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First Award "Our Women's institute Takes a Forward Look" Time is divided into three main parts â€"past, present and future. Each is a link in the chain of time which cannot be broken. These links are interde- pendent and equally important. All our present and our future are built on the past, whether we wish it so or not. In 1947 we had a year of commemoration of the past. We cele- brated the fiftieth anniversary of the Women's Institutes of Ontario. We cast a glance backward at our founder, Adelaide Hoodless. and the accomp- lishments of the past fifty years. In so doing, we realized the heritage which is ours. The past has been an honourable one and we must build on its achievements. The present is with us. Soon it too will become a part of the past. We must act now so that we shall not be ashamed uhen it becomes past. Our motto is “For Home and Coun- try". During the war years we felt very much the impact of Country. We knit and sewed for the Red Cross, we held blood donor clinics, we sent packâ€" ages overseas to our boys in the ser- vices. “"c donated money for “Jam for Britain” and similar projects. We rode on a high wave of patriotism. It was easy to accomplish these things with the impetus of war and its super- charged atmo. there. Now we also think of home and the community in which we live. Home to many means the house in which they live, the small world encompassed within its walls. This is a definition of homc. but it has a narrow meaning in these days. Someone has rightly said “Home is where the hcurt i. . In these days following the war ycars, these days of cold war and indifferent peace, many have no such shelter to call home. Their home must be built on the spirit of love even in the midst of turn. The good Institute member must come from a home of lovc, where she is a burnt-maker in the true sense of lovr- and interest in her family. Then she broadens out to the community interest, which she finds in this organi- zation. We help the worthy causes of our own community. We try to co- operate with other service groups and church groups for the betterment of the town. Now, with world travel so prevaâ€" lent and so speedy the community has become the world mnunity. In this sphere \H- send boxes of food and clothing overseas. We haw contacted members of societies outside Canada. By correspondence bctwcon individu- als we hope to build a bond of friend- ship with other Women's Institutes in countries outside Canada. What does the future hold in store for us‘.’ If we rould look in a ['1‘ :11 ball and see, perhaps we should “ant to withdraw from life. On the other hand, we might be encouraged to con- tinuc. As it is, we cannot foretell the future. \\'c must act in the wav which seems ili‘St to us. \Vhat can we do'.7 “'0 can fostcr a sense of unity within the whole movement of the Women’s Institute. This may he done by interchange of visits between bruncth. by attendance at conven- tions, where we feel the companion- ship with otlu-rs of like interests and the stimulation of others’ thoughts and ideas. We can broaden our outlook by con- tinued exchange of correspondence with groups and individual members outside our own province and country. We can help brim.r about world peace by our study of citizenship, by our behaviour towards others of dif- ferent racial origin. Oui- Institute is non-denominational. This is a fine step towards tolerance. We can make our programmes more interestingr by working harder. Time spent in making a programme inter- TWEEDSMUIR HISTORY ESSAYS esting and informative is well spent. We must remember that we are try- ing to learn something. The social hour is important too, for recreation and good fellowship, but we must not neglect the educational side. We can advertise our Institute by personal contact, through the press and by talking. Men say that women do a great deal of talking. Well,_why not taik of something worthwhileâ€" the Institute? Let others know what we are doing and how interested we are. We can try to become better home- makers by practicing what we learn at the Institute. Try out the new method of cooking demonstratedor the new hint on housekeeping. Give our husâ€" bands and children the beneht‘of what we have learned at the meeting. I By our actions and our way of life show to those who meet us that the women of the Institute are a fine example of womanhood. We are now on the second half- century. This past year we have read much about the New Look. For our Women's Institute let the New Look be the Forward Look. (Submitted by 4 Mrs. Berton Axford, Delhi). Second Await! "Our Women's Institute Takes a Forward Look" The triumph and glory of the Fif- tieth Anniversary of the inception of our Women's Institute has already died away and now we stand on the threshold of a new Era fraught with inestimable possibilities Before "Looking Forward" let us for one moment reverently and ten- derly turn back some pages from the dim past. We see the age-old pictureia home, a mother, little children. Adelaide Hoodless, through the soul-anguiish of the loss of a little child, gave birth to an institution, which in the course of fifty years embraces the needs of all peoples over the face of the earth. We, the women of nineteen forty- nine, pause to pay tribute to the noble pioneers of the