Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

26 THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN. come good citizens, then girls must be well educated in order to help them at home. Husbands are made noble by noble wives. Statesmen, soldiers, doctors, ministers—men who stand before the public and thrill the world with their eloquence, their cleverness, their strength—who can tell how much they owe to the intelligent sympathy of their wives at Home? Then, again, Education gives the wife the means of diversion when alone. How very unworthy of women is Gossip ! Afternoon Teas, Bridge Parties, the care of poodles— they are not elevating at the best. If well educated, a woman would find diversion in higher things. A woman who went thor¬ oughly into History or Science would never make an idol of a mere dog, or waste her time and money over card-playing and gambling. Among our own class a while ago, great pre¬ judice existed against what is called a clever woman. She was labelled " Dangerous," and men generally fought shy of her. At one time girls were almost afraid to be called learned or clever, because men so evidently preferred the flightier and flirtier sort. To¬ day things are different. Men are looking for comradeship at Home, and women are helpmeets indeed. Lastly, educated mothers can best train their children. Time was when mothers clothed and fed their children, and then thought they had done the whole of their duty. To-day they must be in a position to care for their minds as well as their bodies— to be able to develop the very first germs of knowledge that appear. A wise man long ago said that " the foundation of every state is the education of its youth," and in giving her children education a woman is giving them what can never be taken from them. The more thorough her own education has been so much the better for those committed to her care. If she wishes her children to keep up in the race of life, the best equip¬ ment possible is a good education. If a woman wants to serve her country, how can she do this better than by teaching and guid¬ ing the young ? What more effective field can she have for her labours than her own hearth? That is a platform broad enough for her best gifts. The home is a kingdom, and woman may use it for gracious missions. Some have gone so far as to say that one good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. Be that as it may, the home training cer¬ tainly comes first, and the schoolmaster's after. There is a saying that " Men rule the world, and women rule men." The woman it is who has the first and the best chance of training the future rulers of our land—the men who govern and the men who fight, the men who build up em¬ pires and rule kingdoms. If well trained herself, she can pass her training on. I have done. Many grave charges have been brought against our trained women. Some perhaprs true, many undoubtedly false. We are only at the beginning yet, and begin¬ nings are often faulty. With more exper¬ ience, with education not as the exception but as the rule, we shall grow out of our mis¬ takes. Welsh mothers will make Welsh homes happier, homelier, and heavenlier. Tabernacle, Bangor.—It has been a matter of the deepest regret that the able and energetic minister of this church (Rev. T. J. Wheldon, B.A.) has been so seriously disabled by illness, and now the an¬ nouncement is made that he is finally resigning the work. The whole Connexion knows of the power of Mr. Wheldon. In all the courts of the Connexion, from the General Assembly down, he has been known as a man of exceptional power. It is very seldom that ja, man exercises so much honest influ¬ ence as he has done among us. Very hard work, very brilliant organising ability, very clear sight of needs and of possibilities, very wholesome hatred of cant and humbug, very restless energy—these great qualities have made him the force he'has been. If any reader would like to see a well-organised church, undertaking enormous responsibilities, bearing very heavy burdens easily and successfully, doing notable work with impressive unity, let him pay a visit to the Tabernacle. A magnificent chapel, built on the scale of a Cathedral, and to last for centuries, is but one expression of this organisation and service. All departments of the work are well ordered, and are a credit to the genius of the pastor and the people together. Keen indeed are our regrets that the pastor has been disabled in the midst of his undertakings, and our sympathies are with the people also in their deprivation of his leadership and help.