LETTER FROM ANNA A. GORDON

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 237, 18 March 1915, Page 3

LETTER FROM ANNA A. GORDON

Rest Cottage, Evanston, lllinoi-, February 10, 19*5-

Beloved Comrade, —As 1 work at my desk, attend public meetings, or pray for our world-wide W.C.T.U. work, my heart continually throbs with deep sympathy for our White Ribboners whose homes .ire desolated by the Kuropean war, and whose nearest and dearest are at the front. Reports coming from the countries involved in the war all tell the same sad, heart-breaking story. We have aLo been shocked and saddened by the appalling suffering and loss of life in connection with the terrible earthquake in Italy. In many localities our W.C.T.U. activities are practically at a standstill, and everywhere our women are busy with relief work. White Ribboners in this neutral land are generously aiding the Red Cross Society in its manifold ministries, and in a thousand ways are striving to relieve the awful suffering and privation in Europe. Russia’s prohibitory law is an amazement to the whole world, and is already a striking proof of the enormous benefit of prohibition. Japan, l regret to say, is to lose the inspiring help of Miss Ruth Frances Davis, who in the spring will many Professor Stevens, of Chicago University. Miss Davis has our affectionate good wishes and heartfelt gratitude. Until someone can be found to take Miss Davis’ place in Japan, we are financing the organising work of our dearly beloved Madam Yajima for the W.C.T.U., Mrs Sugimoto for the Young Women’s Branch, and MisAzuma Moriya for the Loyal Temperance Legion—a trio of truly remarkable Japanese White Ribboners. M iss Flora E. Strout, in Burma, is proving herself a leader of unusual executive ability, winning many laurels for the W.C.T.U., and gaining many influential friends for our cau-c. Our work throughout the Orient igoing forward encouragingly. We must soon reinforce our capable Mrs Goodrich in China, giving to her helpers who will reach China’s young people before they enter other open doors, and our organisation thereby misses its greatest opportunity in China. India’s President, Mrs Denning, after a furlough in the United States, is homeward bound. It does not seem expedient to send a resident White Ribbon missionary to India

during present war disturbances, but meantime wc ought to financially reinforce India’s White Ribbon leaders. Several South American States are reporting decided temperance gains through the public schools. Ihe untiring efforts of Miss llardynia K. Xorville arc showing splendid icsults. We rejoice with our Iceland comrades, whose homes are now protected by a prohibitory law, this law going into effect January 1, 1915*

Wc* sorrow with our comrades in Ireland, and mourn the loss of our gifted, consecrated White Ribbon leader, Mrs Ric hard W. Booth, whose passing onward to the Heavenly life i-, another sad break in the ranks of our National Presidents.

Our department work in countries directly affected by the war cannot, under these adverse circumstances, be* vigorously pushed. When the day of peace again blesses us, we must redouble our efforts to aid the rebuilding of the nations upon the strong foundations of peace, purity, total abstinence, and prohibition, helping establish that “rightousness which alone exalteth a nation.” We in the United States have many prohibition and suffrage victories to encourage us. During the year icju, State-wide Prohibition laws were secured in V irginia, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Within a few weeks, Alabama and Arkansas have been added to the li>t. Wc now have sixteen Prohibition State's and twelve State - where women vote. Today 56 per cent, of our population live under Prohibition laws, in 76 per cent, of our area.

There is harmony of action among leading temperance organisations and the churc hes. The admirable machinery of the- W.C.T.U. and the marvcllous self-sacrificing devotion of its members make it a mighty factor in securing victorious results in local and State wide campaigns, as well as in the* fight for a national prohibitory law. We consider our majority vote in eur Lower House of the United States Congress a great victory. Our next National W.C.T.U. Convention will meet on the Pacific Coast in Seattle, Washington, October 9 to 14, MJIS. Immediately following the Convention a large delegation of W hite Ribboners will visit the Panama Pacific Exposition at San Francisco, California. The exhibit of the World’s and National W.C.T.U. has been given the best thought of a very

competent committee. Its location in the handsome Palace of Education is moat fortunate. It will, we believe, be extremely instructive to our visitors, and a credit to both organisations The polyglot petition, representing 7,cx)0,000 signatures and attestations, is to be a prominent feature. The “Union Signal" will give many descriptive details. 1 here will be* electrical and other devices to attract the throngs of visitors, and to quickly impress them from scientific, medical, economic, social, legal, and organisation standpoints. We fear the Anti-Alcohol Congress, scheduled to meet in July in Atlantic City, New Jersey, must, because of the war, be deferred. These are days when wc* realise in their fullness the strength and sacredness of the W.C.T.U. bond—a bond that can survive the strain of war and hold closely together all our hearts. Thinking ever with inexpressible gratitude of our great leaders of the past, and unitedly holding up the hands of our beloved President, Lady Carlisle, let us with steadfast hope and with earnest prayer continue our God given work. —Yours for peace and for victory, ANNA A. GORDON.