Our Twelfth Convention.

White Ribbon, Volume 2, Issue 21, 1 March 1897, Page 1

Our Twelfth Convention.

I (Contributed.) ■The event of the month in W.C.T.U. Lclrs has been the assembling in fchnstchurch of the annual Convention, ■be Christchurch friends e\ulently Jfck that pleasant surroundings are Conducive to pleasant meetings. At tbe last Christchurch Convention they tcured the lieautiful Provincial Counft Chamber, and on the present occaI they hired the Art Gallery for the L of the delegates. The selection Ins a good one. The assembly room Is light, airy, and spacious, well fur* fished with chairs, grand piano and >frgan, and decorated with many hand’fome pictuies. Adjoining are commitfee, cloak, end dressing-rooms, and a f my kitchen, conveniences which were Hall duly appreciated. | The N Z. Executive met on the f fternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 24th. |lo the unavoidable absence of Mu* ■ Kirk, the Executive was fortunate in ■securing the services of Mrs \\ iddowIson, the secretary ol the Christchurch |t’nion, who very kindly undertook the ■office of Recording Secretary for the ■ session. I RECEPTION OF DELEGATES. I On Thursday an “At Home" was ■ pven, to receive and welcome the di leI gates. By the aid of settees, occasional I dans. mats, carpets, curtains, etc., the

hall was transformed into an immense drawing-room. Afternoon tea was provided for the tw’O hundred ladies who accepted the invitation to be present ; and a very enjoyable afternoon was spent. Mrs Sheppard referred to the gratification it gave her 10 see the Unions so well represented, but deeply regretted the absence of Miss Kirk. She thought the great aim of the members should be to rouse the MOTHER LJVS

that exists in almost every woman, so that women throughout the country might be roused to join in the uplifting of the race. She quoted a fine poem by Mrs Charlotte Stetson, entitled “ Mother to Child,” illustrative of her words. She thought women should avoid party politics, and give their votes and support to good men who would work for the moral reforms they wanted. Mrs Sheppard then introduced Miss Powell, the N.Z. Corresponding Secretary, who spoke biightly and with force on the need for educating women, especially young women, in their duty as electors, so that they should cast their votes intelligently and usefully. She said the local option poll lately taken was MOST HOPEFUL in that the number who voted “ Nolicense” had doubled itself in three years.

Mrs Schnackenberg, N.Z. Piesident, spoke briefly on the work of the Union, emphasising the need for scientific temperance instruction. Miss Torlesse,of Christchurch, urged the Union to take up the question of legislation against the employment < f wome n as barmaids. She said that while she knew there were many fine women who acted as barmaids, very few who remained in the position for any length of time ever recovered their position. The lift hid a lowering tendency, and it was almost impossible that it should be otherwise. Mrs Squires gave .1 most graphi c account of what she % had suffered through the drink traffic, interesting her hearers, and more than once raising a laugh by her quaint expressions and her varied experience*. Mrs McKee and MrsGrossmann l>oth spoke briefly on the Armenian question, dw< lling on the part which Lc dy Henry Somerset and Miss Willard had played \v helping the Armenian refugees. At the close of the reception, a short session w*as held for the transaction cf routine business. Delegates credentials were received, after which plans were discussed for the more methodic..l working of the Union. The delegates then partook of tea, after which Miss Powell put them through a musical drill. On Friday sessions were held lioth morning and afternoon. Saturday morning fount! the memliers at work again until half past eleven.

An adjournment was then made, and the delegates and friends proceeded by train tc Kaiapoi, in acceptance of an invitation given by Mr and Mrs R. Evans. At the Kaiapoi station were dags, in which the members were conveyed to Willow Farm. Here, on the lawn in front of the house, was erected a roomy pavilion, wherein were tables furnished with the generous hospitality for which Mr and Mrs Evans are famous. The brilliant sunshine was agreeably tempered by the green grass and shady drooping willows, and the afternoon was pleasantly and profitably spent in singing, social intercourse, and chats as to me*hods of work. On Monday two sessions were held, an«i in the evening there was

