A CALL TO THE WOMEN.

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 158, 15 August 1908, Page 1

A CALL TO THE WOMEN.

[By Nfi?< 11 ah hisox Lkk.]

“Call for the Women ttait th**y max Come " Jrrrmwh U-17- n How dearly the call is Hounding in New Zealand to-day, and how urgent is the reason tor the call “ The young men and the children.” God calls us by the tenderest affections of the human heart, bv the strongest ties that ever bound the world in bonds divine. Not for ease, not for pleasure, not for wealth, or fame, but for the saving of the children He calls us. Are we Going to Respond ? When lingua * little son was perishing in the desert an angel came and said—- “ Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand.’ There are thousands of lads perishing to-day, and tlie angel of Temperance is calling to every woman to lift up the lad to help make a great nation. An angel gave Manoah’s wife directions before her ha by a birth that the child might come dowered with a glorious physical heritage. This message comes now with greater insistence than ever through the lips of ten thousand doctors as well as through philanthropists and statesmen, the rail to abstinence on behalf of the unborn child. “ I »rink not wine or strong drink.” The deterioration of tho British race io-day i® largely traceuhle to the drinking habits of parents, and Hod is calling every woman to save the little child.

An angel decreed that John should drink neither wine nor strong drink, and we believe bis parents listened to the angels command, and trained their son so thoroughly thut his healthy body was able to endure the trials of the desert, hi' magnificent mind was able to receive ihe \» rv thoughts of God. and his beautiful spirit xxas ready for service or sacrifice at anx moment.

Call for the Women of Nexx Zealand for the very fate of the I dominion rests in their hands to-dav.

When God asked Moses *‘ What is that in thy hand, ’ Moses only saw his shepherds staff, but God saw in it a means of deliverance for an enslaved people. The staff worked wonders, hut Gods power was behind the staff. The women of this land have the vote in their hand, and by using that power they can bring the drunkards out of bondage, uplift the children to a higher life, and make of the homes of sorrow citadels of love and purity and joy.

In the desert when the first man reaches the (>asis he shouts “ come!” and the nearest one takes up tin* call, and peals forth “come!” and soon tin* desert is ringingxvith the glad glad shout, “ come!” We temperance women have readied the Eden of love in the wilderness of life and desire to share it with others, so we cry “ come !” Let every woman catch up the joyous song and echo it far and near. Come to the Ballot Box and use the pencil of redemption, “For death is come up into our window s and entered into our palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets."