MOTHERS’ UNION CELEBRATES JUBILEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17881, 24 June 1926, Page 15

MOTHERS’ UNION CELEBRATES JUBILEE.

MEETINGS held all OVER THE EMPIRE. Yesterday was a special da}' throughout the Empire for members of the , Mothers’ Union, church services and other meetings being the order. It was the fiftieth year of life of the organisation, and to mark the occasion a great memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey and at every . church in the Christchurch diocese mothers met and and took Holy Communion. At the Cathedral there was a large congregation and 250 communicants. In the Caledonian Hall yesterday afternoon there was a great social gathering of mothers and their friends from all the branches, and many extra seats had to be found to accommodate the. members. Proceedings began with the singing of the hymn, “Now Tliarik We All Our God,” followed by the repetition of the Mothers’ Union prayer. Mrs Roberts, the president, gave a brief add; ess- With her on the platform were members of the council, Mrs WestAYatson, Mrs Carrington, Mrs H. Marriner, Mrs C. E. Fiaer, Mrs H. S. Leach, Mrs Alfred Weston, Mrs E M. Hunter (honorary secretar}’), Mrs Hewland and also M:s Bailey, who was formerly a member of Mrs Sumner’s Bible Class. Mrs Roberts extended a heart} 7 - weli come to ail on behalf of the council. It was, she said, an imposing sight to see the sea of faces, all actuated by the same desire to celebrate the jubilee of the union. She drew a vivid word picture of the service at the Abbey, at which representatives from all over the world were present, and a banner was presented b>' the central president to the Dean of Westminster. Mr s Roberts detailed the founding of the union by Mrs Sumner fifty years ago in the little village of Old Alresford in Hampshire. She read a letter from Mrs Sumner to a lady in Sumner, written in 1916, expressing the interest she took in the branch formed there. Mrs Roberts called on Mrs West-Watson to address the mothersMrs West-Watson enjoined those present to be even more zealous in the work of this great women's movement, and suggested as a permanent memorial of the day the}’ were celebrating that an effort should be made to ini crease the number of branches so that every parish might be rep-esented. The I young mothers should be encouraged to I join, and that all should try to oe more regular in their attendance. They should all endeavour to make their homes i truly Christian homes, where love, unI selfishness and kindliness should be the keynotes, so that the children might receive the right impression and carry on the work until the centenary of the union should be celebrated. Tea was dispensed. Mrs Pearce sang “The. SqngVof Thanksgiving,'’ and “ Waiata Maori.” r Mrs Stallard sang “ The PaSsibn of Spring” by Alletson, and “ Annie Laurie.” In the evening there was a large attendance of helpers and mothers at the Cathedral. Bishop West-Watson gave an inspiring address.