Editorial: FIFTY YEARS AGO

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 5, 1 June 1948, Page 1

Editorial: FIFTY YEARS AGO

“Comention Number for 1898 lies on the iable beside this year's, 1948 Fifty years ago this number went out. It is clean, untattered, and might have been published this week except for the tact that the paper is good and space apparently almost unlimited. Beautiful print, widely spaced, makes /or easy reading. The first page contains an article irom the “N.Z. Herald on the death of Frances Willard, which had just occurred. It is a most interesting and enlightening account of our great leader’s life ard work, written sympathetically and with dignity. Following this is the account of the Thirteenth Annual Convention, held at Napier, under the Presidency of Mrs. Schnackenberg of Auckland, with Miss Powell as Corresponding Secretary, Miss L. ,M. Kirk. Recording Secretary, and Mrs. Hill, as Treasurer. A contribution by an “Outsider tells of the Memorial Service held in St. 1 aul s (Church. What a fine gathering it was and how well the N.Z. Union acquitted itself is shown in the story thus told. The concluding words run thus: " The whole service . . . was deeply impressive, and must have convinced the most sceptical, if such were present, that the members of the W.C.T.U. as represented by their officers and delegates were women of more than ordinary mental as well as moral and spiritual culture, and were well qualified to grapple w’itli the terrible social evils that curse and crush humanity.’ That is a good indication of the standing held by the W.C.T.U. 50 years ago. It is valuable because so encouraging, and our belief in the reality of our mission and call to special service is strengthened by it. A most interesting column appears which we give ourselves the privilege of quoting in full, this being “W.R month. “One of the important subjects discussed at the Convention was the

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report of the Committee of the “W.R.” It was resolved by Convention three years ago to issue a paper for the W.C.T.U. Started without capital, it has growm in size and increased in circulation, and has, lip to the present, been kept clear of hnancial difficulties. “But these results have only been obtained by the hard and incessant work of the Editor and the Business Manager, who have intimated that they cannot any longer sustain the financial burden. The Committee pointedly intimated its opinion that great apathy had been shown by those to whom the paper belongs, and asked that Convention would either provide the capital required, or place upon each Union the onus of procuring a sufficient number of new subscribers to make the paper self-supporting. “Seeing that we have over 50 Unions, and that the number of new subscribers required would only average 10 for each Union, this would seem to be a very modest request. It appears, however, to have been too much for Convention, which simply pledged itself to use every effort to raise the required number, and. passed a resolution of sympathy with the Editor and Business Manager. “There is an old story of a Quaker who was of a practical turn of mind. Telling an acquaintance of a sad case of poverty, he replied to an expression of sympathy from his hearer thu>: ‘Friend, I sympathise 20 shillings. How much does thee sympathise?’ If each of the delegates at Convention had said T sympathise 10 new sub scribers, and I’ll canvass till I get them,’ it would have put new heart into the Business Manager.” Well now! Can you believe that that was written 50 years ago? Its message is very apt today, is it no- ? The distinguished Editor was Mrs. Sheppard, Another paragraph from her pen is well worth reauing. Space per-

nutting, it will be reproduced shortly when its purport will be of real advantage. \\ e have seen there is no hope of improving, in any shape or form, the liquor traffic. There is nothing now to be done but to .wipe it out completely. . . . Ihe great cause of social crime is drinte The great cause of poverty is drink. V\ hen I hear of a family broken up and ask the cause—drink. If I go to the gallows and ask its victim the cause, the answer—drink. Then I ask myself in perfect wonderment, why do not men put a stop to this thing?’’— Archbishop Ireland.