WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1047, 9 February 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

NEEDS OF THE Y.W.C.A. ; GREAT GATHERING AT TOWN HALL. : SOME FORCEFUL ADDRESSES. It was in no uncertain manner that the public of 'Wellington last evening showed their hearty approval of tho work of tho Young 'Women's Christian Association, when thero wcro very few vacant scats in the Town Hall, nis Excellency Lord Islington and Lady Islington were present (his Excellency taking tho chair). Others present were:— Lady Ward, tho Hon. Dr. Fiudlay and Mrs. Findlay, Mrs. Wilford, and the Hon. D. Buddo. ■ The Wellington Garrison Band, under Lieutenant Herd, played as an opening Selection "L'Africaino" (Meyerbeer), the test pieco for tho Palmerston North conjest. Their Excellencies' Speeches. Lord Islington said ho understood tho gathering was'to endeavour to increaso interest in tho Y.W.C.A. movement, and to assist to enlargo its scope. He would liko to congratulate the committee of tho association on its success in bringing such a largo gathering together. Ho took it, also, that by their presonco there, many desired to show their deep sympathy with the movement and their intention to support it. (Applause.) Both Drj, Findlay (to whom as a prominent and earnest public man he paid a warm tribute) and himself were there in their respective representative ■ characters, but. they were also .personally imbued with the strong desire.to do all that lay in their power to assist this valuable association. Tho association was inqt a new one, and was established in every part of the world, doing a great social' work. Its objects were to furnish a homo-centre for young women, where they would have, at tho same time, a high elevated atmosphere and a congenial circle. His Excellency also 'recalled what the -society did ' for young women emigrants. Hero in Wellington besides looking after tho new arrivals it also gave them a placo to meet in. What were required now were suitablo premises and wider scope, for their aims. They had at present an hostelry which accommodated twenty-one women, but if more money were available they would readily enlarge it, because tho need undoubtedly was there. Ho emphasised tho importance oP tha work, and appealed 'to all classes to Bivo, their-support. He declared his intention of doing his utmost while here to help on tha work. (Applause.); Tho operations of tho organisation wcro not confined to the spiritual side of-life; and he believed that very oftin the higher aims could be reached through the material and' social channels. (Anplause.) ■ / Lady Islington, who had n hearty toocpticn. emphatically declared her wholehearted symnathy with tho. work of tho Y.W.C.A. ■ Enthusiasm and money wero •required. Sho put enthusiasm first, J-o----cause, with the right amount of it, the money could be secured. No~> enterprises oouldbe. successful without enthusiasm. (Applause.) The association provided a home for girls who had.none, and it eavc n welcome to newcomers to these shores. It would colour the minds of girls, find wnmen which were readv to bo coloured with T:-;ht ideas. (Applause,) Sho had been told, that tho sweet briar and the irorfo plant wcro noxious. .wo»ds in New Zealand, and ' that' it was criminal. to nllow them to grow. They were very beautiful plants, and thev wore cultivated in Enelnnd. So independence and. solfadvnncep'ent. which wero virtues in. moderation, br>c<imo vices when orer-inrinfcpd. She would liko to sra in New Zealand'a (""vtai'i nmonnt of-sentiment in service. Tho fpeling of affection and eoodwill between employer and employed had been held to, lie for "many hundreds of venrs. the h«ritneft almost exclusively of tho Enelish Hcwaft "rowing, rare, and if it di«l out <t would be n sad day for England. Therefore she felt that an institution like the Y.W.C.A. could help to cultivate tho true feoline of courtesy without which no one could have true sympathy. She thought that religion, to be useful, must bo effectual: being Christliko was doiwr pood and being good. , (Applause.) She hoped the association would be permanently established in Wellington. Her Excellency also spoke of the way in which the 'association, hud'worked jn the nast. She had been much taken by the Imperial sentiment in New Zealand, and tho true spirit of patriotism would be fostered in the work of tho society.-' (Applause.) Tho object of the money |they were endeavouring to raiso.we.s to pay; for tho costs inenrred during tho year. They wanted now to erect a buildimr that would vie with that of theY.M.C.A. (Applause.)

.-,' Dr. Findlay. Dr. Findlay said tho w6men' of tho society were nil young in tho vitality of their, enthusiasm. ~ They found . sufficient reward in tho knowledge that they wero brightening less fortnnato lives than their own. It was tho spirit of tho work —a work of Christian lovo and sacrificethat actuated them. Hero in Wellington they had a band of noblo women doing a great and glorious work. : (Applause.) He announced that on Friday next a "furnishing and gift tea" would bo held at tha society's' hostel nnd ' all gifts In money or kind would bo heartily welcomed.; (Applause.) Mr.' Herdmari, M.P, ( Mr. A. L. Herdmau, M.P., after apologising for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., who was down on the prograuimo as a speaker, went on to say that tho great object of tho Y.W.C.A. was to make . woman moro womanly. (Applause.) Ho could think of no finer object an institution could- havo than this. Ho held tho view that tho one characteristic of woman that stands above all others was not her beauty, learning, nor her intellectual gifts, but her womanliness. When she lost thai; quality sho began to lose her influence. When tho association, therefore, had the-object in view-of making women womanly, and that in an ago when tho general trend seemed to ho to' make them moro manly, they would understand how heartily ho supported tho movement, nnd how firmly ho believed in, it, and how cordially ho wished it all success. (Applause.) He also felt: that, the influence of tho asscsiation on tho homo'ljfo must bo very great indeed. Tho influence that a woman, exerted in tho.home was of as great national importance ns that which the man exercised in. his everyday avocntions. (Applause.) Tho man had to fight the battle of life and face the storms and guard those titular his care from the stress o( life's weather. Tho woman was behind, and sho did her great work in sileuco; and when man sought rest after tho weariness of the fray, he found it in tho homo; and in that homo thcro was ono presiding deity and one only,-and that was a woman. . (Applause.) Therefore, ho said again, if tho association mado women more womanly, tho greater influence- would the liouws-exert-on-the national life. (Applause.) If the character of.the British nation was respected among tho nations, it was becauso of tho beautiful home-life of tho people and tho lessons inculcated in.tho young, lessons of sterling worth, contempt of hypocrisy, a clean life »ind an endurance to tho end in tbo cause of right. For an institution' which taught, fostered, and laboured for these ends, ho could only wish every prosperity and good luck for all time. (Loud applause.). ' Contributors. During tho evening songs were rendered by Mr. A. C. Stevens, Miss Eilepn Ward (who was loudly nnd deservedly encored), and Mrs. Fisher (who also received u loud recall). Miss Bertha Miles performed a character song, a Dutch item, with tho assistance of a chorus of young lady friends also in costume; and Miss Haybitllo rendered very prettily tl>e character song "Grow Little Mushroom Grow." She was assisted by a party of "gay-mnkors," while tiny Miss Helen Marchbanks sat in the costume of a frog on a large mushroom. Mr. Mills gave a musical monologue, being recalled. Ono of the chief items of (ho programme was the grand parade in the costumes of the nations by tho Y.W.C.A. girls, trained nt very short notice bv Mr. .T. W. M. Harrison. The aceomSrinists wero Mrs. D. M. Findlay and tiss Lynch.