Temperance.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 49, 3 March 1894, Page 5

Temperance.

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

Monday, Februara 26th,

The Annual Convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, which is being held this year in Invercargill, was appropriately opened in the Temperance Hall on Monday evening with a welcome teameeting. The hall presented a gay being decorated with 'evergreens and bunting. A firstclass repast was supplied by Mr John Miller, of Conon street.

Mrs Whitcombe (president of the local branch) presided, and the following delegates were present -Mrs ■Schnackenberg (Auckland) president of the Union, Mrs Riddell (Napier) "Corresponding secretary, Mrs Kirkland (Taieri), Mrs McGowan (Dun, «edin), Miss Dalrymple (Feilding)and Mrs Murdoch (Mosgiel.) Addresses of welcome to the delegates were delivered by the Rev. R. Taylor, on behalf of the local branch of the New Zealand Alliance ; Rev. G. Lindsay, on behalf of the Presbyterians of the town ; Mrs C. W. Brown, on behalf of the local branch of the W.C.T.U.; the Rev. A. H. Stobo, on behalf of the Ministers’ Association; and Lieutenant ” Richards, on behalf of the Salvation Army. Mrs Schnackenberg returned thanks ■on behalf of the delegates, and Mrs McGowan gave an interesting account of the Union’s work in Dunedin. The evening’s proceedings were enlivened by vocal selections by Miss Nicholas, Miss Geddes, Mrs Kerr (Blenheim), and Mr W. Quinn. The attendance was huge, and the meeting was a most enthusiastic one throughout. Tuesday, February 28th. The convention was opened at 9.30 with devotional exercises, conducted by Mrs Kirkland. At 10 Mrs "Schnackenberg took the chair, and the roll was called. Many districts were unrepresented. The members present were requested to take their places, and responded accordingly. The delegates who answered to their names represented Auckland, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Feilding, Marton, Wellington, Levion, Lyttelton, Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Timaru, Ashburton, Port 1 'Chalmers, Mosgiel, W. Taieri, Invercargill, Invercargill (Young Women’s). Greetings were then read from the Unions of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South I Australia, great stress being laid | upon the victory recently won for the women of New Zealand ; and many hopes expressed that ere long ; they (the women of the colonies ! mentioned) would share in the tri- 1 mnph. Committees of Resolutions and Plans of Work were appointed. The noonday recess for prayer was ; observed, and then the New Zealand ; President read an address, as under— Beloved Comrades, Meeting as | we do to-day at the beginning of the j ninth year of our existence as a Union, | we cannot help a few words of en- i couragement. When in February, | 1885, our beloved Mrs Leavitt landed ; • on these shores, who among - us had i heard of her, or of the work she came [ here to teach us, and to leave in our [ hands to cany on r 1 Our presence I here is a proof that the fire set goingin N ew Zealand burns to its remotes ! bounds, or we could not have been . called to hold our annual convention , in its most southerly city; and we .find our numbers increasing, and the : interest growing all along the line. , When Mrs Leavitt started out on her | round-the-world mission she took with her new ideas of woman’s position, ! and woman’s work ; these have been , productive of great good to women •in every land, and we are hoping for still greater prosperity, our solemn conviction being that with God's blessing on our united faith and works j a stronger public sentiment shall be •created in favour of personal purity j of life, the suppression by law of j

gambling, and Sabbath desecration, the enfranchisement of the women of all nations, and for the protection of our children and homes. The W.C.T.U. is man3 r -sided, waging a ceaseless and peaceful ’ war against vice in all its known forms ; the forty departments of its work that have grown up are proof of adaptation. These are not all taken up by the Union in any one place, but scope is given for varying talents and circumstances. The most prominent of these in our Union during .the past year is the franchise. When it was telegraphed all over the colony that His Excellency the Governor had signed the amended Electoral Bill giving the women of New Zea-

