Visit of Miss Rouse.

During the week from 20th to 26th May, the Union was visited by Miss Ruth Rouse, the Women's Secretary of the World's Student Christian Federation.

On Thursday, May 21st, Miss rouse addressed Women Students on the responsibility of Christian Union or to the A.S.C.U., but was world-wide, extending to every field in which the World's Student Christian Federation did or might exercise over those of another, by shewing how Japan had been the means of forwarding the Christian Union movement in Sweden.

Miss Rouse showed, by instances which have come under her personal notice, how it is possible for the spirit of a College to change from agnosticism to Christianity through the agency of one who, not necessarily talented or popular, stood faithful to her belief.

On Friday evening, May 22nd, Miss Rouse was tendered a reception at the Girls' College, by the Unions of the Victoria College and the Girls' College, Professor Easterfield being in the chair. Short speeches were made by the Presidents of the two Unions, and Miss Rouse gave a short account of the work and objects of the Federation. Musical items were rendered by members of the Glee Club and Girls' College, and by Mrs. Glover-Eaton.

On Saturday evening Miss Rouse addressed the fortnightly meeting of the Union at the College. She spoke at some length of the difficulties common to students all the world over. She shewed how it was the experience of all students to encounter, at various stages of an active intellectual life, restlessness, despair, sin, doubt, fear, or lack of purpose; all of them difficulties of which arduous efforts in every direction of University life could provide no solution. The one solution which page 69 students all the world over had been able to find, lay in faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His will.

On the afternoon of Sunday, May 24th, at the Hostel, Miss Rouse addressed women students on the work of the Missionary Settlement for University Women in India. She was herself one of the pioneers of the Settlement, and her account of the work amongst the Parsi women was very interesting. The student work in India is under the supervision of a joint committee, consisting of two members of the Student Department of the Y.W.C.A. and two of the Missionary Settlement, with another elected by these four. The important work is carried on chiefly by Christian hostels, and corresponds to the work of our Christian Union.

The work amongst the Parsis is the most difficult missionary work in the world. It is useless to offer them material advantages, educational or otherwise, because they already possess these. In some subjects, such as English, French and music, the lessons given by the missionaries, who are all University graduates, are superior to those obtained elsewhere, and so a few are reached in that way. The chief means of reaching them, however, is by visiting in private houses, In early times the first question put by a Parsi lady to the visiting missionary was, "Are you married? If not, why not?" Now it is rather, "Can you sing or play?" Their fondness for music has therefore given to the missionaries, and to the message which they bring, an entry into many Parsi households. Miss rouse also spoke very highly of the work of our settler, Miss A. W. Griffiths.

On Sunday evening, May 24th, Miss Rouse addressed a public meeting at St. John's Hall, Dixon Street, again describing the work of the Federation in the numerous countries in which it is carried on.

Messrs D. M. Lyall and S. S. Addison, the Travelling Secretaries of the A.S.C.U., were in Wellington during Miss Rouse's visit.