LEAGUE OF MOTHERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 142, 16 May 1940, Page 13

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS.

TERRACE END BRANCH. Alothers’ Day was celebrated by the Terrace End branch of the League of Mothers at their meeting yesterday, in the Coronation Hall. The stage 'was decorated with flowers and white heather. Airs E. Dyniock presided and conducted an admission service, assisted by Airs H. E. Townshend, the new members being Alesdames Alorgan, Whiting, Wildbore, A. S. AVard, Hambling, and Chapman. Congratulations were extended to Airs Hansen on the arrival of a son. Items were given by the choir, the conductor being Mrs D. Williams and the accompanist Airs W. E. Ander-: son. Recitations were contributed by; Dorothy MeKegg and Jeanette I Speight, and songs by Margaret Alderson. Mrs Garrick was presented with a box of flowers on behalf of the j choir, in honour of the 25th anniver- 1 sary of her wedding, celebrated in March. The oldest mother present,' Mrs Norris (with 11 children) was pre-: sented with a spray, a similar compliment being paid the youngest, mother, Airs Eaglesome. The principal speaker was Rev. Clarence Eaton, of St. Paul’s Church, who gave an inspiring address on a famous mother, Susannah Wesley. | The mother of John Wesley, said; Air Eaton, was one of the famous women of all time. Of her three sons, one was destined to mould to a new type the religion of the race; another to be the greatest hymn-writer in English literature; while Samuel, the eldest, had a vigour of intellect almost equal to his more famous brothers. The mother of these sons would have been a remarkable woman in any century. She was nobly born—a grand-niece of the Eai'l of Anglesey and daughter of Dr. Samuel Aimersley, a Nonconformist divine. Susannah Annersley married Reverend Samuel Wesley at the age of 19, and they had 19 children. John Wesley was the fifteenth child. Samuel Wesley was a father who made great sacrifices for his children, but was imperious-minded and improvident ; his political quarrels with his neighbours added many worries to Airs Wesley’s life. The task of educating her children fell largely into the mother’s hands. She revealed a, rare gift of making the pursuit of knowledge delightful. Tne religion of the home was a master force. This devoted mother trained her brood in habits of order, patience, courtesy and obedience. She set obedience above every other virtue. Airs Wesley’s Spartan methods would not wholly commend themselves to our day, but the atmosphere of the home was love, and love of a deathless quality. Susannah Wesley died at the age of 73, but not before she bad seen the fruit of her love and self-sacrifice through the ministries of her gifted sons, John and Charles, bestowing on England a heritage of righteousness and peace. t Airs Dymock expressed thanks to the speaker. Airs E. Thwait.es was door hostess and afternoon tea was served by Airs Lucas (convener), also Alesdames Eadie, Tregurtha, Sorenson, Blaxland, Atkinson, Alclville, Johnson, AlcDonnell, A. Holmes, Anderson and O’Brien. The happy thought was given by Airs Lewis. Mrs Hansen thanked the artists and hostesses.