W.C.T.U.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 256, 8 March 1911, Page 2

W.C.T.U.

WHAT IT STANDS FOR. ', (Communicated.) The world-wide organisation k::ovi; :ia > the Women's Christian Temperance Union, or, for "brevity's sake, W.C.T.U., scarcely needs introduction to lite Tarauaki public; lest, however, any should enquire, when the reports of lileir convention appear in the newspapers, what those interesting letters stand for, wc give below a few lines, historic and ex- i planatory. The name really explains the object. It is an association of women organised for philanthropic and social reform work in the name of Christ. In every land where it exists it is found helping on any movement for the relief of distress or for the betterment of the conditions of all the people. So liberal is the constitution that; while there are now upwards of forty separate departments of Christian activity provided for, ; any new demand arising, or any new field of oporations being discovered, can he sure of the help of this society. In the first pla«e it must be remembered that the union is "temperance," and every member takes a strict pledge of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors, and undertakes to "employ all proper means" to discourage the use of, and traffic in, intoxicants. It was out of this that the union was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in November 1574. During the previous year, 1873, a number of women, about seventy, feeling how great mischief was being wrought in their State by the drink traffic, met in a church to pray that God would direct them and help them to do something to stem the evil tide. They prayed, and then marched forth singing the hymn, "Give to the Winds thy Fcnrs." When they came to a drink-shop they stood roundv'the door, or knelt on the pavement, and prayed. They made kindly appeals to the sellers to give up so injurious a business, and to the buyers to give up drinking. They had remarkable success. Many liquor-sellers did give up the business; multitudes of drunkards became sober. Out of this the W/J.T.U. grew.

Early in the life of this movement a wonderfully gifted woman, the late Frances Willard—"America's liTwrowned queen"—became interested in the work. She soon took the foremost pVice, and, for many years as president guided the destinies of the association. It is now spread over every civilised !wl, iwlapting itself to tlic needs of tin. 'and where it is established.

The activities of the union in NewZealand are felt in many deonrtmeiits: Maori work, education in temperance; anti-gambli:ig; seamen's rr.usions; prisoners' aid; child protection; »ni nun.',:.ous others. They have had'a rarked influence o.i the promotion of the nolicense movement, in which they seek to win the women's vote for thi* great reform. Among the Maoris, too. °th< y have been successful in fnrii'inq; several distinctly Maori unions, witli •-'i/'il influence over men as well as women. V. r c cannot enlarge on all this, but many in Taranaki know what useful-work* the local union Jms done in many departments, particularly in connection with the female prisoners in, or Oil-leavin"; the gaol, and the ladies' sitting-room in the Carnegie, Library. This Dominion now has 70-unions, with nearly three] thousand members enrolled under their world-wide motto:

"For God, Home, and Humanity." New Plymouth is to have the honor, and the pleasure, and the profit, too of entertaining the Xew Zealand Union m their annual convention this year. The meeting will begin on the 23rd inst., and continue for a week; of all this due notice will be given by advertisement shortly. Delegates will be present at this convention from all parts of New Zealand, and will discuss and determine the forward work for the year. In this they will meet in camera; but there'will be many meetings open to the public; in fact to which the public are particularly invited, and where the unions will make better known the extent and value of the work of this organisation to the country wherever it is set up; and show that it fulfils the purpose for which the first union was called into existence—that is, "For God, Home, and Humanity."