PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 238, 19 April 1915, Page 6

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

WOMEN AND WAR. We meet for our 30th Convention in a time of *r 1 -i- probabh unparalleled in the history ot the world. Europe is in the throes of a devastating struggle su< h as a tew months ago would have been considered nothing • hurt of a moral impossibility. We as Chri-tian l'emperance women do not advocate war; we believe m the (Gospel of Peace, in the universal brotherhood of man. 1 herefore to pray and work for peace, and to make the tragedy of war impossible, 1- one of the many dej artments of our Union’s work. It is patent to all who have followed the history of this groat struggle that each nation now at conflict tried to throw the blame lor the w.ir on another nation. But it i- fortunate that no nation could throw the blame on women. In none of the countries involved were they con-ulted, nor had they a voice in any of their national councils, or influence* w ith the (Government-. Perhaps it would have been well if they had had. All the same, women are proving them-elves of enormous value to the nation. 1 wonder what the (Government would have done without their splendid organised help in connection with the war. I hey have responded nobly to the call of patriotism and self-sacri-fice. In Russia and Servia they have gone to the front as soldiers, and are under fire in the discharge of their duties with the field ambulances. Just as heroic is their work in the hospitals in the arena of war and in sea-girt Britain. They have taken up, too, the burden of the daily task and the common round, not of their own households alone, but of the men folk called away from productive labour to defend the- cause < f freedom and of the right of every nation to liv * secure in its independence, and in the enjoyment of the right to live its own life in its own way, and to cultivate its own spec ial talent and genius. In this hour of stre>- and trial women are displaying civilities that it has ban denied they pos-e.-s. Someone has said, “This sad war makes a common call upon womanhood, for sympathy, service, and sac rifice in diverse forms and spheres." How nobly womanhood lias re-ponded, and how deeply womanhood h.is suffered, will be known only when the c lash of arms has cea.-ed. Think of the suff» ring of women the world over. 1 hough they do not carry the sabre and the rifle* on the field, they bear the first cost and heaviest burden of all wars. They gave life to the men

who have been destroyed in the conflicts; they have been made widows, and as such have bowed under the double burden of being both father and mot he i to their children. Near the fields of battle and at Home they wage war against famine, pestilence and panic. They have made heroic efforts to carry on the occupations which the men were forced to abandon at the beginning cf the war. They have risked tneir lives in visiting the fort' to carry provisions and good cheer to the men. Many have undertaken the care of reservists’ families, and of the sick and wounded soldiers. A large number have gone to the front as nurses; others collect funds, make clothes, and give freely of their money and services. What anguish and heartbreak does the terrors of war, the torrents of blood, the slaving of armies, the mutilation of their own flesh and blood, the sinking of ships, the outbreak of plague at tin* battle’s front, mean to women? They shoulder tin ir full hare of war when, in the father s absence, they face the task of supporting their families. (!re«»t as i> the service rendered by men who risk their lives for their country, the services of the women who bear the brunt of the daily cares in providing for their families, is no iess great. Let us hope that when the war is over, and “reconstruction” becomes the sequel, that men will remember the work and self-sacrifice of women, and give them their full citizen rights the wo Id over, so that tin \ may n< Ip their mankind in the creation of a world where* 'fiction shall not rise against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Our Ccrr.rades ever the Sea. Sad news comes from our White Ribbon sisters in the war zone. Madam Fallot (National I’re ident in France) has lost her eldest son, who was killed in battle*. lie* leave's a young widow, only last March a bride*. The second son is now at the front. Madam Koeehlin, Vice-President, bis two sons in a< tive service, and a daughter with the* Red Cross Ambulance* Corps. The Baroness de Lavelve, National President of Belgium, is ministering to the suffering at Lie*ge, lur home citv. One of he r nej hews dic'd in defending his country. Madam Comperio Siegfried. Italy’s President, has twenty relatives fighting in the* French Army. She re ports that It ilv i> receiving thousands of emigrants, all of them in a most n"s» rable condition. The Baroness von Haugen, of Dresden, one of a band < f W hite Ribboners, te-lls how eiur sister> there are dd>v at the railway station giving hot coffee to the thousands of soldiers leaving for the* fie*ld of battle*. Fraulien Hoffman, for many years National President of (lorn any, writes that everv one in he*r home c ity of Bremen is doing something fot the* men at the front. Lady Henry Somerset, one of our world’s le*aders, has given her only

