WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11113, 14 May 1898, Page 8

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

The annual meeting of the W.C.T.U. was held in the W.C. A. Rooms on Tuesday evening last. After tea, Mrs Dick, the president, took the chair, and (after the opening prayer by the Rev. W. Ready) gave a short account of the establishment, of the union in Daaedia 13 yean ago. Mrs Mary Leavitt visited Dunedinat that time, and it was owing to her eloquence and zeal that the branch was formed. Mrs Dick held office as the first secretary, continuing to discharge the duties for 10 years, when she was elected to the office of president, which she has held ever since. The work of Mra Miller and Mrs Mackenzie among the juveniles was referred to in terms of warmest praise, and tho president concluded with a stirring appeal to the members and friends present to assist in once more getting this department of the union into working order, that tha children, both boyg and girls, might he gathered in from the streets and taught something useful and instructive. It waa not the children that went to the day Bchoolaor tee Suaday schools they wanted to help, but the waifs and strays wandering abaat the streets till all hours of the night, and it was inteuded to begin this much-needed work without delay. The Treasurer followed with a short and concise account of the state of the funda, showing the amount received for the year for Union work as £19 2s 7d, with a'balance from 1896 of £25 17s sd, making a total' of £76. The amount of expenditure for 1897 was £59 18s 4d, leaving a balance in hand of £16 Is 8d to begin the year with. The Sailors' Rest account was £36 19s 6d in donations 'and subscriptions, and balance from 1896 of £19 14s, and interest £1 9s 6d, making a total of £b7 3s, The expenditure was £56 2s lid. leaving a balance of £10s Id. , ' | The Secretary's report contained the followi ing clauses among others:— I should like it-to be distinctly understood that we are not a political society in any sense of the word,—in fact, polite ara never mentioned at our meeting.-). , Of course we use our power as voters and-record that vote against the drink traffic. And that is the only way in which we take part in politics. We are not a Prohibition Society. Many of us belong to that hard-working body—all honour to them fov the good work they are doing,—but we include in our work not only temperance, but as I shall in a few words tell you, many other branches that ara essentially woman's work, and woman's work more particularly. Many of U3 (thouga of course we are total abstainers, —we cannot be members of the union without signing this pledge) are not prohibitionists, but we may arrive at; that blissful sfate in the course of time. I wish to make it.quite clear to many women who would be glad to join us that while it is compulsory to become a-total abstainer to join our ranks, it is not necessary to be a prohibitionist. Now about our work. First, we fully, recognise the important f act ' tha,t without our Master's help we can do nothing. It is no- use to preach temperance without the Gospel; they must go hand I in hand to prosper, and this is what we endeavour, to do. We have a Bible-reading circle at Roslyn every week, conducted by some of our members who live in that district:. We have a mothers' meeting every Friday in the hall here, where the women are taught to sew and have, a kindly word said to them on higher things; a melting is also held in Cargill road for the same purpose, and in addition to these branches we have a Gospel temperance meeting at the Sailors' Rest every month. We have superintendents for different branchesbands of hope, flower missinn to visit the hospital and sick generally, prison work,. press work, literature, hygiene, and many other thing! ; last, but certainly not least, for they are two of the most important work*, the Sailors' Rest and drawing room: evangelistic work. All these superintendents bring in reports of their work every month. ' \ You will not be surprised now to hear that our work is increasing so much that we find it absolutely impossible to get all our business done in one afternoon in the month, and therefore we intend to resume our evening meetings as well. We have before us the question of juvenile work, which is sp much on the minds of some of us, and which it is intended to take up in some form this winter, and we shall also have educational meetings, when papers will be read and questions discussed on leading topics of the day affecting women: and children.-, The first ene that will be brought forward will most likely be the question of charitable aid and the great importance of women sitting on charitable boards. Then we have another important thing in view, and that is the establishment of a reformatory where young women—l might almont say children—may be saved from careers of vice and intemperance.