Social Work.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 4, 1 October 1914, Page 40

Social Work.

A meeting of the Central Committee for the Women's Social Work was held at Bishopscourt on Monday, September 7th. The Bishop presided, and there were present : Mrs Sedgwick, Mrs Hutchinson, Mrs Harding, Miss Keith, Mrs Ruddock, Mrs Richmiond, Mrs Sheath, Miss Spenser, Mrs Thorp, Mrs Fred Williams, Mrs Joe Williams, Miss E. Williams and Deaconess Esther Brand. A short service was first held m t*>e Chapel, at which Deaconess Esther Brand received her license, and before the actual business of t^e meeting commenced, she said a few words touching £he Deaconess crrler m general, and the immediate work that lay before them m this Diocese. She laid preat stress on the fact that besides opening a refug-e for those who had already fallen into sin, there was much preventive work to be done, and m this all could help, — by furthering the cans? of religions education and by working to the utmost such societies as the G.F.S. and the Mothers' Union, and that they also v ceded the co-operation of the men, if they would strike at the root of the evil. The Bishop then explained that his idea was to form a Txeneral Council of the ladies who represented the different districts, and six (or more') men to be appointed by himself. The men also to be a Men's Executive Committee. The Bishop asked the Committee if they would give him permission to dothis, which was granted. The Council would probably meet twice a year. It was arranged that the Bishop should be President of the Council, that Deaconess Esther should be Organising Secretary and piocesan.

Worker, and that a Treasurer should be secured, if possible a layman. The meeting then proceeded to elect five ladies (with power to add to their numbers) to be a Iyadies' House Committee an,d to mteet monthly m Napier. Those elected were : Mrs $ed£rwick, Mrs Ruddock, Mrs Richmond, Mrs Thorp and Mrs Williams. The Bishop stated that the Deaconess Had decided to start work m the smaller of the two houses m the Burlington Road, which would be vacant at the end of the month, but that the Home would probably not be opened as a refuse for about six months, which "would gfive time for funds to accumulate, for furniture to be acquired (<nfts behur hot>ed for) pnd for the Deaconess to visit the country centres. A Nurs?-Matron would also be required, and Miss Hancock, of S. Mary's. Homes, Auckland, had offered to eive a free training for six months if a suitable person could be sent. The meeting closed with the Benediction. CV'f+s of furniture, linen, crockery, articVs for household use. ptc, will prate Mlv received by Deaconpss Esther Brand. Letters, for the ■present, may be addressed to her at Bishopscourt, Napier.