son for the de-fence of our Empire. Miss Bond, Secretarv of Liverpool, England. te*ll> that the hall in which their meetings would have been held has been given for a barracks and soldiers’ home. In England the National Women’s Suffrage nas turned it» great organisation. with all its five* hundred branches, to work for the* benefit of tb.: sick and wounded. The Women’s Freedom League is : voting itself to relie*f work. Even the Mill.ant Sonet} called oft all militancy, and King George responded by pardoning all the suffragists who wera in prison. Everywhere the women have combined to do all they can to ameliorate the awful honors and suffering of war. and I don’t think it ever will be* known qi't how muc h the\ have* sacri <1 eel in thi- great national eri'i'. To me it speaks volumes for our organisation that, in spite* of the hat rod and the un'pe*akable* suffering eause'd bv war on land and s<*a, the* White Ribbon bond is 'till unbroke*n, and women of all < lasses and women e.f everv position still unite* in the noontide* hour of prayer, and -end greetings to eac h other across the* sea. War Against Alcrhcl. Leaving the* war of nations, let us now turn our attention to that war against alcoholic liquors. Naturally I hoped to begin this address with a loud note of praise, but instael of that I have to confess our vote was mtensely disappointing. I he outbreak of war undoubtedly had much to do wit! this, but it does -cem as though all »nc forces were against us. For one* thing, the* war meant the arrest of our campaign all over the* country. Work that should have been spread over months was « rowded into a few weeks, with the 1 result that the organising of our campaign was decidedly weak. Many were of the* opinion that while the* wai cloud enveloped the* Empire* it was wiser to have no elections, and as a protest against its non postponement. deliberately e ast an invalid vote bv striking out both issuer on the voting paper. I cannot speak for other electorate's, but know that in m\ own city numbers dul not vote at all, for the figures showed th it 52b,cx>o vote's were polled for candidates, and onlv 400,000 votes e*n the* National Prohibition question, showing th.it 146,000 did not vote e*ithe*r for or against our reform. Then we were hindered for want of funds. Monev and gifts were poured into the* war chests, and consequently our treasury suffered. The Trade b «el the means to command the* pages of 1 eirlv all the pape rs, and by skilful advertising, and the* publishing of statc'r.ie*nt which were far from true, managed to sc are* the people by the alleged unset of finance* , which would ensue if Prohibition were carried. Tbous mds of voters re-fused to vote “No License” at the recent pol! because they were afraid if they cat: .1 it and the liquor revenue of .£exx),exx> annually lost to the* Dominion, a

heavy war tax would have to be* imposed. Another force against u** wa> the Bible in Schools que'slion. Much of the* e*nthusiasm which at previous poll' had helped to win* No-License was diverted to this issue*. It divided our interests, and m many eases split our votes. But why consider the causes? Whether it was the outbreak of war, the Bible m S hools or revenue question, whether it was the* opposition of the* press, or Parte versus Prohibition, whether it was lack of funds or weak organisation, it must remain sadly true that the* . pathv of the* Temperance* people* was tin- great cause <■} the* small majority vote* on December iSth. Thev were cither too sure* of victory or too mu< h occupied *\ith the war, or too intent on the return of 1 ie*ir party, or too apathetic to the* magnitude of the danger until it was too late. World's Outlook. Be fore* we* re*marshal our forces and get ready for the* I<> 17 campaign, let us get heart of gra< e* and renewed courage by a glimpse; at the* world’s progress. In the I nited State's 01 America, which is the homeland of our organisation, 30,000 new members have* been gained during the year, ar increase of lo.ono on all othc r years net gain. I his large* addition is dm* to the membership e anij aign of “one win one*,” recently instituted in the* States. I am waiting for news of the National Convention to know how our world membership now stands. On Icl November the four great State*' of Colorado, Ore gon, Washington, and Arizona, by the* vote of the men and women, for ever declared their rmam ipation from the* legalised lieiuor traffic Fourteen States now have* either Statutory ( r Constitutional Prohibition. The sc fourte*e*n States have an aggregate* population of nearlv twenty million, one-fifth of the* population of the CriMed States of America; fill\ million people, now live in No-Lie en>c ten iton The* bod> c f Good Te mplars, the International Sunday S hool Union, the Christian Fndeavourcrs, and other kindred soe ie*tie*s are uniting their forces, and have still for their slogan, “A Suloonlc" Nation by 1940.” In England and Wale , Scotland and Canada, France and Be lgium, the* activities in connection with direct Temperance reform have be*en checked because the* women are continually busy working among the soldiers, either supplving food, sewing, knitting, nursing - , or entertaining the men in the*ir own homes, helping in the hospitals, and giving assistance in many ways to the* troops. In Sweden, one thousand White Ribboners, led by the* President of the Vesteras Cnion, waited on the* Governor at hi' castle* to urge prohibition during' the war. The* Asm nation I’rc*'s reports from Petrograd that Emperor Nicholas has stated that the Russian Government will never again embark in the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks,

