom, destruction of safety, and, above all, destruction of the family and its complete submission to the State. The National Socialist Absolute State is the holocaust of mankind and of that ‘cell’ of every true society, of every civilisation—the family. Every family must offer its best to the State and the State offers to the family slavery. Every family must kill itself for the State. Men have not been able thus far to stop this monstrous trend. Women, and women alone, by their love for family, for children, for the future of mankind, will save humanity from Hitler. They will put family against State; microcosm against microcosm, and will save us from Hitler. And whoever says family, says woman. Therefore, the Y.W.C.A. is an important political asset for the world, and therefore I do not hesitate to say ‘Woman’s will is God’s will.’ ” —Davis M. van Buuren, in a speech given in Rochester, N.Y., at the Y.M.C.A. World Fellowship dinner. >