W.C.T.U.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 4

W.C.T.U.

HASTINGS BRANCH. MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The monthly meeting of the Hastings branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held in tjie Wesley Hall on Thursday afternoon. Notwithstanding the wintry weather conditions, there was a good attendance. Mrs W. Hickmott occupied the chair. Mrs Sutherland opened the meeting with prayer and a devotional paper entitled “.Remembrance," in which she quoted extracts from letters of Christian workers in China, India, Latin America, and Egypt, showing what women were doing to extend the Kingdom of God, to uphold the sanctity of the home and to uplift the cause of humanity. The writer showed how the work of those women was an inspiration to all to live lives of sacrifice, industry, and devotion.

Correspondence was read from the secretary of Willard Home, thanking the Union for their gifts, from the editor of the “White Ribbon" (Mrs Peryman) stating that the effort to increase the circulation of the paper had not been as successful as anticipated, and asking for further help. The New Zealand Alliance wrote asking for cooperation in celebrating the centenary of the “Seven Men of Preston.” Resolutions of sympathy were passed with Miss McKeown, on the death of her father, and with Mrs Pederson, on the death of her sister. The resignation of the “White Ribbon" superintendent (Mrs H. Fawcett) was received, owing to her leaving the district. Mrs Murtagh was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mrs R. Harper gave a short account of the building fund, which had been started by tho late Mrs Boyle, and canvassed for by the late Mrs Martindale.

Mrs F. J. Baumgart gave a short address on “The Motto and Ideals of the W.C.T.U,” which sho opened by reading an extract from a letter received from Miss Alice Clemance. which told of an address given by Dr. Graham to his boys at their school in Kalimpong (India) on his return there after being absent for some time in Scotland and England. Ho told them how he had met His Majesty tho King, and how on tho three occasions on which he had seen him he had found him to bo a humble Christian gentleman. From this, the speaker went on to show that the home life of His Majesty was one which should serve as an example for his subjects throughout the Empire. As the devotional paper given by

Mrs Sutherland had dealt with the first part of the motto, “For God," the extract from this letter will bring our minds to the second, “for Home," said the speaker. “For Humanity," the remaining portion of the motto, was spoken of in the account which Mrs Baumgart read of the women’s petition at tho Disarmament Conference at Geneva, also of the contribution the Student Christian Movement made at that conference, -when fourteen million signatures were received, representing humanity struggling against the bondage of war. The ideals of Peace, World Purity, and World Prohibition were then spoken of briefly, and an extract from “A Thousand Emerald Isles" was read. The book deals with the emancipation of the Philippine Islands, and the extract read was the thrilling story of Miss Josefa, their first woman lawyer and the first president of tho W.C.T.U. Votes of thanks were accorded the speakers, and the social superintendent, who dispensed afternoon tea. A resolution of sympathy with Mrs T. E. Taylor in her illness was passed in silent prayer. It was announced that Mrs Brierley would be the speaker at the August meeting. Arrangements were made to hold a Cradle Roll afternoon during the term holidays. The meeting closed with the singing of tho late T. E. Taylor’s favourite hymn, “The day Thou gavt’s. Lord, Is ended," in honour of Memorial Day—“a day of remembrance.”