WORLD'S W.C.T.U.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 271, 18 January 1918, Page 4

WORLD'S W.C.T.U.

Illinois, November 26, i<> 17. My Dear Comrade,- As 1 wish you a blessed Christmas and a new year ot gracious opportunity and achievement, 1 carry in my heart of hearts a vivid, sorrowful picture of the agony of grief a terrible war has brought to thousands of our women. Let us comfort our hearts by our sure belief in the regnancy of Christ, whose birth the world will soon commemorate. Like a canopy of tender love and good-will, the heavens are bending over the mourning homes and death-dealing battlefields. Surely, God’s infinite love will soon triumph over the infinite pathos of this awful world tragedy. The angels are still singing, “Peace on earth, good-will to men,” while heroic mothers and brave sons are helping to make true to the people of the world the prophetic song. Interesting rejKirts from nearly all the auxiliaries, encourage us to believe the White Ribbon forces are keeping well together. It is a time when we ought to heed the words of Joel given to Israel of old, “They march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks.” Thousands of women can be drawn to us by the opportunity to participate in our unique patriotic programme. Prohibition has a new, vital significance to many, who hitherto have taken only a superficial interest in the progress of the movement in our own land and in the countries of the allies. Especially should we invite the mothers of our enlisted men to unite with our nation-wide and worldwide organisation, well termed, “Organised mother-love.” The W.C.T.U. affords them the privilege of translating their quenchless mothcr-iove into patriotic devotion as they help drive from America and Europe rhe traffic in liquor and in vice. The W.C.T.U., which hit always believed in Courts of Arbitration, should as an international organisation have a prominent part in the World Congress which after the war will speedily be called. Each one of our federated countries is to be congratulated on its superb self-sacrificing patriotic service. In the United States we are hoping to secure from the Congress prohibition for the period of the war. The prohibition of the use of grain for the manufacture of distilled liquors dur-

ing the war is a tremendous victory, and we trust the use of foodstuffs for the brewing industry will ,also be checked. We have won a mighty victory in obtaining prohibition for the District of Columbia, which embraces our capital city of Washington. This past year we have adde d the States of Indiana, Utah, Net)* Hampshire, and New Mexico to our list of prohibition States, now numbering twenty-eight. Prohibition also prevails in our great territories of Alaska and Porto Rico. Canada is also making tremendous gains toward a prohibition Dominion. The recent victory for suffrage in New York State by a majority of nearly ioo,ocx> surprises the most optimistic. Our hearts are full of hope, although the future is in shadow. Let us go forth to meet it —unafraid. The world needs as never before the educational and spiritual impact of the W.C.T.U. We believe that a miracle of blessing now unseen will be wrought out for all the warring nations. For courageous souls who know the hidings of power in God, a crisis is a means of growth and refining - of soul, rather than a time of fear, depression, and pessimism. Observance of the trysting hour of noontide prayer will keep us in close touch with one another and with the great heart of the Eternal, to whom alone we look to bring order out of chaos, calm out of the convulsion of war.- Affectionately, ANNA A. GORDON.