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ME AND COUNTRY Summary Issue 1950.51 mâ€"#â€"â€"_mf MRS. F. E. DAVIS, N.F.W.L MRS. RAYMOND SAYRE, A.C.W.W. PRESIDENT SPEAKS IN Burma's NOTE: We publish below the (ext 01 Mrs. Surres’ speech given on “Dune: D-yj' at the 1950 Triennial Confluence ol the Anom- uiud Country \Yomsn of the World. Since this is our first Triennial Con- ference to be held in Denmark, I think you might like to know a little more intimately something about our As- sociation. The inspiration for this movement first came from the late Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair. As President of the International Council of Women, she called together a small Committee in 1929 to conâ€" sider the possibility of forming an Internationl Group of rural women. One of this group was our first Presi- dent, Mrs. Watt. From this initial Committee the movement grew until today we number 103 Member So- cieties with some 5% million mem- bers in 23 countries. At the Meeting of the International Council of Women in Vienna in 1930 a permanent Comâ€" mittee called the Liaison Committee of Rural Women's and Homemakers’ Organizations was set up to carry on the work and headquarters were later established in London. In June of 1933 at the Meeting in Stockholm, it was felt that the time had come to tranform the Liaison Committee into a constitutional as- sociation. The present name was agreed upon and a constitution adop- ted and the organization was founded. Subsequent meetings were held in Washington D.C., in 1936, in London in 15739 and after the interval of the war when we were cut off from many of our Societies and lost Contact alto- gether with others, we met again in 1947 in Amsterdam. From a very small beginning we have grown to large proportions, not only in num- bers but in influence and potential strength. Our badge, with its compass, points lo the four corners of the earth from uhicli we come. Its colour of soft green symbolizes the carpet of the good earth which is our common life and work. Its round circle denotes the symbol of our friendship that circles the globe. In forming the Association one of the main purposes was to “provide a means of communication between countrywoman‘s organizations all over the world". It is of this pur- pose that I wish to speak to you this evening. In 1339 I first visited this country after having attended the meeting of the Associated Country Women of the World in London. I carried home with me many memories of the beauty of this land, its tidy farms, its neat cot- tages and the charm of this great and entrancing city of Copenhagen. COPENHAGEN But, also, I remembered something elseâ€"the bridgesâ€"swung across from island to islandâ€"bridges that unite the country and bring its stream of life together. I think these bridges can very well stand as a. symbol of the meaning of the Associated Coun- try Women of the World for (it is indeed our purpose to build bridges of goodwill that will cross the bar- riers and the frontiers of the world and unite us through common under- standing. Our bridges are not made of steel and stoneâ€"they are anS‘ ible bridges held together by the ten- dcr strands of friendship. It is true that the world becomes everyday s more tightly knit place. Science has bridged both time and space so that we are one small world where “no man is an island unto himâ€" self”, or ever can be again. But the world has not become one in spirit. It is separated by misunder- standing and feelings of nationalism. Moreover it is a very great mistake to say that the people of the world are all the same. Though we have many things in common we are dif- ferent in many ways,â€"language customsâ€"living conditionsâ€"race. We need to appreciate these differences, understand and respect them. For instance. if you are not from Saudi Arabia you probably do not know that there are no public motion picture theatres in that country because the showing of the human image is con- trary to the Islamic law. This may not seem important to you, but it ac- tually is because facts like these must be known before we can help increase means of communication among the peoples of the world. For peace will come to a troubled world not by the solution of our economic woes alone but from understanding and goodwill. What are, then the bridges that link us together? We as women have two priority ambitions which we share with every woman in the worldâ€"â€" peace and freedom for our homes and our families. The heart of a mother beats no less strongly for her chil- dren whether she lives in one country or another. We are linked together by the work of our organization. When people plan together, work together, share the ups and downs of a common pro- ject, then it is that friendship and undcrstanding grows. The French aviator-author wrote in “Wind, Sand and Stars", “No man can draw a free breath who does not share with other men a common and disinterested ideal. Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction". So we build a bridge Pcrlh County Girls. Skit “From Homemaking Clubs in Women’s Di sionâ€"A Natural Step” presented 8! lbs Women’s Division of the Convention of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. Left ta right.