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White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 249, 18 March 1916, Page 10

1 )ear Whin* Ribbon Sisters, 1 feel impelled to write a letter to you to-day tor various reasons. One of them is the fad that 1 am in Invercargill enjoying a holiday, and another motive power is that 1 had such a peep into an ideal home last night, as can only be obtained by a limited number of our New Zealand sisterhood, and 1 want to tell you all about it. Of course, Invercargill is specially interesting to the W.C.i.l’. members, being one of our objectlessons in favour of the “narrow views forced upon the people by faddists, cranks, etc.,” i.e., Prohibitionists, By the way, I never noticed before what .t number of eyes Prohibitionists have. Well, 1 am using my tour eyes to some purpose, and 1 will tell you some of the things I see in Invercargill. I walk from end to end of the broad, clean streets, and see well-dressed men and women on every hand ; large, prosperous plates of business; little children warmly dad. 1 drink in deep draughts of pure fresh air. No tap-room belching forth its sickening odours to the passer-by, and I say, “Well done. Prohibition; industry induced by you increases income!” Leaving the town, 1 come to a river called the Waihopai, and here 1 find the prohibited area ends. Fitting safeguard for teetotallers, is it not.'' A rolling river of nature’s own provision for thirsty mortals divides “Dry” trom “Wet. Just across the shining river we find breweries engaged in polluting the water. We see lying on the side of the streets several very fine specimens of stone jars encased in wicker-ware. And our inquiries are answered by the words, “keg party, and then my eyes see visions of fathers, husbands, sons, out on carousal; mothers, w ives, and little ones bereft of joy and happiness, and natural protectors, and 1 say, “Work harder, women; prohibition cannot prohibit until the curse is removed. Inebriety invariablv induces imbecility.” Leaving for a time the subject of prohibition, we turn, as an honoured guest, to an ideal home. Knocking at the door of Amethyst Hall, a young girl of 14 summers opens to us, and the lady of the house, in loving fashion, bids us welcome. It is the afternoon for .1 weekly Kmpire prayer meeting. Our hostess gives out the hymn, “Peace, Perfect Peace.” Then the qist Psalm is read in unison, and we are each allotted our subject for prayer. One prays for a mother who has lost one son in the war and has another wounded; then our enemies are remembered, and so on till we feel, as four o’clock—the hour to close —arrives, we have been to the

very gates of h« aven. A walk through the house and grounds is full of interest. In «» fine hall at one end we see a band of little girls, led by an earnest Methodist lady, working tor a bazaar in connection with one of the churches. In the courtyard a little fellow of eight summers runs up, calling, “Auntie, we are having t lovely game”- bushrangers or something equally exciting. 1 heard that he is a little adopted boy. He* is evidently getting a big percentag of the love that he has missed hitherto. ,'n the kitchen the* fourteen-year-oM girlie is introduced, and we hear late r th.it she too has been placed by God in the mother arms ot our h«i>tess. A little Maori girl is also encircled by the same loving-hearted mother. At tea time our hostess, in homely fashion, enters the* dining room, having been engaged helping to prepare the meal. The various little* members of that happy household each do their part towards setting the table, etc. After tea and interesting chat on Leper Missions, Indian Missions, and every other mission, in which host and hostess give the* guests a good lead, some lovely Indian lace and c roc het is exhibited and sold on behalf of the Indian mission, the* lady of Amethyst Hall having made herself responsible for the sale of j£ioo worth. The children grouped round the tire, with father on one side, and mother on the* other, made suc h a picture as set my pulses throbbing and moistened my eyes. When the hands of the clock reached seven, without intrusion or obtrusion, the* mother and children sat on the* sofa and read a little story about John the Baptist. Then kneeling at mother’s knee, Gentle Jesus and the Lord’s Prayer close the 1 day for the children. Before leaving, 1 had the privilege of sec -> the “tired h‘adies cuddled doonJ*[Wast asleep. In nn heart I said, bless all in this ideal home.” As I write this it is Mrs LeeCowie’s birthday, and a party of all the members and tenants of Amethyst Hall is in full swing. On behalf of the women of New Zealand, 1 wish her God’s choicest blessing on her and on her loved ones. May He prosper her efforts for the* uplifting of His children, and put it into the hearts of others to go and do likewise*. “ Tis hut a Rest-house by the way; Ido not call it ‘Home.’ Oh, No! But mst a Guest-house, night and day, For Pilgrims, w here they come and go.” t “It is Thine own, it is not mine; Then help me do the best with Thine. To m.ike it pure* and bright and sweet, A resting place for weary feet; To speed them on their way in love Lp to the Father’s Home above.” (Joshua 26:15; Hebrews 13:2.) ours in White Ribbon bonds, ELIZABETH PINFOLD.