President's Message

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1 April 1947, Page 5

President's Message

In this time of almost innumerable women’s organisations, even in thU small country, it behoves us as W.C.T.U. members to be interested in all such strive for the glory of God and the betterment of mankind, always remembering that our Union is the only organisation which fully that the liquor trade is the foundation cause of much of the disease, degradation, dishorfesty, unhappiness and death, so frequently brought before us, and our Union is the only women’s organisation which is pledged to fight this gigantic evil. This would appear to be a suitable time to consider our worth to the community in which we live. In assessing the worth of our Union we should, I think, first consider its strength, its beauty, and its usefulness —the last one will doubtless be the longest. First our strength, which surely lies in the fact that our Union was formed as the result of, first, individual prayer, followed by group prayer, when the desire of our brave pioneer women to abolish the ceil of beverage alcohol was laid in deep

humility and earnestness at the feet of Christ. Only, and I wish to stress that only, only after much prayer and meditation and hard study was our Union formed. Then, as now to a large extent, the churches as a whole, to whom these women looked confidently for assistance, sP*od aloof, and they went forward, a little hand with no hacking from any section of the Christian Church as a church, although in many churches there were ardent sympathisers and supporters, just as we have them to-dav.

These women laid the foundation of our Union on the Rock, Christ lesus—the only foundation that CA\ T stand the test of time, the stress of hardship and ridicule and death. Because some

of our own women, over sixty years ago, realised the evil results of the liquor trade and had the same faith in that sure foundation they were able to form the \cw Zealand Union. That the founda* tion is good there can be no better proof than this gathering of women, met for the purjHJse of carrying on the good fight begun so long ago. Our strength lies, obviously, in building on the one firm foundation, the will of God. The beauty—this surely is composed of the flowers that can only grow on that strong foundation —self-sacrifice, willingness to serve, to serve with love. Tins is expressed in our Motto—For God, Home and Humanity. Think of the awe-inspiring beauty and honour of the first two words, “l or God." When >o short a time ago we prepared our Christmas greetings and parcels what a happiness we felt in writing “for so-and-so, with my love.” Was not that a great part of our Christmas pleasure? If the gift of our Union work is “For God, with our love,” then the welfare of Home and Humanity cannot help following. What is pleasing to God can only lie that which helps humanity. The beauty must, of necessity, go hand in hand with strength, and the little, but powerful, group lie completed with it'' no less important sister—Usefulness. There is no need for me to tell you what our Union has done in the years that lie behind. You know that, or you should, and if you have not already educated yourself in this history, consult the Literature Superintendent and she will advise you as to obtainable hooks and leaflets, etc.

And to the future, the usefulness to come; much of it can Ik* best expressed in the work of our Departments of which there are 22 being worked by various Unions. Very few Unions can w’ork them all. May I suggest that it might he more profitable for a Union, especially a small Union, to select two or three departments and for all members to work hard at those chosen. This in no way prevents our taking an interest in any other department, but only makes our efforts a solid block instead of a thinly-spread, apt-to-crumble, interest If you read down the list you will see how well worth while the work of all departments is; it will he a matter of selecting those you CAN work. Sabbath Observance will, naturally make a strong ap[H*al to all members. Perhaps a good introduction to this work would be to take a little time at an early meeting to consider what is the proper use of the Sabbath, with a little reference to the increasing misuse of that great day. We see the crying need, hut what do we do about it. When the Saturday holiday came, some of us were hopeful enough to think that we should see less washing on the lines on Sunday, hut do we? Have we not frequently been told, especially in recent years when trams and trains were fewer and petrol scarce. “Oh. well you see there is nothing to do; few* trains and no petrol. Tf T get the washing done and out of the way

on Sunday 1 have Monday clear tor shopping or pictures or whatever I want to do.” That may Ik* true, hut has that woman, lias her family, gained what will really com|K*nsate for the loss of mental and physical rest which might have been theirs, or. much more important. for the spiritual refreshment and restoration which no Christian can do without? Do you wonder that we so often hear people being “snapp\” and hard when they have taken no rest of any sort for week after week? (an we expect World Peace when we deliberately behave in such a way that we face each new day with frayed or jangled nerves? If we as a Union can help the community in which we live to come nearer to a right use of Sunday, accepting rightly this great gitt of an opjior* tunity for soul strengthening, we shall have done much toward expressing both the strength and beauty of our foundation. fust recently, in looking over some very old papers, I found these lines which surely express the jiosition. They were given, over 80 years ago to my eldest sister, then a very small girl. I am glad to say that her early train :ing in respect anti reverence for tiie Sabbath stood her in gcxKl stead all her long life. “A Sabbath well spent. Brings a week of content And health for the toil of to-morrow, But a Sabbath profaned, Whate’er may be gained.

Is a certain forerunner o'* sorrow.” Can your Union help , with Bible teaching for children? If you cannot visit the schools is it |>ossil>le for you to gather a few children to hear a Bible story? You might he able to form them into an L. 1 L. or Band of Hoj>e, which would give greater opportunity for teaching God's will toward evil, especially in relation to the evil of alcohol. And so on down the list. Even if you can only do what seems to you a little, do it. Ihe lad had only five loaves and two fishes, but just look Pwith God’s love that seemingly negligible supply saved thousands from utter exhaustion. When you read that account say this truth to yourself—just so, any Mqall service I may Ik* able to give may go on helping others for many years to come. In this year of grace, 1 ( >47, can we individually make this vow to God, “I promise for this year, at any rate, f will, with God's help, endeavour to u-k* every opportunity to make known to all with whom I come in contact, the evils of the liquor trade and the dire necessity for its complete and speedy abolition.” That is really contained in our pledge, but sometimes some of u» forget that united effort can only come by decided individual effort.

