WORLD’S W.C.T.U.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 247, 18 January 1916, Page 7

WORLD’S W.C.T.U.

Rest Cottage, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Dec. 16, 1915.

My Dear Comrade,—Christmas Day draws near the blessed season when every heart in all the world ought to be flooded with holy happiness. As 1 send you this message of affectionate greetin gand good wishes for the new year, 1 do so with profound sympathy for all our many comrades in the war-swept countries. Daily we bless God for the sacred tie of comradeship in the Worlds W.C.1.C., a bond of unity and love strong enough to survive even the strain of the world’s most appalling war. it was inevitable that the World’s W.C.T.U. Triennial Convention, due to meet in 1916, eould not at this time be called. We shall sorely miss the joy of meeting our comrades from many lands. We shall miss the educational value of the discussions of old and new plans, and the renewed consecration to our world-wide work which our Conventions always enkindle.

The high standard of service demanded in the European war has brought prominently to the front the fact that alcoholic drinks are an enemy to efficiency, and has strongly emphasised our great principles of total abstinence for the individual and prohibition for the State and Nation. The important bearing of prohibitum upon national prosperity and national security is to-day understood by all nations. We must be ready for a mighty programme of constructive work as soon as the European war is ended. We trust that in the sad stress of relief work made necessary for all women in the belligerent lands, our White Kibboners will remain united as local organisations, ready at the close of the war to return to their former blessed activities, and upon a larger and broader scale than ever before.

Praying for God’s guidance at this critical moment in our world’s history, and for His rich blessing on all our hearts.—Affectionately, ANNA A. GORDON.