AIMS AND OBJECTS OF W.C.T.U.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 378, 18 January 1927, Page 6

AIMS AND OBJECTS OF W.C.T.U.

(Paper by Mrs Macalister, at Napier Union.) When the praying bands of saintly women in Hillboro’, Ohio, America, first went forth, their one thought and purpose was to try to stem the tide of intemperance which they saw was working ruch havoc amongst those around them. They saw that the saloons were ruining the young manhood of their country and their mother hearts were torn with grief. Their one cry was "Brothers, we beg of you not to drink and not to sell." But the liquor traffic is so interwoven with politics, with science and with all necessary reforms, that if we are to follow the enemies of those we love «-e must take up "the do everythin- oiicv; for this reason, that

everything is not in the Temperance reform, the Temperance reform should be in everything, for every question of practical philanthropy or reform has its temperance aspect.

People are much more enlightened now in regard to the evils of alcohol than they were 50 or 60 years ago, and yet the drink bill in Britain and in New Zealand grows bigger ever*’ year, and thousands and tens of thousands are continually being destroyed by this enemy to both body and soul. More than any other Society ever formed, the W.C.T.U. is the exponent of what is best in this latter day civilisation. Its scope is the broadest, its aims are the kindest, its history is the most heroic. Women of all nationalities and rn*eds can I hen i meet on common ground for the uplifting of humanity, and each one can find something to do for which she is specially fitted. There are 2 4 different departments of work taken up by the New Zealand W.C.T.U., and each of these departments of work has a special Superintendent, who, at the end of the year, gathers in reports from each branch of the Union and reports to Convention. I will just mention some of these departments. The first one on the list is Evangelistic Work, and the word explains itself, and is as it should be placed first, for we are a Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and everything we can Co to further the Kingdom of Our Ix>rd comes under this heading, namely,

meetings for prayer, visiting the sick and aged, singing hymns at the hospitals, distributing good literature, etc., etc. Then we have purity and rescue work. The purity leaflets and little books which can be obtained from the Purity Superintendent, are invaluable for those wishing to impart the necessary and proper information. Let each one of us see to it that the hoys and girls we can influence or whose parents we can influence, shall not leave their homes to go out into th* world utterly unwarned and unarmed against the temptations to evil which they will meet on every side.

Home meetings, Educational meetings, Sabbath Observance, Maori Work, Work Amongst Young People, which means Band of Hope or Loyal Temperance Legions, are the names of some more of our departments of work. Scientific Temperance Instruction, another of our branches of work is of extreme importance. Our New Zealand President at the last Convention, stated, "that the neglect of this teaching has been largejy responsible for the deplorable increase in the drinking habit among young people of both sexes to-day."

Then we have Social and Moral Hygiene. This department seeks to teach the benefits to be received from wholesome and nutritious food, pure air, and pure water, sensible clothing, etc., and we do well to give heed to these things. In seaport towns we have work amongst seamen. All of our Unions take up the work more or less of Anti-Gambling, Peace and Arbitration, and Legal and Parliamentary watchfulness. The liquor traffic and gambling are' safe-guarded by the law, and have to be followed into Parliament where the laws are made. How many of us have get into petsonal touch with our own member and let him know that we are looking to him to work for the elimination of the third issue and the provision of a two-issue ballot paper at next election.

The membership of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in New Zealand totals nearly 8,000, and there is a Women’s Christian Temperance Union in nearly every country' of this world. It is expected that each member will wear the badge—the little bow of white, and remember at each noontide to ask God’s blessing upon

our Union whose motto is For (k and Home and every land, and whoi founder was the beloved Franc Willard.