THE WOMAN’S PART.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 278, 19 August 1918, Page 6

THE WOMAN’S PART.

(I'aper read before Takapuna Union (by Mrs Waghorn.) The world to-day is, passing through a most terrible time darkness, suffering is everywhere; for the flower of the nation's manhood is b'Mng destroyed upon the battlefields of Kurope and Asia. This sad time with its attendant ills, could not have come to pass had not the civilised world needed it; for, in this way, (iod has to teach a lesson to us, His childr n. If the world is to benefit by ♦he Jesson, and if we would save human ; ihc horrors of war in the future, wo worn n must do our part. More is needed from us than the giving of our n *n to fight. Unless this is recognis' d, the sad lesson will need to be gone through again and again, until, by suffering it is learned. What is the great part for the women to play? Is it to train up the children in suc.h a manner tha* the world may become better through them. When reading the other day, 1 came up this beautiful quotation, ‘‘The World moves forward on the feet of the little children.” After being struck by the beauty of the thought, I could not help but see it’s truth; for ujion the efforts made to day for the children, and the success which attends these efforts, depends the luti re of mankind. When our work here is done, it is in their hands that we shall leave the welfare of our country, the future our our beloved Knipre and the training of the next generation. We have always to remember that “the race has not only to continue but progress,” so each succeeding generation should be a step in advance of the last. The privilege and responsibility of this great work of tr.lining the children, and it is the greatest work in the world, lies largely with the mothers and the women. They hav** in their bands, the power to make or mar the' character of the children and through them the character of the nation. Most mothers desire that all things good and beautiful shall come to their children. They plan and contrive w ays and means, and often d* bar themselves even of necessaries that they may give them the things they consider good. If we ask ourselves:

What is the most beautiful thing that a child can have? In nine cases out of ten, nay, I believe in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred, the answer will be a noble character. Characterbuilding is really the greatness of life. Riches may bring comfort and luxury; they only exist for this world no one can carry them into the (»reat Beyond. Our character, with its many qualities, is the only thing that we take with us. Therefore, it is that which is lasting, not that which is transitory which we need to stri.r for and live for. The first thing for a mother to do is to set her own house in order. She must look to herself to see if she is all she would wish to be, for it is by her example that she will best teach her children. The character of the Christ is ever before her as an example, so her life must show the love, the tenderness, the truth and .he purity she would wish to see in her little ones. Let her ask herself: Do I show all the beauties of character that I would have my children associate with the name of mother? Then she can set to work to build into her character the qualities lacking, and to strengthen those that are weak. The every day life will supply plenty of opportunities for this work, and the conscious effort will gain for her a control over herself, which is so necessary for all who have to do with the training of children. Love is the most i>owcrful force in the Universe. True mother love is the greatest and purest of all earthly love; it is nearer the Love of (iod because of that purity. It calls for continuous self-sacrifice. The mother first gives of her body that a soul may be provided with a physical form, in which to learn the lesson of life. Later she gives both time and thought to the upbringing of her children. A mother’s love needs to be strong, for she has always to keep before her the true welfare of the child, or she may err by being too mdu’gent. This would be disastrous, for it would make hei little one s*df indulgent. <Now, self-indulgence, with its sins of sloth .md idleness, undermines character and docs not bring out the application necessary for life. 1 o many mothers, in their desire to sacrifice themselves upon the altar of love think only of what they can do and not of how they can best train a young life to show its love in service.

It is mistaken kindness to do everything for a child. He can be taught from earliest years not only to help himself, but to help others, to show kindness to animals, and to care for plants. A child loves to help; there are so many ways in which he :an be of u-e. In training him to think of others you are training him to be a thorough Christian. Can he be other when he has learned from his mother something of the loving tenderness of th° Christ, as shown in service to all? It is well for a child when he comes to a home where he is provided with a pure, clean body, and surrounded by love and tenderness ; under tnese circumstances he develops quickly to his best, and a good start is given to a life. Obedience is a lesson that cannot be learned too young, .md once learned. will be a great help through childhood. It does not mean taking away of all liberty, for, within bounds, a child rn'eds to be free to develope along his own lines. Timid, self-distrustful children are best helped by the judicious use of praise and encouragement; in this way they gain a certain amount of confidence in their own powers. Kn* courage the good rather than call attention to the bad; faults are never remedied by tailing attention to them. Mothers should try to leave the word “don’t” out of their vocabulary. It will be remember'd that the more flowers there are in a garden the less room for weeds; so cultivate the flowers of a child’s character and allow the weeds to die. Anger should never be shown in a child’s presence, for it will arouse anger in the child, and possibly fear - fear of the results of a mother's anger. This in turn, may lead to untruth, which is nearly always the result of fear, in this way much will be done to a child’s character, and a bad start given to a life. An old friend of mine who has given both time and thought to the study of children and their development, always advises that they be allowed, when playing happily, to work out the game without interruption, as this helps the continuity of thought. The idea of doing away with corporal punishment is gradually gaining ground, and should in time become general.

At one time prisoners, soldiers, sailors and women were thrashed, but it is now only in exceptional cases that this is resorted to. Whipping and slapp ng should be avoided as much as possible. Mmy mothers object to teachers inflicting corporal punishment, and look tor tiV time when it will be done away with in schools. They must not forget that the home training must be such as will allow the teacher to do without it. Whatever form punishment may take, it should be the unavoid tide consequence of the d“od, and never referred to again. The life of a mother is one of constant self-sacrifice; she must be willing to do her work well, then her first thought will be of her home and children. Perfect service cannot be rendered to them if her time and attention are too much diverted into other channels. The result will amply repay for her sacrifice, for she will see her boys and girls grow into noble men and women, who art* able to take their places in the nation, and to help lead it to something better and something nobler, than in the past. I fancy that 1 c an hear some of \ou saying: Phis is quite* an id'*al mother that you speak of. Well, wo must have the ideal mother before we can grow towards being one. When mothers have done all possible for them to do, they may not hav“ ideal children, but their efforts will have helped them to grow nearer the ideal; the next generation will be a step in advance of the hist, and tlry will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have endeavoured to do their best for the souls God entrusted to them, far help and guidance along the Path of Life. In conclusion, 1 would ask mother* to extend their mother-love until it embraces all children, and that in their prayers, they a>k God’s blessing for all. By so doing tin* conditions so become such that even the most neglected child would grow into something better and something nobler than would otherwise hav. been.