LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1941, Page 7

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

MONTHLY MEETING HELD YESTERDAY MRS MERRINGTON SPEAKS TO MEMBERS. The monthly meeting of the League of Mothers was held in the Parish Hall yesterday. In the unavoidable absence of the president, Mrs L. B. Maunsell. Mrs E. J. Rich presided over a good attendance of members. A letter was received from Mr Williams, secretary of the Mission to Seamen, Wellington, thanking the league for the donation of a box of cakes. Mrs Rich conveyed the gratitude of the league to Mrs Maunsell and Mrs Irving for their gift of crockery. Before the choir rendered their item Mrs Hope took the opportunity of farewelling Mrs Burton and presenting her with a gift of remembrance. The good wishes of all members will follow Mrs Burton to her new home in Napier. Mrs Burke sang two solos. Mrs Rich introduced the speaker for the day, Mrs Merrington, of Wellington, who based her talk on “The League's Sure Foundations." On every hand one met with groups and conferences of people eagerly discussing the new world order, and circulars had been sent to the League asking it to affiliate, she said. All were agreed that the nucleus of the desired order was the home, and it was with that very idea in her mind that Lady Alice Fergusson started the Mothers’ League sixteen years ago. Lady Fergusson was disturbed by the drift from the home of the Christian standard, and observing the great work of the Plunket Society in its infinite care for the body of the child from birth, Lady Alice envisaged a great army of New Zealand mothers ready to do as much for the soul of the child. Mrs Merrington went on to say that just as secular education was lacking in vitamins and had no real foundation, so a home was not truly a home unless it was built of the invisible things of the spirit. Every mothei* must remember that such things were caught, not taught, and that she could not inspire in her child \Hrat she did not possess. Mrs Rich, in passing a vote of thanks to Mrs Merrington, voiced the sentiment of everyone present when she said that the talk had not only been helpful but inspiring and made all feel the great part the Mothers' League could play in the better world all looked for. Afternoon tea was served by Mesdames Traynor, Peterson, Burke, Ogilvy and Whitton.