MODERN GIRL SUMMED UP

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 1

MODERN GIRL SUMMED UP

ARCHBTSHOP GTVES II Fit A HINT

(Auckland “Star.”)

‘•Woman Inis come into n glorious freedom,said Arch-bishop Averill, preaching at St. Matthew's last Sunday. “hut is there not just a danger of misintorpretating or even abusing the liberty? 1 believe one of the greatest needs of the present day is die consecration of freedom to show that (his liberty does not mean pleasing ourselves and riding rough-shod over tlio principles and prejudices ol others.” The Arch bishop thinks highly of the young woman of to-day, and has no sympathy with those people who simply decry her and her changed ways. He said in the course of Ins remarks that young people of the present clay had come into wondorfu heritage <>i freedom. Periods ol transition were always fraught with danger, but it was better to guide the changes into the right channels than to regard them as ruthless and dangerous. Old people always found if difficult to reconcile themselves to changes, hut it was hotter to view the altered conditions with nn lopen mind than try to suppress them with a criticism that was noi-ii-cr wise nor kind.

The greatest asset of the modern young woman was the proper use of her freedom. Although the gii'l of the day was not a whit behincl the young woman of a previous age in ideals, moral feeling, and a desire to render useful service, there was the odd exception of a type which sought- notoriety and revelled in the footlights. “I believe, however, that the young woman who rejoices in shocking the susceptibilities of the more conventional is influence far more by a spirit of bravado and a fear of being regarded okl-fashioned than by a real liking for the things she does,” said the speaker. “What one most regrets when hearing of a lack of moral restraint is the loss inflicted on society by the fact that gifts, graces and opportunities which might have been used for higher endeavour have drifted into unproductive channels.”

The preacher reminded his hearers that there was no conflict between nrlble ideals and a life of happiness and enjoyment, and he warned the young woman of to-day that it behoved her to prove to the world that her social freedom, far from being a cloak for wickedness was as great an incentive to living a full and unselfish life as was service to the Creator. Liberty was a grand word, but it was often used where license was meant, and the only real libortv consisted ol freedom to do what we ought.