625th ordinary GENERAL MEETING, 



HELD IN COMMITTEE ROOM B, THE CENTRAL HALL, 

 WESTMINSTER, S.W., on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7th, 1921, 



AT 4.30 P.M. 



Dr. Mary D. Scharlieb, C.B.E., in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the previous meeting were read, confirmed and signed. 



The Hon. Secretary announced the following Elections : — Brigadier- 

 General H. R. Adair, C.B.E., as a Member, and Walter H. Frizell, Esq., 

 M.A., J.P., Mrs. H. V. de Satge, and Ronald Macgregor, Esq., as 

 Associates. 



The Chairman then introduced Dr. Amand Routh to read his paper 

 on " Motherhood." 



MOTHERHOOD. By Amand Routh, M.D., F.R.C.P. 



THIS subject was suggested to me last year by Colonel 

 Mackinlay, who was then Chairman of Council. Mother- 

 hood can be discussed from numerous standpoints. 

 Without " motherhood " life would cease to exist. " Be 

 fruitful and multiply " is as much a Precept from God now as 

 it was when first given, although now that our world is weU 

 populated, we are appreciating quality as weU. as quantity, 

 and are trying to make men and women healthy and fit for 

 marriage and parenthood, so as to ensure that their children 

 should also be mentally and physically equipped. This is 

 worthy parenthood and especially worthy motherhood. 



The instinct of motherhood is present in most little girls, and 

 explains their keenness to have their own dolls and pets, or to 

 nurse their own little brothers and sisters. 



Normally, this instinct is less marked as puberty approaches, 

 because of the association of sexual mysteries which perplex 

 the growing girl owing to the want of judicious instruction by 

 mother or teachers. 



If a child's knowledge of maternity and sex is wisely and 

 gradually acquired, especially by nature study, she will pass 

 safely through puberty and adolescence into womanhood 