Concentrated effort outside the Union will help to make our meetings more interesting. if w’e are enthusiastic about our work outside we are hound to he more arnest inside, and if we arc happy our meeting cannot hut he happy. What does the Union mean to you? Ts it just

“another meeting?” It that is how we teel it is high time we were on our knees asking God’s guidance as to what we should do about it. Some say, “Oh, I cannot speak or lead in am thing ; I onlx dust and give out a few books.” In short, they are rather disgruntled about the Martha jobs and feel inclined to give up. DON’T. It was clearly brought home to me recently that although Martha did not sec as much of Jesus as she might have done, yet to her were spoken some of the most comforting, and at the same time, most glorious words spoken by Christ while He w r a> on earth —“I am the resurrection and the life.” Almost all of us have f>ccn thankful for that assurance, and we heard through Martha Let us get on with the books and the duster; Christ has a word for you and me. Our usefulness must include a verx active and prayerful watchfulness, otherwise we may lose some of those things for which otir Union as fought so many years. The liquor trade is ever on the lookout for ways to entrap human beings, particularly the younger members of the community, into drinking habits, to get our young housekeepers drinking in their homes as well as out of them. In the Canadian “White Ribbon" we

read that Ralph T. Kettering, Secretary of tiie American Brewers’ Association, in an article published in the Brewers' Journal, June 15th, 1937, said these terrible things among others: “The time is at hand to begin a concentrated campaign to sell beer to the housewife. . . .

Why not enlist the brewers of the nation to place beer in its rightful place, alongside and other foodstuffs, in the pantry and in the homes? . . . Once we have convinced the housewife that beer is both a temperance beverage and a foodstuff we have placed beer, its brewers and distributors, in a solid firm jiosition to combat its unfair attackers and constantly growing unfair regulations. . . . Why not go to the very heart of the problem in enlisting the housewife on our side, and. through her, the family and the on-coming generation.” That is as much of this lying propaganda as I feel able to lay my tongue to at the moment, but iKWtch out! what the trade begins to do in one place it will soon begin to do in another. We must diligently pursue our educational work. It may not be very long lx*fore we are faced with the threat of wine shops; we must be prepared for any approach toward greater facilities for the consumption of beverage alcohol. Never for a moment must we forget that the Devil is never short of workers. Wouldn’t you wonder that so many j»eople are willing to do this evil work of encouraging people to drink when they can only receive such poor pay. Do they ever test the coins they receive as wages?

To be prepared we must help to educate each other; we all know what our goal is, but do we pas* on to each other all the facts we learn that will help pave the way to that goal Preparedness is the proj>er result of watchfulness In our usefulness we must employ some of what are called the minor virtue*-

such as kindness, tolerance, sympathx, cheerfulness, etc. Just how far-reaching the effect of, or how much value tinconstant practice of, these virtues max l»c, it is impossible to tell, especially in relation to World Peace.

Our usefulness can lx* materially helped by giving assistance to each other in the matter of public speaking--when xve know of a xvoman who is suitable ami willing to serve on school committee, hospital board, city council, etc., xve must stand by, giving moral and any other kind of support xve are able. It ha** been said that most, if not all, men who achieved greatness did so, largelx localise some woman, xxife, mother, sister. or friend, gaxe them much help and, no doubt, discreetly administered, advice. I f you read the lives of great men you xxill see that that is correct. Well, as it is evident that husbands and other male members of the community generally will not, or perhaps cannot, help the women as the xvomen can help the men, it is therefore for you and me to act as “a £/*xl wife should” towards those xvho have the ability to qualify for public life.

Don’t be deterred by those who raise the old cry, “a woman’s place is her home; she should be looking after her children.” Of course she should, but the folk who raise this cry forget that even a very average xvoman can, and doe*, do more titan one thing at a time and because she cares for the children and home she must take her part in framing the conditions which will, to

a large extent govern the lives of her family. \ woman ha* a more flexible mind and can take a longer view than the average man, most of whom have a one-track mind. A> from day to day xve increasingly riaii>c the meaning of our motto, “For (,od. Home and Humanity,” so shall xve increasingly value the great opportunities for expressing the Strength, Beauty and Usefulness of our Union, opixirtunitie*. which, if rightly used, cannot help but reveal “The glory of the Lord.” John I lax puts the case thus— Saitli the Lord, "Vengeance is mine; I xx ill repay,” saith the Lord. Ours be the auger divine, Lit by the flash of His word. How shall His vengeance be done? How, xvlien His pur|x).se is clear? Must He come down from His throne 5 Hath He no instruments here? Sleep not in imbecile trust, Waiting for God to begin, While growing strong in the dust, Rests the bruised serpent of sin. Right and wrong—both cannot live Dear-grappled. Which shall we see 5 Strike! Only Justice can give Safetv to ail that shall be.

Shame to stand paltering thus, Tricked hv the balancing odds; Strike! God is waiting for us! Strike! for the vengeance is God’s