THE Y.W.C.A.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1922, Page 5

THE Y.W.C.A.

AN INSPIRING ADDRESS j h At the invitation of the individual members of the board of directors some friends gathered to meet Miss Florence Birch at the Clarke Memorial Hostel on Friday afternoon. When afternoon tea had been served, Mrs. A. E. Walker called upon the organising secretary to address the gathering. Miss Birch congratulated the citizens of New Plymouth upon the picturesque surroundings of their town. Of the many parks she had seen in different, places ( she did not know another where art and nature had combined to make such beauty as the Pukekura Park. The mountain gave a constant call to aspire to purer heights, and the sea sparkled with a brightness that seemed to be reflected in the eyeis of some of the happy people. The Taranaki district was evidently heading for progress, with its harbor, hydro-electric power, etc. New houses and buildings had sprung up here at a. greater rate than elsewhere, and, what was better still, the people were to be congratulated upon the evidences ,of a growing community consciousness, evidenced by the unprecedented way it had handled its unemployment problem in fine co-operative spirit, by its community club and its life-saving societies, meant development. The self-conscious-ness of adolescence gave place to the larger consciousness of right relationship with others in the full grown citizen. In every place there were two kinds of forces or purposes at work, those that made for progress, such as sympathy with others, the light of true reL ligion, courage to advance, and all the fine educational influences; and there were the 'forces of disintegration, envy, suspicion, and distrust of others, all thoughts in the minds of people which hindered the progress of a place. Each social group with a purpose which stood to build up by education or better environment a section of the people was a force that was making for progress. In the forty different countries where the Young Women’s Christian Association was working it was recognised as a force for good. Its purpose was unquestionably sound and definitely Christian. It aimed at building up the character and usefulness of youn? women, and just as a school or college took into consideration the spiritual, physil cal and intellectual development of its students, so the Y.W.C.A. recognised that there must be a continued growth in all these directions in girls and women if homes were to have good mothers and towns have good citizens. It by its influence a better environment for girls, supported the progress provided by others for the all round development of the younger women, and supplemented where there was need. The balanced life with a spirit of friendliness spelt Christianity in the simplest terms. This was what the Y.W.C.A. asked itas members to believe in and stand by.

A visit round the world to the different associations would give a vision how its grand purpose was being carried out. Evidences would be found in the case of those who arrived as immi- w I grants; in the friendliness shown to the’’ , numbers of lonely girls; or those in need ! of advice who found their way to the Y.W.C.A.; in its application of Christian standards in every part of life; in its health and efficiency programme, physical training courses, educational classes*, and self government club, vocational guidances and employment bureau; in the services at present being rendered in jvar-ridden countries, in its serviee- ; for-other programme which was growing in® size and importance. A glimpse at one association and then another would ■ serve to illustrate the purposes of the Y.W.C.A., being perhaps difficult to read ■ for those who were not in the union I circle and who did not understand •what ' the association stood for present, or who 'forget that like every strong organism ' it must necessarily be a gradual growth or development. ( A visit to hospitals or i the sick in mind and, body would serve I to emphasise the need for a balanced | life. After inviting those present to come : into membership, Miss Birch gave a resume of the forward policy plans for New Plymouth. In view of the annual meeting, the association’s first birthday, members should be preparing to nominate those whom they would choose to fill the vacancies that would automatie- | ally occur on the board, as all the memi bers retired from office in rotation. A I fund had already been started in preparation for raising the salary of a | qualified secretary to lead in the girl citizens’ movements, which was part of the forward policy. Mrs. Henry Weston. the first subscriber, had given £lO with a promise of the same sum annually for life. Vocational guidance would be an important part of the general programme, and meantime some girl committees would plan for such activities as they would like. Miss Birch explained that while the association gloried in serving the ordinary girl who had not had the best opportunities in life, it also stood for any girl who had, and many outstanding/people had been I glad to have the protection and friendly help of the association, as well as the education of the qualified educator’s help. Mrs. W. Amhury thanked Miss Birch for her impressive address, and there was an enrolment of new members at the close of the afternoon.