1915.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 247, 18 January 1916, Page 1

1915.

Farewell, Old Year, thou can’st no longer stay, With silent tread we :>ee thee haste away; Hut as thou departest our song shall be: Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, A Happy New Year to thee. The year 1915 opened in darkness and gioom. Over the whole of our vasi Empire the dark black clouds of war hung so low that all the brightness of the sunlight seemed blotted out. Nor can we say that its close is much brighteryet even where the clouds lower so darkly over Europe’s blood-drenched plains, even amid the thick gloom that wraps »>ur hearts around as we think of our loved and lost; even here may gleam of red and gold be seen, like the bright goldenred rays that a setting sun shoots across the dark storm clouds of the West. First let us take a backward look. The British Empire, and ourselves as part of it, have been engaged in a fearful contest for our very existence. Month by month we are sending away our bravest and our best. All the pick of our young manhood going away to risk life itself in defence of home and dear ones. At home, mothers and sisters, sweethearts and wives, with breaking hearts, but smiling faces, are buckling on the armour and cheering the souls of their “boys in khaki." In every train and tram, at concert and meeting alike is heard the click, c ck of the knitting needle, while ‘’mufflers, socks, and

Balaclava caps’’ are growing under skilled fingers. In city hall and in county chamber can be heard the whirr, whirr of the sewing machine, matron and maid alike straining every nerve to properly equip our soldier boys. School boy and college maiden are giving up their pocket money and denying themselves the prizes they have earned, in order that the money may go to one or other of our many patriotic funds. Under the stern pressure of affliction our vast Empire is being welded into one great whole, till from the monarch upon the throne to the child in the primary school all are animated with one purpose, and move as one harmonious whole. And in addition to sending off our contingents in high spirits and eager for the fray, we are welcoming back the war-worn soldier. Wounded and sick, weakened by enteric, crippled by shot and shell, they come back to U 9, having given health and strength and limbs in our defence. And some who left us with brave hearts and high hopes will return to us no more. To the women of the Dominion who have lost loved ones we tender our sincerest sympathy. May the God of all comfort whisper to them that their soldier boys are safe in His keeping. May they hear a voice saying, “He that loses his life shall find it,” and may they take comfort in the thought that their boys who have lost life for others may find a fuller life where “day breaketb and earth’s shadows flee away.” Our nation, with others, has been cast into the melting pot, and we trust to see it emerge with all its dross refined away. The Refiner of silver is watching, and when we, like

the pot of silver, give back the image of the refiner’s face, then shall the purifying process be complete. Britain, like the great world-empires of old, was suffering for its national sins. Extreme luxury and dire poverty, with intemperance and impurity, had weakened the physical and moral fibre of the nation, and like these same ancient Empires, she was crippled and ready to fall before younger and more vigorous races. But unlike any empire of ancient or modern times, she had scattered her children throughout the wide expanse of ocean. Bone of her bone and flesh of her tle-h, they differed both from Roman Province and Greek Colony. Free, self governing dominions, they were not servants, but children, and in the hour of England’s peril, from Canada’s forests and wind-swept plains; from the kopjes and mining camps of South Africa; from the lefty hills and steaming plains of India; from Australia’s mighty cities and grassy flats; from the farms and offices of New Zealand’s sea-girt isles, have gathered a mighty army to fight in defence of the freedom bequeathed to us from our English forefathers. One of the bright gleams shot athwart the cloudy sky of last year is that the great national enemy, Strong Drink, has been “pillon d on infamy’s high stage.” The deadliest foe is ever the foe in the household, and our nation’s greatest foe is the trade she has licensed to iuin her people, in order to till the brewer s pockets. Never in any year have the nations of the world passed so much legislation to limit the liquor trade. Russia has forbidden the sale

of vodka, and France of absinthe. Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Servia, Germany, and the United Kingdom have all materially shortened the hours for its sale. Some countries have forbidden drink to be sold to soldiers, and otheis have passed laws forbidding treating or shouting. Our own Defence Minister has recognised the evil drink does to soldiers by asking people not to treat soldiers to drinks. Why does he not go a step further, and forbid either to be given or sold to our soldiers the poison which he admits unfits them for duty. Accurate figures are not available, but sufficient is known to enable u> to say that if the public knew the number of men rendered unfit for service by the twin evils of drink and impurity, it would be roused to fight these evils as it has never dene before. The people are slowly learning the truth taught so many centuries ago, that “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Another bright gleam is the advance the woman question has made this year. In every rank and profession women have been demonstrating their fitness for service, and walls of prejudice are slowly giving way before their strong and steady advance.

Now let us look forward, and we do so fearfully, almost afraid to face the unknown to-morrow. We believe that faint signs of peace are already visible, but at what a cost have they been purchased. From this struggle nations will emerge exhausted, Europe one vast graveyard, in almost every home, mourning for those who are not. The manhood of the Empires has been so severely lessened and crippled that future generations must feel the effects of it. In the work of reconstruction our Empire wants all at their best. Every one of us must fight for every reform that makes for national efficiency, and oppose with ail our powers every evil that would sap our national life. As the women will far outnumber the men, to them in a large measure will the work be committed. May we all fit ourselves for the greatest service to our country.

The tvo evils which more than any others are race destroyers are intemperance and impurity. Let the W.C T.l\, as the largest organisation of women in the Dominion, start an

organised crusade against these evils. No reform comes to stay unless public opinion calls for it, therefore our first work must be to educate public opinion on these questions.

Neal Dow said Maine did not get its prohibitory law till they sowed the State knee deep in literature. By scattering literature broadcast over the land, and by insisting that every child in our primary schools, every youth and maiden in our colleges, every teacher in our training institutions, is taught the scientific truth about these race-destroying evils, so shall we create such a healthy public opinion that even strong vested interests must give way before it.

Now lastly, let us take an upward look. Many a time, as we have listened to the magnificent strains of the Hallelujah Chorus, we have thought that Handel had not only a musical, but also a spiritual inspiration when he wrote it. Ever as wc listen to the voices of the upper parts ringing our their* Hallelujahs we hear deep down the foundation notes of the chords strong and vibrant sounding out, “For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.”

And if Hallelujahs are to sound among the upper harmonies of our life it will be because we have reared our life’s structure on vhe foundation truth that “The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.”

We know that every effort to banish evil either from our own life or the Nation’s life has the approval of God Himself. And he always wins who fights on God’s side. No question is ever settled till it is settled right, and the cnlv right settlement for f he liquor question is National Prohibition ; the only remedy for impurity is for every man to be taught to reverence not only his cwn, but his sister’s body as the temple of the Holy Ghost. Patriotism in the future must mean more to us than it has ever done before. We must not be indifferent, but actively hostile to any evil which threatens our national character. We have entered on a long and hard fight, but at the beginning of this New Year’s work let us hear Him “W..t ’ ived us and gave Himself for us,” ay, “Lo! I am with you all the days, even to the consummation of the ages.”