"IN MEMORY OF MOTHER."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10084, 5 September 1910, Page 5

"IN MEMORY OF MOTHER."

CELEBRATING "MOTHERS' DAY" AT THE X.M.C.A.

OPENING OF THE GYMNASIUM,

The biggest, and one of the moat successful gatherings the Y.M.C.A. have had so far, describes in part the function celebrated in Masterton yesterday—"Mother's Day." Much preparation made, yet the proviaionary staff was taxed to the uttermost. Thanks tn an army o£ impromptu waiters, fresh tables were

I quickly provided, and as quickly I filled, til! nearly one hundred were (present.- Almost fifty mothers and as many sons took part in the gathering, and stayed to the end. The President flof the Y.M.C.A. Ladies' Auxiliary (Mrs J. man) made an excellent chairwoman, and after the audience had sung "Tell Mother I'll be There," Mrs Blackman spake just a few words of appreciation of the honour placed upon her in presiding over the first meeting held in tbe new hall.

Dr. Helen Cowie gave an inspiring address on "Tbe Relationship of I Mother and Son." Several instances lof the value of this relationship were instanced by references to older times. This relationship was often seen in these days at its best. Mother as playmate, comrade, and adviser was no new role. It had been said by one great man, "That a truly great man never had an inferior mother." However cad a son may be; however often a fatter may cast bis son out—mother would always and ever find excuse. This would remind us of the sad side of this relaiionthip. Very often it was found the mother'? lave was traded on. A better picture could be drawn and some closing advice to the

sons present as to ths way to draw this picture was given. Better than a monument created in memory of mother after her death was servicegood deeds and kind actions during her life. This all could do.

Mr J. Gray very feelingly and appropriately sang "Where is my Wandering Boy To-night. - Lieut:-Colonel Knight, of the Salvation Army, then addressed the assemblage. As soon as he got into the hall a white buttonhole had been pressed upon him, and he was requested to wear it "In Memory oi Mother.'* He did wear it, and in memory of a dear, Rood mother new passed away. He observed huw much tae wird "mother" was used, and thought there was something in a true mother's love—very much akin to the love of Jesus Christ. It was this that made the remembrance of mothers' love last so long in the minds of men. Ha[had oiten advised young women to have nothing to do with the young man who lacked respect for his imthei —for sure enough and soon enough that young man would lose raspect for his wife. Mr Gray joined with Mr Ibbetson in the singing of a duet, "Drifting Away from God," in the chorus of which the congregation joined.

Mr James McGregor, senr, then | spoke. H«s at once got his hearers' i attention by very significantly remarking that first he wanted to congratulate the Y.M.C. A-for having obtained so fine a hall, but secondly, and particularly in the fact, that they had seen fit to baptize and christen it to the memory of "Mother" Its first meeting was 10 be held in honour of "Mother." There said, only one really pretty cnild, and every mother had it. There was only one real good mother, and everybody in „the hall had, or bad had her. , The whole gathering was a huge success, and a distinct feature of the meeting was the wearing of a white buttonhole by every man of the fifty who were present, Thanks to Mrs H. T. Wood (who brought a basketful of splendidly arranged white buttonholes), and to Mesdames 0. Fragnell, Dayah, Pryor and Wimsett. There was no shortage in this respect.

A placard over the speaker's table, with the legend thereon, "When did you write mother last?" was in keeping with the spirit of the gathering.

The ladies of the Anglican Church assisted "provisionally speaking," and a hearty vote of thanks waa moved by the secretary 10 Mrs B (adman, the speakers, and all, » vote which was taken up and carrku by acclamation. The Doxology had alaiost ciojed the gathering, when a member look up the cry a "cl-p for the mothers." This was also taken up and a memorable gathering ended.