Diunkenness has been rampant in Kussia, the thought of drunken >oldiers going into battle was abhorrent, so the Emperor gave orders that during mobilisation the drink shops should close. It was originally in tended that prohibition should hot only till the men were got to the battle front, but as they have done so amazingly well on watei as a beverage, as all the world knows, the ( /ar has decided to prohibit for ever the Government sale of alcohol. Since then 70,000 vodka shops have been e lost d. In Petrograd an exchange) not a single drunken man ha» been seen since the first mobilisation day, and Mr Keenan, tile .Minister of Finance, suvs: “If the war should do nothing more than free Russia from the cur>r of vodka, it would he worth all that it can possibly tost in treasure and life.” What of France? Before the war, Paris, her capital city, whit h was >incerelv believed b\ many honest people to be the wickedest cit\ in the world, has become so sober th.it they close their cafes every night at 9.30. Absinthe is prat tn ally prohibited, and the extreme limit of .1 debauch is a burnt wine or “quinine tonic.” On the Norwegian army mobilising, King Haakon, on August 4th, issued a proclamation t losing all breweries and distilleries by prohibiting the conversion of any grain or potatc e> into beer or spirits during the war. It also forbade all wholesale or retail sale of spirits, but allowed the existing sttx k of beer to be sold. The first Indian Good Templars’ Fudge has been recently established at the Indian headquarters in Fugland. The Lodge will work with the Grand Fudge of Kngland. Ford Crewe, the Secretary for India, favours I'empcrance teaching in schools, and invited Indian ce operation in furthering sobriety. 1« mperance is certainly gaining ground among the men and women in India, slowly but surely. The January number ot the “Vanguard” reports that on November nth there was issued in Pretoria .1 “Gazette Extraordinary ” notifying that throughout the ' 11 ion the sale* of any intoxicating liquoi to members of the Union Detent** Koro* without the written permission of their commanding officer was prohibited. The last news of Temperance work in |apan is that the stationmaster at Shinagawa enlisted all other offie i.ds of the railway staff in an enthusiastic temperance six lety, the members of which use neither liquor or tobacco. The jinricksha men succumbed to the influence, and organised their own Temperance Sot iety. Shinagawa thus becomes the prohibition railway station in Japan. The Hill that was passed in Iceland more than a year ago abolishing the sale, manufacture, and importation of alcoholic liquor has now been carried into effect. The decision of the Icelanders to banish alcohol has an important bearing on the question of its value to meet certain physical needs. Living within the Polar Circle, they