- This scheme will be brought up for consideration at some of-the evenings. I would like tri impress. on you that.we have a paper belonging exclusively to our union, but its columns are open to any woman who wishes to write and make known any grievance or wrong doneHo our sex. In conclusion, I wisli to impress on you all more particularly the meaning of. our motto—"For God, Hoiue, and Humanity." To me and to many others whp. belong to the union it means more than the (Fact of being one of the sworn eriemies.of the iniquitous drink traffic. It means that we.; are at, the service of any poor sick, suffering soul—man, womap, or child—that requiras our aid. And in the strength of Him who went about doing good we go forward, feeling sure that we shall be blessed in our work and, in | giving, we shall receive a bleßsing ourselves. And let me ask you'one and. all, now that you have heard of the different branches, is there nothing you can do to aid us in this work? Surely there is a niche that you cau.fiU.and those of us who are burdened with the cares of carrying on this work will welcome you, oh, so gladly, and in helping us you will, 1 ani sure, be helping yourselves on to eternal life. ■'•,-■. . .• The . Rev. W., Beady said that the first meeting he attended'of the W.C.T.U. was also attended by Dr Stuart, who was always ready to help the cause of temperance. Many other societies had sprung into existence since then, and had gone out of existence, too, but the W.C.T.U. was very much in existence, and evidently was going to remain so because it was built on a good foundation—that of tHe Lord Jesus Chrißt. They were perhaps not a very strong. body numerically, but God judged by quality, not quantity, He spoke in feeling terms ; of-the late Miss Frances Willard, and, remarking that, women of her 6tamp and pioneers in good work, had never been and never would be wanting, exhorted those present to take example by her and do as nobly. In every city women were banded together .to do good— in Coolgardie a branch of the union had been formed, and .was doing noble work—and in every corner of the globe women like Miss Willard, with dauntless minds and loving hearts, were to be found. Practical Christianity wrs, he said, wanted nowadays, and he concluded by exhorting to be practical in their work.'. .''.'.. '■'..,.'• ..• ■ . Mies Nevisok. gave a short report of the mothers' meeting,' stating that they made clothes and sold, not gave, them to the woman, unless they were absolutely too poor to buy them. In speaking of her work as priaon superintendent, she said that she was glad to be able to say she had not had very much to do in this line, for the women in gaol were generally old offenders,, convicted of drunkenness, and in and oat of. gaol constantly. However, there was one young' girl she had been able to save find get away to another place, where, she was thankfulto say, she was. doing well. The Rev. Dr Waddeix, in his remarks, said that it was reported often that the Temperance party generally seemed to be going back, but he cculd Rsnure them that this was not so. Like a man palling a rope, they were only letting go to take a firmer hold. Women were largely responsible for the evils of the drink traffic, for they should do sway with the drinking customs in their own homes ;. and if they were not so indifferent thay might do a great deal of good in society.-, Women belonging to any society should be workers, and when banded together, as they were in the W.C.T.U., they could, by being united, be strong. All had gifts given them from God—talents of some sort or another,—and they should use them. The Rev. T, G. Brooke .spoka very strongly on the alleged incapability of our magistrates, and the heartless way they often laughed at the unfortunate drunkards brought before them, forgetting that those young men and women were somebody's sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, and that instead of being amused at the sorry spectacle they ought rather to feel sad; Mr A. R. Fdlconar, the superintendent of the Sailors' Rest work, being unfortunately absent through illness, and Mr Hercus detained through business, there was no formal report oi; the work. During the evening Misses Dunlop, Hislop, and Statham each sang solos, which made » pleasant break in the speeches, and were much appreciated by those present. Apologies for non-attendance through. prior engagements were read from several ministers' wives, all wishing the union much prosperity. Mr M'Larbn, superintendent of bands of hope, offered % few words, saying that with the' assistance of Mn A. S. Adams he hoped te do a deal of good in this line during the winter, and that several of the bands that had been closed for some time were about to re-open. The meeting was closed by the Rev. Mr Brooke pronouncing the benediotion.

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