PUBLIC RECEPTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 263, 18 May 1917, Page 4

PUBLIC RECEPTION.

The public reception to the members of Convention was held on Wednesday evening in the Baptist Tabernacle, Oueen Street. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, the ( hair was occupied by the Deputy Mayor, Mr Kntrican, who, in a few words, extended a hearty welcome on behalf of the City of Auckland. There was need these days, more than ever, to work for the good of the country, for men, especially the soldiers, for women, and above all, for children. He wished the Convention most successful meetings. The hymn, “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” was then sung, after which Mrs Cooke, the President of the Auckland District Union, welcomed the visitors in the name of the local Unions; and Mrs Gunson, the Mayoress, offered Convention the good wishes of her husband and herself. Rev. P. Smallfield spoke on behalf of the Auckland branch of the N.Z. Alliance. The W.C.T.U. was one in aim with the Alliance, both working on similar lines for good of humanity. Much educative work was being done for Tempetance during this time of war, the results of which would be seen later. He bespoke the help of the Union this year again for working the 6 o’clock closing petition. He felt there was no room for despair, and the women would 1 isc to the occasion, as in the past. The greetings of the Ministers’ Association were conveyed by Rev. Miller, who said it was generally recognised that woman' 1 ' sphere had been extended in recent years. Her •if* * ' work was of the highest value alike in the church and in the Temperance cause. The W .C.T.U. was an organisation of world-wide importance, and had done magnificent work in many lands, but there was still much to do in other ways as well as in the Prohibition movement. Our Umpire compared unfavourably with all the Allies, for the Drink Bill had gone up 204 millions for the past year, as compared with IK2 millions, the preceding year. More personal aggressive work for total abstinence was needed, especially in view of the end of the war and the return home of the boys. Mr Kelly, representing the V.M.C A., supported Mr Miller, and

wished, on behalf of the National Committee, to thank the W.C.T.U. for their generous gift of nearly raised in last year’s campaign. Mrs Don returned thanks* for the royal and most gracious welcome that had been accorded to the Convention, and was pleased to hear Mr Miller pray for a blessing upon “our'' Convention. Seeing so many soldiers and sailors in the train on the way up reminded her that, important as is their work for the Umpire, no less important is the work of protecting the home and of training the children to be good citizens. What the home is that the citizen will be, and it was to discuss great questions that bear on that matter that they had come from all parts of the Dominion. Going back to the foundation of the W.C.T.U., she reminded her hearers that it had begun in a baptism of prayer, and at first confined its attention to the Liquor Traffic, but soon found that so many other evils sprang from this that it had to extend its work. She was glad the reception was being held in the church, for it carried her back to the great Triennial Conference she had been privileged to attend in U.S.A., and to the grand inspiring music from organ and choirs, when all joined in sipging “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” We had come with faces looking towards God. and in His Name to see how best to work for His cause, and she trusted that the result would be added interest and fresh enthusiasm —redhot enthusiasm, that would burn in us and out of us, and kindle in the Dominion a fire that would not* be extinguished till we had Total NoLicense ali aver our country. The world was ripe for it, and she had a deep-rooted conviction that the power was ours, but it must be done in the name of God, in the spirit of prayer through faith and trust in God. She thanked all for their kindly words of welcome, and she prayed that such glowing enthusiasm as animated the great founder of our Union might be kindled in every member and every sympathiser. Mrs Lee-Cowie rose to second the President’s motion of thanks, but before she was allowed to speak, came an item that was not on the printed programme. Bouquets were presented to Mrs Don and to Mrs Cowie, the latter by an old sailor-soldier of 87, who testified to the great good Mrs

Cowie had brought to him when through her appeal he wa» induced, six years ago, to give his heart to the Lord. Deeply touched by the old man’s gratitude, Mrs Cowie then proceeded to describe the movement in Southland for endeavouring to obtain National Prohibition as a war measure, and stated that she bore a remit to that end from the Temperance bodies down South. Such was urgently needed, as was shown by the difficulty that employers who were asked to give preference to returned soldiers had in finding suitable employment for those with a craving for drink. The time had come for putting the axe to the root of the tree, and she trusted that victory would crown their efforts. During the evening several delightful vocal items were contributed by Miss Rivers, who sang “Come Unto Me”; Miss Muriel Barr, “Coming Home,” and as an encore, “Where My Caravan has Rested”; and Mr Macdonald, “I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby.” After announcements with reference to the coming meetings, the Doxology was sung, and the large gathering dispersed.