Our Eleventh Convention.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 April 1896, Page 1

Our Eleventh Convention.

The Annual Convention of ’96 was ushered in by weeping skies and biting winds. Our own journey was made in the train, and was damp enough to quench the spirits of any woman who was not a “ White Ribboner.” But that it takes more than a damp journey to depress a “ White Ribboner ” we ourselves can testify. We travelled with six of them, to say nothing of an honorary member—a mere man—and a brighter, merrier company one wouldn’t wish to see. we have hinted before, Dunedin skies were gloomy on our arrival, but Dunedin hearts are warm, and the faces of our hostesses were bright as a summer’s day. The reception was given in the Choral Hall, which was decorated for the occasion, and advantage was taken of the gathering to extend a welcome to the members and friends of the Otago Prohibition Council, who were holding a Conference at the same time. The music was good, the speaking was good-very good. Our space being limited, we leave our contemporary to report the speeches of the Prohibition delegates. Mrs Dick, the President of the Dunedin W.C.T.U., grace-

fully and cordially welcomed the members of Convention. We suppose that, in arranging for several gentlemen to -.peak, and only one lady, the framers of the programme intended to pay us a delicate compliment, the assumption being that they considered one woman equal to four men. Our Recording Secretary was in good foim that night, and worthily sustained the reputation of the W.C.T.U. Lest we might be accused of partiality, we give the following account supplied by one of the Clutha Delegates to the Prohibition 1 Council:— Miss Ki;k gave a very fine address. On opening she delighted the audience with her fun and wit, and showed that she possessed that indefinable quality of huinout thal is so seldom truly possessed by the public speaker. But, after making her audience very merry, her tone changed, and witli quiet but persuasive earnestness sue spoke of the need there was for w )rkers, and of the duty that was laid upon every man and woman to become a member ol Prohibition League and Women’s C.T. Union—well, not every man, for the latter body was a Woman’s Union -but, yes ! even every man, lor they could be honorary members. And then she just touched on the horrible nature ol the drink traffic. We had often heard it denounced before, but from Miss Kirk it came with new force, and one was filled with a resolve to tak#• one's part in helping to cleanse the land of this traffic. Then followed a short appeal to young men in particular to take their part in rooting out a traffic that w F as dragging down themselves in particular. That was all, and yet it was not all. But the rest you would need to have been there to hear and see. You would need to have seen the pleasant and natural manner, to have heard the persuasive voice, *nd to have caught the choice language in which each tiiought was clothed.

And yet, if you had been there, you would have found yourselves thinking about rone of these things. You would have found yourself catching something of her inspiration, and forming resolves that would he all the more easily carried out for the having heard that voice. “ How did you like it ?” I asked a friend as we were leaving. “ Very much,” he answered. “ Wasn’t Miss Kirk good ? Oh ! 1 will work when I get hack home.” On Saturday we met for business in the Hall of the First Church. In the afternoon our delegates were entt rtained by Mrs John Hislop, at her resi dence at the North-Hast Valley. The beautiful surrounding scenery and the generous provision made by the hostess for our pleasure and comfort made our visit a delightful one, During the afternoon Mrs \V. Downie Stewart photographed the group of delegates and friends in front of the house, and was very successful with the negatives obtained. In addition to this party pleasant gatherings were held at the residences of Mrs Dick and Mrs Boot, and other friends, during Convention. Sun ay morning saw us scattered throughout the various Dunedin churches, but in the afternoon we gathered together for a Gospel Temperance service in the Garrison Hall. Addresses were given hv Mrs Schnackenberg, Miss Kirk, and Miss Maginness, Mrs Dick presiding. Business was resumed again on Monday morning, and at two o'clock on Wednesday the Convention was closed by singing “ Bless’d he the tie that binds,” and prayer by the President. We felt that, on the whole, the Convention of 1896 was a good one. Old friendships were renewed, new friendships formed, and the hands that hind Union to Union throughout the colony were visibly strengthened. Misunderstandings have been removed, increased respect for each other’s work has been gained, and while all have realised more fully the obstacles that obstruct our path, we have become more determined to grapple with them There has been an increase both in our membership and in the number of Unions. We are therefore encouraged to hope that the Convention of 1897, w hich is to he held in Christchurch, will receive a record of work which will surpass anything we have had before.