SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 258, 18 December 1916, Page 3

SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTERS.

MAORI DEPT. Dear Sisters,—l have not yet received reports from any Unions except New Plymouth for my Maori Department report for Convention. 1 would remind Unions that even it they have been able to do little 01 nothing in this department this year, it would be very helpful if then Superintendents would communicate with me, letting me know the reason, or giving suggestions in connection with this department of our work from their Unions. Since last month New Plymouth has donated £2 to this fund. Hoping to receive some material for my report soon, as it will have to be sent in soon for printing.— 1 am, yours in Union service, N. F. WALKER, N.Z. Supt. Maori Dept. MOTHERS' MEETINGS. Will all Unions who have worked Mothers’ Meetings, either as a distinct department or in conjunction with other kindred departments, kindly report before the end of the year to MRS X. JONES, Ngaere, Taranaki. WORK AMONG SEAMEN. The Superintendent of Work Among Seamen wishes to thank tin* following Unions for parcels received for the mine-sweepers:— Palmerston North. —5 Balaclavas, 4 scarves, 5 pairs mittens, 2 pairs socks, and 7s Od in money. Waipawa, Hawke's Bay.— 2B pairs socks, 2 pairs mittens, 2 flannt 1 shirts, 5 singlets, and 13s in money. Cambridge. —10 pairs mittens, 7 Balaclavas, 2 pairs socks, 4 undershirts, 2 waistcoats, and 12 scarves. Oxford. —4 scarves, 4 Balaclavas, 1 pair socks. Dannevirke. —Parcel 01 clothing. Feilding. —6 pairs socks, 2 scarves, 5 Balaclavas, 1 pair mittens. Ponsonby. —1 knitted vest, 1 undershirt, 5 pairs socks, 12 pairs mittens, 2 Balaclavas, 2 cholera belts, 1 pair slippers, 1 scarf. The Ngaere Union has kindly sent 12 ditty bags and 12s towards the contents for Christmas gifts to our sailors.

The Superintendent will be glad to receive reports from the Unions regarding work done in this connection during the past year, as soon as possible. MRS R. HATCHWELL. “Devonia,” Lyttelton. PEACE DEPARTMENT. “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.” (By Mrs Harrison Lee-Cowie, Peace Superintendent, \\ .C.T.U.) “1 heard the bells on Xmas Day, Their old familiar carols play.” Muffled and faint and far-off are the merry strains of past Christmas bells; and the war of shot and shell has drowned the Angel’s song on Bethlehem’s plains. We stand in a shattered world to-day, with bleeding nations, gasping in death agonies around us, and our stricken hearts crying up to the Living God for mercy and for peace. \\ hat can we do to bring about a cessation of this awful war? Jesus said: “Love your enemies. Bless them that curse \ou. Pray for them that ill-treat you and spitefully use you,” but in this war there are perplexing problems for those who love God and would gladly obey Him. We are not fighting Germany because we have any hatied to her. We are fighting for Belgium’s honour, for woman’s purity, for childhood’s sanctity. At any rate, these have been the claims on Christian people in every part of the Empire, and for righteousness, not for enmity, mothers have given their sons, and wives their husbands, to slay or be slain. What, then, can we do to bring about world disarmament, and God’s law of love in every land? Prayer and penitence are potent today as in Nineveh’s time, and national sins loom large in every land. Our first step should be individually and collectively to Repent, to forsake sin, to hate and abhor every form of evil, and to crush down the hydraheaded iniquities in our own communities. Prayer, pleading, passionate. persistent prayer should rise from every heart, and flow out in floods of spiritual fervour from every church. The hardest thing in the world is to pray. We can knit, we can sew, we can collect, we can give, we can love, we can weep; but we cannot pray. Until we can really pray we cannot have prevailing power with either God or

man, and I want my Christmas message to every White Ribboner to be: A call to prayer and penitence on behalf of both individual and national sins. Let us begin, and soon the fire will flame out in other lands and burn up the decay and rottenness that have corrupted and destroyed the dying nations. Let the earth throb with the Angel’s song of “Glory to God.” Let -the human heart catch up the chorus, “Goodwill to men.” Let angels and men, friends and foes, face towards the cradle of Christ on this coming Christmas morn. And with a new tenderness, a new spirit of love and faith, we will sing “I hear the bells this Christmas day A r.ew and wondrous carol play. For war and strife and hate shall cease, And all men dwell in God’s great peac®." EDUCATIONAL BUREAU. Dear Sisters,—-W ill you kindly send me reports of work done 111 your l T nions during the year in connection with this department, as soon as possible. —Yours for God, Home, and Humanity. FLORENCE YOUNG. No, 4 Line, Fitzherbert West, Palmerston North. Y’S AND MEDAL CONTESTS. Dear Sisters, —Will the various Unions kindly send to me reports of work done during the year by the V s, and if any Medal Contests have been held during the year, send me a report of any work, however little it may be, before December 30th, so that I may forward to Convention? —Yours in the work, S. EVANS. Abel Smith Street, Wellington. MORAL INSTRUCTION. Since last month replies to circular and reports have bceu received from Pukekohe, Tinwald, Bluff, Waipukurau, New Brighton, Gisborne, Timaru, and two very full reports from Nelson and Palmerston North. Several District Unions have not reported, probably waiting for Branch reports. I hope all Unions who have not yet done so will send reports immediately. mary McCarthy, Supt. Moral Education. Dunedin, December 9,’1916.

PRESS DEPARTMENT. Dear Sisters, — Will all Secretaries or Superintendents of local Press Department please send along; brief reports of work done in connection with the above during; the year, which is about to close? A post-card will answer the purpose well. Please do not delay.—Yours in His service, (Mrs) ANNIE DUX FIELD, Dominion Supt. Press. Wanganui East, Dec. 6th, 1916. f BACKBLOCKS. Will all Unions who have done work for Backblocks please send report to Mrs Israel, 193, Harris Street, Gisborne, by December 31st?