Letter from MISS ANNA GORDON.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 178, 18 April 1910, Page 1

Letter from MISS ANNA GORDON.

Evanston, Illinois, L.S.A , Feb. 10. 1910. Mrs. Cole, New Zealand. My dear Friend, Although widely separated from each other, White Ribboners the world over enjoy the blessed fellowship of work for the same great cause, and this sense of close comradeship is day by day an inspiration to greater activity for the upbuilding of our organisation, the largest society of women in the world, whose founder, Frances E. Willard, is ever tenderly and gratefully remembered by us all. Again we are nearing a triennial Convention, this time to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, June 4 11. Miss Catherine Forrester-Paten, of Alloa, President of the Scottish Branch of our World’s W.C.T.U., and our sisters in Glasgow are providing for our coming with the generosity characteristic of bonnie Scotland. We look forward with eager happiness to meeting delegates from all countries where the W.C.T.U. is established. We earnestly

hope you art planning to attend the Convention. The General Officers are trying to prepare a programme that will p~ove profitable as well as pleasing to delegates and visitors. Our Convention will give Mrs Katherine Lent Stevenson a warm welcome on the completion of her world-trip to educational institu-l

tions. We shall hear from Miss Agnes l«. Slack of her remarkable tour through the great Hmpire of India. Reports will be given of the unique a id wonderful work accomplished in Japan by our representatives, Miss Flora K. Strout and Miss Ruth Frt nces Davis, and in South America by Miss Lima G, Gowen,

all of the United States. The work so faUhiully’done by Mrs Addie Northam Fields in cld Mexico, Jiiuflater aided by Mrs Nellie G. Burger and Mrs Ella Hoover Timelier, of the United States, is hearing its fruit in

the first National Convention of the W.< /.T U. "t Ifexji o, to he held in Mexico City, on March Ist and 2nd, with Mrs Timelier in attendance, Mrs Fields not being well enough to enjoy this privilege. We shall together rejoice over Miss Lock head, of Scotland, recently stationed in India through the generous gift of her support by the Scottish White Ribboners, and we shall express our thanks to Miss Mabel Beddow. and Miss Warren, of England, who are now ip Palestine without < ipeu e U the W >rld*s W.( .T. i . and who are aiding our work in the Holy Land. Never hac we greater cause to gather in Convention with songs of praise and prayers of gratitude to God. The vr hole civilised world isawakened to Die importance >f the foundation principles of our society. But just because this :*» true, we have need to work as never before to offset the bitter attacks of the enraged enemies

of total abstinence and prohibition. For many years the State of Maine has been a favourite target for the liquor dealers, who in countless ways spread false reports throughout the world regarding the efficacy of prohibition in the State that has been blessed by this law for more than fifty years. The world-famed Evan-

Relists, Dr. Chapman and Mr. Alexander! have recently conducted a series of meeting* in Poitland, the cliief city of Maine, the home of Neal Dow and of our grand defender of the “ Maine Law “ Mrs. Lillian M. N. Stevens. On one Sunday afternoon when Dr. Chapman had an audience of 38(H) men, he made the statement that he had fought tlie battles of the State of Maine in far-away Australia ; that one of the emissaries of the saloon interests was travelling up and down that Continent showing pictures alleged to have been taken in Maine, and telling people that liquor was sold openly in all the Maine cities. Said Dr. Chapman: “ I dared to stand “ up and say that it was a damnable “lie; I have dared to stand up be- “ fore Australian and American “audiences and say, of course “ liquor is sold in Maine and it will “ be so long as men choose to be “demons, but if I were to choose a “city in which to bring up my two “ boys, I would choose one w here “there are no saloons, and where “ you would have to sneak in to get “a drink. Ten thousand shames “on the men of Maine if they ever “ vote to allow the saloons to be “licensed in their State.” The great audience broke into hearty cheers, and cries of “ Amen,” “That’s right!” resounded from every part of the auditorium, packed to its fullest capacity. Not only is the temperance cause everywhere advancing as seen in the individual life, in the home, in social circles, among business corporations, in educational centres, and in State and Governmental legislation, but from our beloved W.C.T.U., in all its Departments, come words of good cbeer and reports of encouraging progress. The World Missionary ('(inference to meet in Edinburgh in June will probably be attended by many of our Delegates who realise the vital connection between the progress of the temperance reform and the success of missionary effort. May your work be greatly blessed dear Comrade. Mrs. Stevens joins me in a message of loving remembrance and affectionate good washes.

Hoping to meet you in Glasgow, 1 am, yours in loving service, Anna A. Gordon.