VALUE OF PRIZE SPEAKING MEDAL CONTESTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 244, 18 October 1915, Page 7

VALUE OF PRIZE SPEAKING MEDAL CONTESTS.

By the Rev O. M. Miller, Editor of the “National Advocate,” N Y. Seeing that I am Medal Contest Superintendent as well as “Y” it will not seem amiss if I copy some extracts that may be helpful to our L.T.L. or “Y” branches in a very valuable work. It has been our privilege to get up many different Temperance Prize Speaking Medal Contests, and we have a firm belief in then great value, and from our own experience in the work, and from correspondence and conversation with others who have held these contests, we desire to show the value of these Medal Contests to the Temperance Cause. EDUCATING PUBLIC SENTIMENT. Medal Contests are valuable in helping to educate public sentiment on the Temperance question. Many people will come to a chur< h or hall to hear young people rec ite strong Temperance selections, who never go to hear a Temperance lecture. And many parents will go to hear their own boy or girl speak at these contests, Who would not even go to hear some other person’s child spe.ik. Thousands of ueonle have heard their first Temperance lecture at these contests. As the selections recited are taken from the writings of the greatest temperance writers and speakers of the country, the* audience listens to the srongest temperance arguments that can be produced. As Miss Emma E. Page, assistant national superintendent of the W.C.T.U. Medal Contest Work, says; “The best arguments of our ablest Temperance speakers and writers are ooiired into willintr ears and understanding hearts ears and hearts that would have been closed against these same utterances from the* authors themselves. ” We believe that the repeating at these Medal Contests, all over the country, of the great speeches of Gough, Finch, St. John Bain, Frances

Willard, and others, will prove in the years to come, when history is written, to have been a mighty factor in bringing about the overthrow of the saloon, which is sure to be accomplished. Christ says: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” and many a man has been set free from prejudice against the Temperance cause by listening to these splendid selections delivered by the young people of the community. It is the uniform testimony from every place where these contests have been held, that they have had a great influence in educating public sentiment in favour of total abstinence, and against the saloon. They have been helpful in warning the young against liquor drinking, and in arousing the voters to do their duty at the ballot box. Through the influence of these contests in many places, drunkards have been reformed, whole comrnunites have been improved, and No License has been carried at Municipal elections. Numberless testimonies come from all parts where contests have been held. Mrs K. L. Bowman of Ohio, says: “Medal Contests of Ohio have done ao much, if not more than any other department in educating public sentiment against the great saloon evil.” Mrs S. L. Jeffries, State Superintendent of Michigan, says:“That the Medal Contest is rapidly gaining in interest and popularity is evident from the fact that the Pere Marquette Railway has given special rates to contestants and their friends wishing to attend these educational entertainments. The testimony of some of our best workers is that these contests are a powerful factor in making prohibition votes.” One writes: “A drinking man who heard his child speak in two contests has reformed and become a Christian. The fathers of four contestants (all drinking men) were present at our last contest.” Another writes: “The conditions of our community have improved fifty per cent, since these contests began.” Another: “The Medal Contest was the grandest Temperance meeting we ever held in this city, and helped us wonderfully towards our successful No License vote. The Medal Contest was the best thing we ever tried for a No License meeting—Church crowded.

It helped more than any other agency to carry our city for No License. Charles L. Fenwick, of St. Louis, had his first ambition for oratory find by Medai Contest work. He won the VY.C.T.U. series of four medals in his own home city. Then he attended a school of oratory in Chicago, and won the diamond medal on a Temperam e oration, delivered at the commencement exercises of the school. He is a strong temperance young man, and he credits his positive convictions to the influence of these Medal Contests. I could write pages of testimonies from all parts, but I am afraid of wearying the readers, but would like to add that as a money r«. ser tue Medal Contest is an excellent method. I hope to hear of more Unions holding these contests this incoming year. Temperance education is the crying need of the hour, and that is ju:>t what these contests furnish. To the Nelson “Y” Union: Sorry not to have been able to accept invitation being rather out of the way, but hope to do so later on. Yours for service, S. A. MOODY.