\ A PUBLIC MEETING, Mrs Leppard presiding. Addresses were given by Mrs Schnackenberg, Mrs Webb (of Gisborne), Miss Rowell, the Rev. P. R. Munro,and Mr T. E. Taylor, M. H. R. Selections of music were given by Miss Maunder and Mrs Hiskins (Lyttelton) sang 11 Sunshine an 1 Rain,’ by Ulumenthal. Mrs Sheppard said that the W.C.T.U. had a wide scope, had over 40 departments, and could find employment for every kind of talent. They required and welcomed the Band of Hope worker, the scientific Temperance teacher, and the fire and enthusiasm of the ardent Prohibitionist who sought to gain the desirod end by Temperance Legislation. There was great necessity for workers of diverse methods to encourage a kindly spirit towards each other, cherishing above all things the atmosphere of charity. The Union believed in the salvation of the body as well as of the soul, in the enlightening of the mind as well as the exaltation of the spirit. The Union did not believe in municipalisation of the Liquor iraffic. It did not believe in being partners in the legislation for vice.

Mrs Schnackenberg traced the history of the Union from its origin in Ohio, when the noble band of women marched tluough the streets and caused the whiskey-sellers to pour their liquor into the sewers. From there the movement had spread from country tocountry until it now numbered over 800,000 members. The branches now included the preventive, evangelistic, legal, social, and educational methods of coping wi*h the great evil of intemperance. Mrs Webb urged the necessity of mothers and fathers recognising their responsibility to their children. l athers often thought that they had NO RESPONSIBILITY whatever in this direction. She spoite feelingly on the way young men who joined athletic clubs were exposed to danger by l>eing drawn to public-houses for their club meetings, and from the habit of 44 shouting ” drinks which prevailed. She urged those present to influence others during the coming year in the Temperance crusade. The Rev P. R. Munro said he felt it an honour to tie associated with the Union, and he was surprised that every clergyman in Christchurch was not there that night. The society was a national one, and all Christian workers should show their sympathy with it. He congratulated the Union on the splendid work it had done during its short existence. He spoke strongly against the municif alisingof the Liquor Traffic, and said that if the State thought it could

LEGISLATE FOP VICE, he, for one, objected to be a partner in the concern. Miss Powell, in her vivacious manner, gave some interesting particulars of the progress of the movement. In New Zealand they hid over 1000 memtiers, including Maoris. Temperance, of course, was the basi* of th rir work, as they were always engageu

CLEARING UP THE RUBBISH that the drink sellers made. She ipcfc, of the work among the Chinese; also of that among the Maoris; and giv* an account of efforts in aid of friendless girls undertaken by the Union. Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., wu warmly received. He said he wu

known as a persistent antagonist tc the drink trade, and was proud of that distinction. He saw by the reports of the session that the Union complained of the obstructive action of the Legist*, tive Council where purity reform was concerned. The Ministry had shows its insincerity by making three of the most disgraceful appointments to that Council that had ever been made, is spite of its professed opposition to that House. Those appointments woud make the possibility of Temperance legislation MORE DIFFICULT than ever. He spoke of the gambling evil, and of the inefficiency of the police force He urged the necessity of young people of both sexes being trough; together for social intercourse, as this would prevent illicit intercourse when they met in the streets. Mrs Whitby, Lyttelton, whose name was on the programme for an address on the 44 Equality of Conditions of Divorce," was unfortunately obliged to leave the meeting in order to catch the 10 p.m. tram. She very kindly, however, left the paper she had intended reading on the table, with per mission to publish a few of her thoughts on this subject. Mrs Whitby stated that she did not believe in there being one law for man and another for woman In God's Eight they are equal, and out New Zealand law, she claimed, should be altered in this direction. Women should not cease agitating until this reform is gained. While she thought that exceptions should be made in sen* cases, she did not believe in making divorce easy. She quoted Chrises

*ords, u What God hath joined let not Bitn put asunder." During the evening the White Ribbooers song, “Souk* glad day," was very heartily surg by those present. Convention met again on Tuesday ®c*ning and also in the afternoon. Or. Wednesday morning a long session iras held. All present agreed that the gathering was one of the pleasantest and most useful they had had, several of the delegates saying that they felt the need for earnest work more than ever before. Convention closed at i. 15 by the members singing “ God be. with youtill we meet again, and reading the Crusade Psalm.