W.C.T.U.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 25 January 1934, Page 9

W.C.T.U.

JUBILEE THANKSGIVING In the year 1884 Mrs Mary Leavitt came to New Zealand in the interests of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and formed branches in most of the principal towns. The first New Ze;v land president was Mrs Dudley Ward, who visited Nelson in September 1885 as the following extract from the “Evening Mail” of 17th September 1885 shows:—“A meeting with the object of forming a Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held in the Congregational Church yesterday afternoon when Mrs Dudley Ward delivered an eloquent and impressive address, pointing out how great were the opportunities of women to work in the service of God, and how great was their power for good. It was not only in the direction of promoting temperance but in many other yyays that they might lie of invalculable benefit to their fellow creatures and if they would only combine they could bring back Bible reading into their schools, reclaim the drunkard, restore their fallen sisters to the path of virtue and uproot the growing evil of larrikinisin. She showed how vast was the amount of good that was being done in the United States where the Union now numbered 100,000 women, and many in the, larger cities of Australia, and showed that there was a field everywhere for willing workers. It was then resolved to form a branch of the Union iri Nelson with Mrs Nightingale as president and Mrs Gibbs as secretary and treasurer. Before the meeting inoko up a number of ladies were enrolled as members and donned the badge of the Union a white and blue ribbon. This year the annual convention of the Dominion to be held in Wellington in March will take the form of a jubilee thanksgiving and one of the many interesting junctions will be a “Service of Memories” when the New Zealand pioneers of this world-wide movement will bo remembered in prayer and praise. The local officers are trying to trace the names of the foundation members and would bo glad if any of the readers of “The Mail” could assist so that none should be omitted. .‘is. ■.* ■>.-111-«•>». AJuJll <VI. U* *-«•-—-* 1 -