LECTURE BY MISS BARNES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2410, 16 March 1915, Page 2

LECTURE BY MISS BARNES

e ; —• . THE WORLD'S Y.W.C.A. CONFERENCE. • A public address was given by Miss Helen Barnes, national secretary for the Y.W.C.A. in Australasia, in the Y.W.C.A. rooms,' in Manners Street, last evening, her subject being the World's Y.W.C.A: Conference, which was held in Stockholm, and various incidents leading up to it. The Mayoress, Mrei.J. P. Luke, was in the chair. In the course of her address Miss Barnes touched upon the places-- which were called at en- route, particularly those in which brandies of the association were established. She describedthe building which had been brought into being for the protection of girls in San Fro.iicisco by reason of the great Exposition which had been opened some months, ago, arid following , that she described the association's great building in New York, twelve stories high, .and most beautifully fittad up and furnished throughout, gifts for the equipment of it having been received from all over tho States. An interesting sketch was given ,of Miss Grace Dddge, the head of the organisation throughout the whole of. the Uilited States, whose death took place towards the end of December. She was one ojr tho greatest women it had' been Miss Barnes's good fortune to have ' befln associated with, a magnificent organiser and big mentally and physically. It was one of her steadfast convictions arid one that 6he frequently gave utterance to that no.board meeting of women should last longer than two and a half hours. Alter that decisions were apt to be open to criticism. It was she who was responsible for tho magnificent Toachere' Training College in connection with the association building in Now; -York as iwell as for the lattor itself. ._ -... Stockholm and the Swedish people, with their fine graceful physique, clear skins, blue eyes, and picturesque national dress, which wa<; worn everywhere, greatly impressed Miss Barnes, ill, well as the splendid powers of organisation which were displayed in connection with the conference. An interesting description of the work which was dealt with and of various personalities was also given by Miss Barnes.