ARE WE SINCERE

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 378, 18 January 1927, Page 14

ARE WE SINCERE

(By a White ltibbonur.)

With the evidence of the press before us, we cannot be ignorant of some of the evils affecting humanity all the world over, nor are these evils lessened by us refusing to admit that they exist; but when we admit they exist, what should be our attitude towards them? "We claim to be Christian people, yet our activities against crime and misery are very meagre. One can well recall the shame that was heaped on what were termed “shirkers” in war time, yet in the war against the enemy within our gates how many shirkers do we find? One often hears the remark, “I would do anything to get rid of the drink.” l>o we really mean it? What have we done or denied ourselves to prove our statement? It is high time to take a more definite stand beside good against evil, high time to be on God’s side instead of the devil’s, high time to demand that the Church is not half with Temperance and half with Continuance. Some ministers do not seem to realise that a hid is being made to catch them as shelter for the Trade. Only last week the paper reported a Girls Club, headed by a minister’s wife, had celebrated a dinner in an hotel; this should not he. If the Trade is to be outlawed, we should not give it any support, and Temperance people should be provided with the best of accommodation by Temperance institutions. What are we doing in allowing storekeepers to sell cider in case lots, which is often handed round to boys and girls under the age of sixteen years. Are we sincere Christian people when we sing in Church on Christmas morning and rejoice that “Christ is born in Bethlehem,” while men are insane and in agony from the effects of drink less than a mile away? Last week’s paper reports one of these cases, and the victim ended his wretched existence by swallowing a pannikin of sheep dip. Another waa taken to the hospital where he lies more dead than alive through Christmas cheer (?), and a third, the father of five or six children, is down with delirium tremens, and awaiting a prohibition order, all within a few miles in a country district, and it may be added, “Other cases too numerous to mention.” Are we sincere members of the W.C.T.U. when we fail to ittend our meetings or pay our subscriptions, and neglect to wear our badge, and forget to arrange things for

the Organiser, who could and would do so much better work if a friendly welcome were extended, instead of sonacold lodging with cold or unfriendly strangers? In fact, if God weighs all our professions, what will be their true worth?