“THIS UP-TO-DATENESS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 761, 6 September 1929, Page 14

“THIS UP-TO-DATENESS”

ARCHBISHOP AVERILL HITS OUT OLD FASHIONS THE BEST The craving for “up-to-dateness" j in relation to morality of girls i came in for some trenchant criticism by Archbishop Averill, addressing members at the Auckland Girls’ Friendly Society's annual meeting last evening. ! “HPHERE are many people who think the society old-fashioned.” said the Archbishop, ‘‘but some of the oldfashioned things are still the best. If the Girls’ Friendly Society is oldfashioned. then it stands for something that has never gone out of 1 fashion —womanhood at its best. There are many people who like to be up-to-date, but this ‘up-to-dateness’ consists of a life of independence and licence, which is bad for girls, the community and the country,” he added. Therefore, the Girls’ Friendly Society was just as necessary in the 20tli century as in the years gone by, the Archbishop proceeded. He urged adherence to the principles of the society, stating that by so doing members would feel they were doing their best for girlhood and their country. ••Remember,” Archbishop Averill went on. "a country’s morality can never rise higher than the morality of its women, and an organisation that upholds that ideal is patriotic as well as religious. “Do not be ashamed of the society; it is the hall-mark, of character, and is world-wide, with tens of thousands of girls subscribing to its high ideals.” BUILDING POLICY

The proposed alterations to the lodge in Wellesley Street were referred to by the Archbishop. Ho expressed the opinion that it would be advisable to make additions of a permanent character, rather than spend a large sum on an old wooden building. Adoption of a bold policy on these lines, he claimed, would secure the society a lot of friends and practical support. He brushed aside the society’s fears of what would happen upon expiration of the lease, saying he would be prepared to trust the City Council 50 or 100 years hence, as he trusted it now. Even if the lease did expire he believed that the council would treat the society generously, as the organisation was not only performing work for the City, but for its girls. "I should not allow any thought of the lease to be a tremendous hindrance to extensions,” he advised.

Tho archbishop warmly praised the society’s work, and particularly that of the Junior Committee, whose annual rally he described as most useful and successful. He added a word of advice for future activities. In the past, he said, there had been a little feeling that the society was a bit “exclusive.” He appealed to members to extend to all girls, -"ho might be lonely, strangers, or immigrants from Home, the hand of Christian fellowship, and thus show that the society was not for the edification only of themselves, but to confer a blessing on all girls. He urged members not to grow weary in well-doing in this direction. In concluding, the Archbishop made a strong appeal for co-operation between the society and the Girl Guides. Reference was made in the annual report to tho successful work of the past year. Tho society now composed 12 branches, embracing 200 members, and there was every prospect of Waihi and Warkworth branches being resuscitated. Eight branches participated in the annual rally, at which the challenge cup was won by St. Albans. The building fund was growing slowly and the hope was expressed that in the near future there would be sufficient to warrant extensive alterations to the lodge. Gratification at the society’s progress revealed by the accounts was expressed by Archdeacon Simkin. He referred particularly to credit balance of £3OO which had been invested, as a result of the year’s operations. The debt that confronted the society a few years ago had now been liquidated and the organisation was now contemplating extension of premises.

Mrs. A. W. Averill was re-elected president and the old committee was reappointed with the addition of the following:—Mrs. C. H. Tewsley, Mrs. Knox, Mrs. McCar, Mrs. Keble and Miss Towle.