- Verna Stacey (St. Mary‘s), Mrs. Alrncda Sinbe (Stratford), Joy Greenwood (Mitchell), Mrs. Arnold Robinson (St. Mary’s) and Olive Roger (Munml- of understanding by working to- look ther for common goals We hit at each other but outward to- gether in the same direction. '1 brid e of understand- ingwlfy ggigonil contacts. Our Confer- ences, such as this one, our Letter Fricnds’ project, our exchange “Sits in other lands, help us to see other countries, not as gOVemmemSv by: as people; and other pe'ople not a; for‘ eigners" or “aliens but as uman bell-Aries of Your younS ,DmfiSh farm girls who visited America last year on the 4-H Club exchange PTDSTamIende spoke at a meeting which I_ attend . I shall never forget her simple but eloquent plea for understanding 35 she said: “I have found that the greatâ€" est wordsâ€"home. family. friends, motherâ€"have the same meanmeuto the hearts of people m every land . Fortunately, friendship and under- standing do not have to wait on the solution of economic and Palltlcal problems. In truth, I think the pro» motion of goodwill must2 precede whatever world governmen We may eventually agree ‘upon.' A.C.W.W. does hope to make it possible for the country women who live in Ceylon or Australia or France to know the women of Denmark or England or America as neighbours and as friends. As with friendship, so our common work builds for us a bridge of under» standing. Everywhere I go in the world I find country people talking about the same things, whether about the conservation of the soil or mar- kets and prices, or droughts and floods. Everywhere I go I hear the members of our organizations talk- ing about the same interestsâ€"their children, their gardens, their homes and the same problemsâ€"how to en- lighten the work of countrywonien, how to extend the work of their as- sociations and most of all, how to find time to do everything that must be done. Our common work and in- terests speak a universal language whether in Nyasaland or Iceland, New Zealaml or Denmark. Not only our work, but also our common joys in the beauty and hap- piness of life build a bridge of under- standing. Though we do not speak with the Danish tongue we have listened with great enjoyment and understanding to the Danish music and we have de» lighted in the spirit of their singing. Though many of us know no word of Danish, we have long known the friendly, generous, democratic spirit of the Danish people through the well-beloved fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen who spoke a uni- versal language to the imaginations of children in every land. What child has not read at his own firesideâ€" and if he has not read, is poorer for it. Knowledge can build a bridge of understanding. Trading ideas in the world is as important as trading goods. We need to exchange experiâ€" ences, we need to exchange infor- mation about our countries, our agri- culture, our organizations, our family life, our customs, our daily lives. In the final analysis it is peoples’ at. titudes, emotions and behaviour to- ward each other that count for peace or war. If we are to have a good world, we must first of all have good people in it. Above all else our common moral faith in human brotherhood can build a bridge of understanding, Article I of the Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations says: “All_nien are born free and equal in dignity and rights and should act to- ward one another in the spirit of brotherhood". There are many people in the world today who not only be. lieve this but are ready to act upon it, In these this of crisis when the Peace 9f the world is fearfully threat- ened. it is not easy to live up to our beliefs. Fear and doubt enter our TO VISIT CANADA Through the kind offices of l..’ill',' Reading who is Trustee of the Inna}. rial Relations Trust Mrs. F. E. Davis, a representative of the National Ill-d. oration of Women's Institute will lie provided with funds to finance a hm months tour in Canada. The pul‘pnw of this visit is to learn as much m possible of the way of life of the |r‘ u. ple and their educational, political ml economic systems and be able to give intelligent and factual information to , the Women's Institutes in Engluud Mrs. Davis will be in Ontario from June 9â€"23 and in addition to ill:- Women‘s Institutes will be introdu hi to other women's organizations ml visit some of our universities, sclinuic. hospitals and camps. Mrs. Dav-is received a B.Sc. T'w chology degree from University Full. ege. London and later lectured in I" chology and Physiology at Liverp Physical Training College. After her marriage in 1939 lu lived in a small rural village in I'm byshire and became a member of rm local Institute and entered into :ll the village activities. Mrs. Davis is a member of ‘ N.F.W.I. Sub-Committee and is a \ '- untary County Organizer. She recur ly resigned as Hon. Treasurer fit the Executive Committee of llcrl shire Women’s Institute. Mrs. Matthew Elliott, aged 10” years cuts 50th Anniversary Cake for Agincourt Women's Institute. J. lives. Many have lost faith_in num- kind. Many have lost faith itself. .1 But, I think the countrywoman “I not lose faith in this ideal of brother- hood. She lives too close to a wor_ of nature that seems each Y9” c" dw' (Continued on page 11, col. 1)