ought to know what is and what i" not good for keeping out the cold, and their rejection ot all spirits show that they do not believe that in any sense it is a heat producing agency. 1 might say, before passing from Iceland news, that it now only requires the sanction of the* King ot Denmark to make the entrant hisenient of women effective. They formerly had muiiic ipal suffrage, so that Parliamentary franchise is a proof of the success ot partial equal suffrage. Even while writing this paper word c ame through the Assoc iated Press that at Fiverpool C amp, in New South Wales, under the ministry of the Art hbishop of Sydney and the Rev. Mr Hammond, n>oo men signed the pledge, 111 c hiding the* C ommandant. The very latest news from Kngland is that the Tempeiance Societies are beginning a campaign to induce one million Londoners to sign the* pledge for the period of the* war. This effort shows that the* danger from drink iexercising many of those who care about the* welfare of the soldiers. The spec tacit* presented in the vicinity of sonic* of the camps is indeed a melancholy one. and reports that reac h us go to show that notwithstanding the warnings of Ford Kitchener, Lord Roberts, and others, things are getting steadily worse. That indulgence in alcoholic liquors is being carried to excess by a fraction of troopers is incontestable, and in this connection the fact must not be overlooked that, when abroad, the conduct of a tew irrepressibles not infrequently tarnishes the* reputation of the* whole force. What a shame it is that men who have joined tlx* colours with the high-minded intention of s< rving tneir country should be plunged into such fierce temptations in this matter! Should not some protection I e* made for them? General Booth recently sugge sted in Kngland that no drink should lx* served by any licensed se ller to any man in uniform. I do think the Government should consider the* suggestion, and, it possible, sec* that it is made law at least while the war la-ts. On these crucial days of life, when society needs all its men to be at their best. Governments provide for closing the* bars. In our own cities this D true on election days; it occurs in times of disorder, such a> the late strikes. In cases of war total abstinence is a frequent order. But is not life a serious problem all the time* If the hotel is productive of evil in troublous times, it is also productive of evil in times of peace. It has been proved that in war it is a curse; it is never anything else at anv time. Now briefly to return to War against Alcohol. I have already said our vote was intensely disappointing. We have lost ground, and straightway must set out to recover it. You know the story of the captain who called his men back from the enemy’s line of fire, and seeing the Colour-Sergeant still facing the foe, he shouted, “Bring the colours back to the* men,”

but the standard be arer, without retreating, answered, “Bring the men up to the colours.” Now what we must s<»t out to do is to bung the women up to the colours. ’This is not the time to say “How.” It will be decided during the Convention, and acted upon straight away, I hope. (bir organisation stand" for the* annihilation of tlx* liquor traffic, and the only waj to do it i> to work everlastinglv against it until we win National Prohibition. It the women would, they could carry it in New Zealand, but as they wouldn’t do it in 1914, we per- • uade them to do it in 1917. We must be brave and untiring in our effect to uplift humanity from intemperance*. W e must woi k as we have never worked before. Wo must sacrifice as we have never sacrificed befc re; but, most important than anything else, we niU't pray a> we never prayed before. There are more things wrought by prayer than this world dreams of, and the* Captain of our S.dvation has pro- ■ it ur ask, H< will do." and if we faithfully do our part in His own goc d time, He will do, and His doing will be out victory and His own glory. DEPARTMENTAL WORK. Evangelistic. Campaign year in our own land means a slackening of all departmental work, therefore I snail not 11 <i vc* so much to say about these issues 1 1 thi" address, but there s.re some 1-Id and a few new that I wish to call your attention to. the Evangelistic. ludging by the* monthly reports, we have done little in thi* direction during the* \c*ir that is now past. There is at limitation to this department, for it eompa■ ?es both worlds and reaches through eternitv. The Bible says: “He* that converteth the inner from the error of his ways h II save a soul from death.” There i" no nobler work on earth than this, and as our Capitals stand for “Woni«* i " Christian 'Temperance Cnion,” and “We* Come to Uplift,” let us use our effort and influence* to bring mankind up to a vital acquaintance with |c -us Christ. Sabbatu Observance. Last year I reminded you that the rightful list* of the Sabbath lies at the foundation of the* nation’s greatness. Therefore it i» alarming to notice* the increasing laxity throughout the Dominion to the sane titv of the Sabbath. From all sources one hears of the steady encroachment of both labour and pleasure on that day that by God’s command should be* a time of rest and worship. Quite recently a Chinaman was convicted and fined in Dunedin for working in hi* garden on Sunday, but no effort was made to punish the citizens for rabbiting, fishing and shooting, or to prevent the golfers and