Past and gladly resolve to take up the torch and go forward. As we step courageously out on the “Untrodden Ways" we are deter- mined to make past failures stepping stones and past successes an incentive to greater effort, in bringing about the realization of the highest ideals of these great women of the Past. It is rather singular to note that the agenda of the original W.I. con- sisted of six divisions corresponding almost identically with our standing committees of the present. As we look forward, we are content to live by the same creed, stand on the same platform and continue to strive to make Home, a place where children’s carefree laughter rings forth; and Country a place of which we may proudly boast “This is My Own My Native Land.” To bring this about, we women of the Present must determine, above all else that we will toil unceasingly to rekindle the flickering flame of the lamp of Faith which, if allowed to die, will bring to naught the glorious achievements of those who have blazed the trail for us. 0h, Mothers are your children young tonight? Are their eyes starry with life’s won- dcrment? Gather them close within the circling light of fire and luliip,fi Tell them of Jesus sent to lie upon a stable's fragrant hay. A little Babe, the earth's own Saviour, King. Tell them the story, give them this gift I pray For now, and for their future com- forting. No greater gift can any Mother give to any child Than this glorious truth. Foundation upon which Lives may build and live, 0 lay the rock of faith, while there is ' Anniversary of Central Dumfriu Women's Institute were, gerialazatliléitflgtlll‘i' Laura Rose Stephen, Ottawa, guest speaker and Institute lecturer for 54 years; Miss Hannah Slater, first secretary; Mrs. Wm. Elliott, - . . S. Knapp president- Mrs. N. H. Gillespie, chum, chanztbeerr'ilifiissbeg‘zlrlsirgud‘iien, convenc'r of the Aimiversary Committee and .‘lrs, Eel. March-former president who baked and decorated the festive cake, t. P l’ W en's Institute Exhibit at Stratford Fair. Mrs. T. C. Ballanixne. Eonveziibrsof Paul's W.I., exhibit and president of the South Perth “‘oiwns Institute is shown here arranging the exhibit at the Fair. youth, So swift the years will carry them away Beyond your reaching hands, your voices call. Give them the things they cannot lose today. _ Give them the Christ, the greatest gift of all". _ The Country is just an expansion of the Home. In other words what the individual is, the nation is. Thus a tremendous responsibility is oursâ€" to make home such a place that buys and girls will go from it with heads held high with fearlessness and courâ€" age; with eyes from which gleam the light of faith in God, in themselves, and their fellowmen; with a smile that inspires the down-hearted to take fresh courage; and hands and hearts, reaching out in love, to help mankind, and make the world a better place in which to live. To fulfill this noble purpose, Loveâ€" “the more excellent way”â€"must be the ruling factor in the home. Through example we must teach our children to love God and his neighbor as him- self; to respect the rights of others, while still maintaining his own indi- viduality; and that a good name is better than great riches. A Mother's prayer is,â€" “Father in Heaven make me wise, So that my gaze may never meet A question in my children’s eyes. God give me always kind and sweet And patient too, before their need; Let each vexation know its place, Let gentleness be all my creed, Let laughter live upon my facel" One has said. "No home can rise above the level of the homemaker". So we shall make every effort to keep abreast of the times so that we may be sufficiently well-informed to cope with the problems of the coming gen~ eration. Good books, literature, his- tory, drama. art, poetrv, music and above all, the Book of books shall amofijlirlt‘ ‘l. .e literally breathe their into our home lives. The howl o raging storm will be lulled bi . quiet voice of one reading Wlun-“s immortal “Snow Bound"; on a u- :Ie summer evening, the tender path; - or the words of Gray's Elegy in a I Hun; try Churchyard will stir the he.” ~ oi the youngest in the circle. I We shall cultivate in our children an appreciation of all that is b‘ ful, and a keen enjoyment of simple things in life; the glory n? 'lil‘ sunset, the first evening star, the l [u crescent moon, to which they will i ' 1 give expression in music, poetr: or art. Finally looking forward, individual members of the W.I. faithfully endeavour to carry out ‘i our “Home Community” into tho: ger “Canadian Community” and u! mater into that “World Cormunr ’; those principles which will haste: - fulfillment of the Prophecy of lsmli 2:4 "They shall beat their swords "do plowshares, and their spearsum" pruning hooks; nation Shall. not Int~ up sword against nation, neither SM” they learn war anymore.” (Submitted by Mrs. W. H. McCreary, Carleton Place). I l Maple Grove, Durham We'fi‘i local dentist gave an address on t W Dentistry" and from it youni! ("Mimi received a wealth of information 31“ advice. Pine Grove. Stormont South: An if teresting discussion followed 5 P nresentinr.r of the paper “How tug; Women Meet the Challenge of The- Times". A d Ni issin Junction, Parry SW"? Nort : ’I'hge Township Council attede ed the Institute meeting and Wri‘fd pated in a discussion of dis“ problems.