TALK TO MOTHERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 222, 19 August 1937, Page 12

TALK TO MOTHERS.

BY SISTER EVANS. Tlie speaker at the monthly meeting of All Saints’ branch of the Mothers' Union, yesterday, was Sister L. Evans, who gave an invigorating address on “The Greatness of Motherhood.” Public monuments were erected to great men, said Sister Evans, but they saw nothing to perpetuate the memory of the great men’s mothers. In ail her travels, over thousands of miles, Palmerston North was the onTy place wherein she had seen the figure of a woman erected as a war memorial, something on which the city was to be congratulated. Almost every outstanding personality had had behind him a great mother, continued the speaker. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States and the foundation of the liberation of slaves, pointing to his mother, had said: “Thank her that the slaves are free, and not me.” Napoleon 'owed a great deal to his mother, who came from the battlefield to give him birth and saved his money when others were spending theirs. Shakespeare’s father was really an intellectual weakling; he was taught strength and determination and given vision by his mother., It was through the determination, vision, and integrity of his mother that .Robert Burns became what he did ; when he was only a week old the

dilapidated plaster house which was his home collapsed in a storm, and his mother had to seek / shelter for them both at a neighbour’s place some distance away. To be a mother, therefore, was a high calling and they must never lower their colours.

, There was a big job left for the mothers to do, the speaker added. When they had great mothers they had great men; great mothers and men meant great nations. It was the mother who was capable of turning the bouse into a home, and as long as the mother was worthy of the title everything could be all right in spite of a worthless father. Continuing, Sister Evans said that some women were apt to be too smug. It would be a good idea if we were more alive and warmed-up Christians. If we could not bring future mothers to the message, then we must tako it to them. A back-to-Christian-living campaign would be a good idea. Cooking for the family was another job for the mothers, proceeded thp speaker. She advised her listeners to partake of food in the home circle where there should bo an atmosphere of harmony which was most beneficial. A mother put that valuable ingredient, love, into food. Sister Evans urged her listeners to get the “brown sugar habit,’.’ and to guard against acid complaints which were increasing, some foods having a definite acid reaction. Far too much salt wa6 used in cooking; vegetable salt should be used as much as possible. To-day all our food was over-civilised, unless housewives retained an alert mind in making purchases, and everything was overcooked —too much dead food was taken into the system. Brown or unpolished rice, and not white, was recommended.

“Look after your health and appearance so that your sons and daughters .may be proud of you,” the speaker advised. “When you reach the meridian of life, stay there, and don’t slide down.” Cell salts had a great deal to do with health, the speaker concluded Mrs E. Dawick (enrolling member) thanked Sister Evans for her address.

' Enjoyable songs,, “Lackaday,” and “When the Great Red Dawn is .Shining,” were contributed by Betty Joughlin (accompaniste, Mrs A. J. Hunt), and an amusing recitation, “Foolish Questions,” by Isla Carrin.

An invitation was received from the Shannon branch to attend a birthday party, and a diocesan report was read by the secretary (Mrs C. E. Metcalfe). Mrs F. Buck, of Wellington, who represents the branch on the diocesan council, was welcomed as a visitor.

Mrs Briden .Tones reported on recent meetings of the Manawatu branch of the National Council of Women. Afternoon tea was served by Mesdames O. Dunstan and E. Ashcroft (conveners), J. I*. Stubbs, and Miss A. Rawstrom.