land the right to crystallise their opinions -at the ballot box, some of us were hardly able to realise it, and even now that we have taken our part in a political election, we have not fully accepted the position in its importance to ourselves and to the State. None of us live to ourselves ; let us ever be on the alert to take advantage of every opportunity for gaining information on matters of general interest, so that we ma}' more intelligently exercise our privilege. And here I would like, in the name of this Union, to express i our thanks to His Excellency, to the members of both Houses of the Legislature, who voted iu favour, and to all who have iu any way assisted in bringing the bill to its final issue—every person, whether man or woman, who has in any way helped us, deserves our hearty thanks. We would especially tender a hearty vote of thanks to our franchise superintendent, for without her constant and persistent efforts, writing up the subject and petitioning both Houses from year to year, we feel sure the bill would not have passed, so to Mrs Sheppard this convention will, I am sure, pass a special vote of thanks, and we trust her trip to the old land will be beneficial to her in every way, and that she will return to us with renewed strength to cany on the various departments under her charge. Bible-reading in State schools is another department, and an important subject for legisiation. Too much cannot be said in favour of dally lessons from the Bible. Nowthat the Electoral Bill, giving women the right to vote, has passed, we are in a position to ask for such measures, as shall, in our opinion, tend to raise the moral standard of the colony. Reform must begin with the youngest members of this young nation, and entering our schools teach righteousness and temperance. Lot the children be educated aright and we have no fear for the future. We are of the opinion that prevention is better than cure, and that if children are not supplied with intoxicating drink they are less likely to have a craving for it as they grow older, and so we approve of the law prohibiting the sale of drink to children. Other forms of impurity are easier dealt with in early life, therefore we demand of our legis-

lators that the age of consent be raised, and because we desire that our children shall have intelligent ideas of the nature and effects of alcohol on the human system we shall ask the Education Department that scientific temperance lessons be given in all our State schools. Other departments will be enlarged upon b}' the various superintendents, but I should be glad if we in New Zealand could take up new lines of wank, in the direction of peace and arbitration, and show a greater activity in all kinds of rescue and reform work. We are thankful that so many of us are spared to continue the crusade, yet we have been called to bow in submission to the all-wise Father, who has removed to Himself our beloved comrade, Mrs Worboys, of Napier. While we mourn her loss to her family, the church, and our union, we cannot but rejoice that our loss is her gain, and pray that we may be faithful unto death. In conclusion I have personally to thank the New Zealand officers and executive for their loyalty and forbeantnee during the year, and trust that we may have a happy convention, and if spared the coming year may be one of continued prosperity to every member of our union throughout the colony, having for our object and aim the enthronement of Christ's spirit in the world. The address was received with acclamation.

The afternoon meeting opened with Bible reading and prayer, led by Mrs Selma ckenburg. The New Zealand Treasurer’s report was read and showed a balance to the credit of the Union. A resolution was passed that the name of the Union should be the “ New Zealand ” instead of ‘‘National” Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Reports of the W.C.T.U. work were read from various New Zealand Unions, giving accounts of the work done during the year, and a special meed of praise was accorded to Mrs Sheppard for her unintermitted labours in regard to the franchise. Wednesday, 28th February. The morning sitting opened with the usual devotional exercises, conducted by Mrs Kirkland. A resolution was passed as to raising the age of consent. It was also resolved that the various Unions of New Zealand be requested to offer prayer at each meeting for their representatives in 'Parliament. A form of initiatory service at the reception of new members into the ranks of the Y.C.T.U. was adopted.

A donation was received from Greymouth for convention expenses, and a letter was read from Mrs Sheppard by way of farewell before her visit to England, after which the noontide adjournment for prayer was taken.

At the afternoon sitting lettei's were read from Australia and elsewhere regarding “ Sabbath Observance,” Peace and Arbitration, and rescue

work also a letter from the “ onlywoman preacher ” in Mexico, asking prayers and sympathy from New Zealand.

A letter from the United States asked for full particulars as to the machinery by which the -women’s franchise was obtained in New Zealand.

Tii rasuAY, Ist March. The vnoxming sitting was opened with devotional exercises conducted by Mrs I). Mac (loan. Reports were read from the superintendents of departments, embracing the use of unfermented wine at the Lord’s table, scientific and temperance instruction in schools, SumLiy trading, etc. After the noontide adjournment for prayer congratulatory telegrams were received from the Unions of Timaru and Kaiapoi, and also from the New Zealand Alliance, and greetings were sent to the - Wesleyan Conference just opened in Christchurch.