WARTIME XMAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20124, 19 December 1939, Page 14

WARTIME XMAS

W.I. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE APPEAL TO MEMBERS The first war-time Christmas facing the Poverty Bay Federation of 'Women’s Institutes, coinciding with the Dominion’s centennial celebrations, is the subject of a message from the president of the federation, Mrs. R. H. Wicksteed, Ruatoria, appealing to 'both Maori and European members to finite in daily thought forces of prayer to help the world out of its misery and unrest. Her message is as follows: — “Dear fellow-mem'bers, —On behalf of our federation I wish to thank the editor and staff of the Herald for their interest in our movement and the valuable space they give us in their paper. “Since visiting you all in August I feel that we know and understand one another well enough for me to give you a message straight-forward and unafraid. With so much sadness and destruction going on in the world the

word ‘merry’ does not seem a wish for this Christmas, but we can make it a cheerful one, count our many blessings, and give thanks for the great privileges we enjoy in Ihis wonderful little country of ours.

“Reading the ‘Tales of Our Pioneer Women,’ we realise what their vision, labour and prayers have achieved for

“We each build our own world and thought is the force with which we build, for thoughts are forces, and powerful ones, but to have that power they must be spiritualised and in harmony.

“We can all choose which thoughts we shall think—those of an evil, destructive, weak character, or those w'hich are good, constructive and strong. As a centennial commemoration, will you all, mv Maori and pakeha sisters, unite with me in daily sending out thought forces in prayer, asking God to help the world out of its misery and unrest. “Only what we learn hv experience can we truly leach and life’s lessons have taught me that ‘Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the rest of our cares and the calm of our tempest.’ So will it he with the world if our prayers and faith are strong enough. “May our next Christmas be one of peace and goodwill throughout the world.”