other sportsmen from desecrating the Sabbath. Anothei subject to be deplored is the growing use of Sunday tor military purpose*. I know the war means a time of stress and strain for the Defence Authorities, but surely the parades, held manoeuvres, and riHe practice can be arranged for some time during the week, and so preserve the. sanctity of the Sabbath. I think our l nions throughout the Dominion would do well to tall the attention of their representatives to this matter, and ask that the Defence Authorities watch against these encroachments. Band cf Mercy. This is a department that has not been organised in New Zealand, though it is a strong branch of our wuik in the United States <1 America, its aim is to sec ure a widespread knowledge of existing, laws against i ruelty to children and to animals, and a better enforcement of them; to discourage any practice, custom or fashion whic li involves the infliction of suffering on any living creature, and to teach universal kindness to dumb animals. The most direct and effective method of training children in universal kindness is by teaching them consideration for that which is more dependent and helpless than themselves. A child taught through the Band of Mercy to be unselfish and considerate? of the rights and welfare of every liviug creature will be better in all the relations of life. One so taught will not, when he grows up, be likely to injure others by selling sti ,;ig drink, or to degrade him elf by Using it. The strongest possible argument for this work is the great need of it. I would urge; all delegates to make it her special business to bring this matter before her Union, and try to get it introduced into every Band of Hope and L.T.L., and, if possible, ’he Christian Endeavour Societies. free sampler of literature will be distributed at this Convention. Thti Totallsau,. In this Dominion the ea*e against the totalisator daily grows stronger by the lamentable ftuit* or the evil n fosters. Our Judges and Magistrates, with remaikab’-r unanimity, comment upon its evil inffuc'iice, and condemn it as a demoralising thing. The evidence is conclusive that the morals of the community hive been very much deteriorated by the operation of the machine. It has got more people into trouble than it is possible to calculate, and its legalisation, as Sir Robert Stout long ago declared, ‘‘has not one redeeming feature in its favour,” and Mr Justice Edwards once affirmed, “that rare meetings are multiplied simply for the sake of the gains to be derived from that instrument of depravity, the* totalisator.” Knowing these things, I consider the Parliament last session made a grievous mistake when they passed the Pill granting an Increase of rac e* days to country clubs, which is giving still greater facilities to gamble.

This means that we must work harder than ever against it. We have petitioned the House before; we mu-t do >o again; we must never rest until me machine has been legalised out of existence once and forever. Protection of Wcmen. We regret that the Bill providing for .m amendment to the Crimes Act was thrown out by the* Parliament last year. The Bill, as you know, proposed to raise the age of consent to iX >cai-, and thus protect girls from bemj; victimised by designing men. It is difficult to understand why this necessary reform was not proceeded with. Ihe “Star,” in a leading arm le, published November 14th, says: “It may be that the Bill as a whole was allowed to drop because the re was blended with it a provision of dubious if not vicious character.” “Before any prosecution for criminal a s.iult upon a young woman was permitted, the Bill stipulated that the consent of the* Attorney General should be obtained.” Of all the impracticable things, this .reins to me to be the most. It is said this clause w.is inserted to protec t the young men from false accusations m a matter relating to moral relations. But if a voting man was accused of theft or embezzlement which he did not commit, he would have to undergo the humiliation of a trial to prove 1 his innocence. There is no AttorneyGeneral to appeal to to arrest the prosecution. Wh\ should an exception be made in the* offences against women? 1 tru*t that when the Bill is introduced next year, it will give the necessary protection to e ur girls without any inte motion of polity al officials like the Attorney-General. Wcir.er. **B Police. Though our Union has been the pioneer organisation for most reforms appertaining to women, we have not given muc h thought to our sex as police. lust before the outbreak of war I noticed the National Vigilance l Association in London pressed on their rejective (iovernments the* desirability of obtaining the assist* me of women, including in proper eases the appointment of police women, the object being to a-sist the* e xisting forc e in >ome of the more delicate parts of their work in connection with the* White Slave Traffic and fallen women, particularly those from a foreign country, who tind their way into the Police Com t.

