The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. THURSDAY, DECEMBER l8, 1913. LEST WE FORGET.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 222, 18 December 1913, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913. LEST WE FORGET.

When that floating city, the Titanic, 'truck in mid-Atlantic and sank to the* bottom, carrying "ith her 'O many precious lives, XX. T. Stead wa* one of the heroic souH who there went to his doom. Mr Stead was a man whom all Soc ie.ie' of wome n everywhere* should delight to honour, for his life and the* best of his energies were devoted to the* cause of womanhood. No man believed more sincerely or laboured more devotedly foi

tin* removal ot all sex disabilities and for placing the wife and mother 111 the |H»'ition which 'he ouglu to occupy m ihe councils of the nation. In the early days of the Salvation Army work in the London under world, when first then leaders ills covered the existence of an organised traffic 111 the bodies and souls of young girls, it was XX. I. Stead tint they turned io to iou-e and -.t 11 public opinion on this subject. It required no little* courage at that time tor a journalise to attac k this traffic, so c arefully a.i> it protected by “wicked men 111 high places. The pre had maintained a trul) ciuninal silence, and everywhere it was thought that such things should be* covered up. liramwel! Booth and \\. T. Stead re alisecl that this covering up meant the yearly sacrifice of hurdreds of girl~ just emerged from childhood, and s<> they determined to break up this con 'Piracy of silence. Mr Stead pub lished in the “Pall Mall (iazette' those arti<l«*s entitled “The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon,” which roused the* coil'Clem e ot ihe nation, till the public « lamoured at the- gates ol Pai liament, and demanded that girls should be* protected till the* age of ib years, and this protection w.i' granted with a celerity that the British Parlia ment does not often i*\h 1 1> 1 1 in protect mg person instead of property. And from that day to tins public opinion has be, n steadily roci'ing and forcing Parliament to legislate* against the 4 White Slave Traffic,” 'Mid we believe that only by the- creation ot a healthy public sentiment will this vile traffic be* banished from oui Klll pire. Mr Stead was also an ardent advo cate for arbitration instead of yyar. and t* ok a great inte;c*'t and leading part in the Hague Peace* Conference. He recognised tfi.it nations cannot go on increasing expendituie on armament' for ever; and that the day i- surely coming when nations must “beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.’’ In other yvords, yvhen the immen'C sums spent on wai and armaments will be diverted to the peaceful pur suit' ot agric ulture and commerce. 111 view of Mr Stead’s great '<*r ’ ices to tin* c aii'c* of yyomen, a move ment lias been set on foot to rai'C a suitable memorial to him yyho-t motto was “The* union of all who love* in tin* service of all who suffer.”

I In* c ircular which has been issued, and which bears the names of many yyell known men and women, includ mg bishops, cleigy, and members ot Parliament, states that, “Believing that the best memorial to a man is one that carries out the spirit of hi> life, it has bee'll decided by a group of friend' and admirers of Mr \\. I. Stead to perpetuate the* memory of lit' yyork by the erection of homes for yyomen yyorkers, to be* called ‘The Stead Hostels.’ . . . The proposi lion h.t' s( 1 f;»r been mooted at piiy.itr meetings, but has received immediate* support, her Majesty Oueen Alexandra responding l>> .1 donation ot /'ion. I» has now* bee n decided to seek the .ipproval and financial support ot a wider public for the foundation ot such lodging-homes for yyomen. I lie need is pres'ing, lor incrc*asing 1111111 bers ot yvornen seek employment in large toyyns. Those in charge ot labour exchange's testify that they often do not knoyy of suitable* lodg mgs for yyomen for yvhoni yyork o yvaiting. \\e are tlc''irou> of raising a substantial fund, to be supplied in grants or on loan, till no huge town shall be yvithout .it least one >ue li hostel. . . . Ihe first hostel is being arranged tor in London, but a> Mr Stead’s work y\a> international, it is hoped that “Stead Hostels” will be erected to his memory 111 mail) 1 mint! M - XXe a-k foi whole heatted support in raising this memorial from all the* friends and admirers throughout the world of Mr Stead’s yyork.” Tlu* c irculai i' signed by Karl (ire) (chairman of the inaugural meeting). Major < irnetal Broc klehurst (chairman of committee), Boure hior I*. Ilawkesley, Ksq. (hon. treasurer), and Miss Josephine Marshall (hon. secretary). Amongst the members of the* Council are Sir \\. K. Barrett, K. K. Benson, Kscj., Mr* Despard, Mrs Henry Kawcett, LL.I)., the: Bishop of Hereford, Miss Klizabeth Robbins, Miss Ague's Stack, the* Bishop of Birmingham; while amongst the* names of those expressing strong approval of the* scheme, we find the* Right Hon. Winston Churchill, Right Hon. 11. 11. Asquith, Mrs Annie Besant, Madame Sarah (irant. the Bishop of Lincoln, Mrs Olive Schreiner, Laly Henry Somerset, Sir Robert and Lad) Stout, Arc hdeacon \\ ilberforc c. Mi ' l.lla \Xheeler Wilcox, and many others. \ Women’s Shilling Kund ha' been started, and all women - someth ' have been asked to a>'i't in this project. It

ha* been suggested th.♦ t oui Wi 11, members might like lo have a small pan in tin* work. I nion* and individual member* may help b> >• ottin>» lo< a I newspaper* to lay the project before then reader*, and al*o by collecting i* *ub*. Should any of our member* collect, the money can be forwarded to Mr* Benelelv, our Dominion I reasurer, who will take charge of all fund* and forward to I iopei authorities.