WORLD'S CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 220, 18 October 1913, Page 2

WORLD'S CONVENTION.

Rest Cottage, Evanson, Illinois, July 15, ICJI3. My Dear Friend, Plans for the coming Convention of •he* World’s W.C.T.I . in Brooklyn are progressing admirably. The chairman of the New No»k Committee on Local Arrangements, Mrs Ella A. Boole, President of the* Hostess State W.C.T.I. of New York, reports remarkable interest already shown by New Yorkers in the Convention, and the World’s W.C.T.I. officers feel greatly encouraged at the* hopeful outlook for an unusual attendance of delegates, and a correspondingly vigorous push forward h>i our White Ribbon activities in many land". Wc* rejoice over the cheering news coming to us from every quarter of the world, showing that our comrades are alertly at woik for tlu* increasing establishment of our principles in custom and in law.

Many White Ribboners attended the International Sunday School Convention at Zurich, Switzerland. There is a growing bond of unity between the mighty force*" of the Sunday School and the W.C.T.L The anti-Alcohol Congress at Milan promises to exceed in interest and power the many similar great meetings that have preceded it. Miss Agues E. Slac k will represent the World’s W.C.T.I'. at this important Congress. It is with heartfelt gratitude we report the improved health of our beloved President, Lady Carlisle, whose splendid abilities are generously de-

voted to the promotion of our world wide efforts, and whose gifts to our treasury have made possible the best record of three war- service in missionary fields our organisation lias ever known. Wo have been able, as never bofoie, to provide for the travelling expenses of World’s W.C.T.I’. organisers; to send out literature; and to pay for the translation of literature m many needed fields Indeed, the far-reaching beneficent influence of the* fund given u- by our World’s President can never be fully estimated.

Another generous friend of our work in missionary field-' is the United States Superintendent of the World’s Missionary Fund Department, Mis Caroline McDowell, of Pitt-burg, Pennsylvania. Mrs McDowell has generously agreed to pcr-enally give loodol. (jl*2<>) for each gift of this amount sent to the world’s treasury to constitute life membership or memorial membership in the World’s W.C.T.I . until the amount of sooodol. (1 ooo) is reached). 1 his offer also includes each contribution sent in for the headquarters of the W.C.T.I’. in Japan.

It will be of interest to all White Ribboners to know that wc have on our list of life and memorial members m the World’s W.C.T.I’. fifty-five life members and twelve memorial members, making a total of sixty-seven. Switzerland, South Africa, \ustialia, Scotland, Wales, Fngland, Canad i, and the United Stales arc Hie conn tries represented in this list. We have one name front Switzerland, one from South Africa, one from Austra ha, two from Scotland, three from Wales, five* from Kngiand, twenty-two from Canada, and thirty-three from the United State-. In the Dominion of Canada two provinces are rcpicsonted; one name (oniing from British Columbia, and twenty-one from Oucbec, the home province of our Treasurer of the World’s W.C.T.I’., Mrs Mary K. Sander-on. Among the State- of the l nited States, Massachusetts leads with eight names. Six have come from New Jersey, and from the following twelve States the additional names have been received: New \ork (j), Virginia (2), Pennsylvania (3), Rhode Island (2), Maine (2), Illinois (2), Ohio (1), North Dakota (1), l)i-trict of Columbia (1), California (1), Hawaii (1), Missouri (1). Fifteen

name- have been received since the report of the Gla-gow Convention was published, and we tru-t many addi tional names will come in prior to the publication of the report of th< Brooklyn Triennial Convention. Our gifted representatives m Burma and Japan, Mi-- Flora F. Strout and Mis- Ruth France- Davi-, are accomplishing great thing- in theii icspective fields. The work in China, under the leader-hip of Mis ( haunt c> Goodrich, 1- extie nel\ emouraging. Indeed, all the great held- of W.C.T.I . service* ate whitening unto the harvest, only waiting for the needy worker- and funds. With these provided, White Ribbon -heaves will joyfully be garnered. The W.C.T.I'. of India i> to receive the able help of Mis- Stroud Smith, of Fngland, who will no doubt be eleated at Brooklyn to succeed Miss Lockhead as World’s White Ribbon Missionary tor india. Scotland will take a special interest in Miss Smith. We tru-t that at the Brooklyn Convention, India’s appeal for help in building headquarters or in establishing a permanent W.C T l . office, will »ne“l with a favourable response.

We are happy to report another victory in the United State- for Woman Suffrage.’ Illinois women have been granted all the voting privileges possible for a State Legislature to bestow, the Municipal and Presidential ballot, and we rejoice that the women of Frances K. Willard’s home State have now this powerful weapon for the protection of t hild life and for the advancement, in the* larger home of the Government, of the high ideals all true women to-day seek to promote. W ith profound sadness we allude to the recent heavy losses from the ranks of our Executive Committee of the World’s W.C.T.I’., Mr- Frances Cole, beloved and gifted President of the W.C.T.L’. of New Zealand, an ardent worker, and wi-e leader, a woman of broad vision, and boundless activity; Mrs J. K. P. Peters, of St. John’s, Newfoundland, who since the beginning of our work on that Island has been the faithful leader and honoured President of the Newfoundland W.C.T.I’.; Mi-s Flla Gilbert Ives, of. Dorchester, Massachusetts, the Associate in the World’s W.C.T.I . Department of Co-operation with Missionary Societies, whose unusual gifts of intellect and heart admirably equipped her to do a great work for our or-

gani-ation; and Mi-- Ina Smith, of Fdinburgh, Scotland. World’s W.C.T.I’. Superintendent of the Department of Counter Attraction- to Licensed Houses, a woman of (harming personality, and unselfishly devoted to our blessed activities. I have recently sent you circulars describing Brooklyn, the Convention city, and outlining the general Con vention plans. We hope to have with u- many visiting White Ribboners as well as delegates, and wt hope you will widely extend the invitation to your friends and acquaintances. The fortieth annual national Convention of ihe l nited State- W .C.T.I . will be held at Asbury Park, New Jersey, and will immediately follow the Brooklyn meeting. Mr- Steven-, the beloved President of our national organisation, and the Vice-President of the World’s W.C.T.I .. extends a most cordial invitation to our com rades from other countries to attend thi- annual meeting, a- guests of the National W.C.T.I . We live in electric days- clays tilrc Thing with the spirit of Christ, as it 1- being expressed in the altruistic work of thi.-> wonderful century. Our Christian nations have doomed the Liquor Traffic, and its twin scourge, ihe White Slave Traffic, to uttei extinction. In the l nited States we have adopted the thrilling -logan, ’ National Constitutional Prohibition in 1920,” and to this end White Ribboners will follow the call of Mrs Stevens in hi 1 prophetic proclamation of September 10, iqii. We do thiwith faith in the God of battle-, and in ihe assurance that our cause ijust. Dur efforts must eventually be crowned with glorious victory. Yours in White Ribbon bond-, ANNA A. GORDON.