At the present time, in most Police Courts there is a woman missionary, whose services are always at a prisoner’s disposal, but she has no ac tual authority, and can merely give advice when the prisoner care?-, to seek or listen to it. The whole question Is now receiving the attention of the Home Office, and the National Vigilance Association i* encouraged to believe that police women may be appointed, a> they have? been in Topeka, Toronto, Ottawa, and other Canadian cities. Those of you who had the

privilege of hearing Dr. Sheldon during his brief tour thiough the* Dominion will remember the tribute he paid to women police, dc lining theii duties as preventing, instead of punishing, crime. lie said they were the friends of the young women of the town. This is how it should be, for women constables, if on duty on some of the busier street* of the large* eit it; -, could give advice and guidance to girl*, without arresting them, in a way that it would be quite impossible for a male officer to do. Women constables also would be of the greatest service 111 the* public parks and place* of amusement, Girls of tender age found patrolling the* street- unattended .it nights could he escorted to their homes, or, it necessary, placed under arrest. It is also felt that a woman or girl who is molested or annoyed in the streets shrink* from complaining to a policeman, whereas, if there was a woman she 1 could turn to for he lp, *hc would not have 1 the 1 same scruples. I had written just so far when the “White Ribbon” arrived, containing the short article on this *ubjec:t, and finishing with the query, “Why i* goaheid New Zealand so far behind the limes? Why have we no women police to do preventive w >rk among our young girl- ? I answer, “Because we have made no demand lor the m. We recognise the necessity of sending our best to foreign fields to convert the* heathen; should not the same means be 1 used to save life and preserve character in our own cities?” If women polic e could pre vent girls from a life of sin, by guarding them from prurient men, and kee?i ing them from questionable? company and questionable houses, and compelling them to he off the streets at 10 o’clock, surely a democratic Government might be persuaded to give the 1 scheme a trial. In Memoriam. Probablv you have noticed that I hive omitted the customary list of departed si*ter*. As our work widens and ovr membership increases, it is almost impossible-to keep note* of those who during the year enter into the larger life. We cannot wish them back, hut we do pray that Gcd may raise other members and workers to follow in their train. But there is one world known name 1 must mention, that of Mr* Lillian Stevens, the late American President. In a very literal sen-e this great souled woman gave every ounce of her strength, e.ery particle of he 1 elf, to the* cause she *0 loved, and only those who were associated with her know how marvellously *ho carried forward her work. The Unions in every State of America and in main lands will miss her sanctified presence. Sorrowfully, too, we record the* death of Mrs Hughes, for many \ear* Superintendent of Maori Work in New Zealand. 1 believe the 1 bc*t part of her life was spent in Auckland City, and she gave the full strength of that life 1 to train*

ing her family for God, endeavouring to free her city from the 1 i<iu*»r trath<, and bring the Maoris into contact with the Saviour and Light of the World.

Our sympathies are with our Northern friends, who will sadly miss thia devoted sister. and also Robert French, who died ju>t after the last campaign. Of him it is said, “A stauncher comrade never fought in the ranks of those who battled for sobriety and righteousness. f> An all our departmental work should be for the uplift and education of humanity and the downfall of the liquor traffic, let me remind you of a song of hope that used to be familiar in my school days, with tne refrain, “It is better farther on.” Surely this is true to-day. Our cause has been trathough it has received a temporary veiling with the speed of the age, and check, it will be better farther on. The war, which was the great cause of our set-back, is giving tin' world an object lesson on the benefits, of teetotalism and the curse of intemperance. (treat industrial concerns have discovered that alcohol is tc blame for inefficiency and for accidents, and demand total abstinence of their employees. Scientists and physicians declare that alcohol is an enemy to health, and a deceptive friend to disease, and because there is not a thing that is good, or modern, or intellectual, or pure, or elevating in the liquor traffic, our attitude towards it is uncompromising. We know the enemy will die hard. Every defence th.it avarice, lu-t, and crime can suggest may be expected. Every means to trick the voters will be used. State control, loss of revenue, extra taxes, arc* all inventions of the Trade to postpone the inevitable hour when Prohibition will pronounce its death sentence. This is the only remedy for the- most terrible of social and political evils, the Liquor Traffic. Let every White Kibboner remember that she has her own to do, and aii our leaders are e -ential to accomplish the work before us. Let us stand together in the places that are ready and open for u- . Let us press forward, in the' faith that (iod will give victory to the right, and that truth and purity shall triumph ovei vice and error.

“Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, Were not the right Man <>n oui side, the* man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that might be? Christ Jesus it is He Lord Sabaoth is Ill's name, from age to age the same; and He must win the battle.”