THE BIRTH OF OUR DOMINION UNION.

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 343, 18 January 1924, Page 1

THE BIRTH OF OUR DOMINION UNION.

“Great uaks from little aoorns spriiig.” It certainly seemed a small matter when Mrs Mary Clement Leavitt set out on her world tour as W.C.T.U. missionary Her departure was heralded by no trumpet blast. It was early days with the work in US.A., but the women there in whose breast lingered the l’entecostal fires of the Great Crusade movement, felt even then the greatness of the work just begun. Mary ls*avitt visioned a world-wide crusade against drink and impurity, and greatly daring, she started out. No rich organisat ion stood behind her; she paid her way as she went on. ‘The healing of the world Is in its nameless saints. Hath sopaiate star Seems nothing, but a myriad scattered stars Break up the night, and make it beautiful." Early in 18a, Mrs Leavitt reached New Zealand. In the report of the first Convention of the W.C.T.U., held in the Congregational Church, Wood ward Street, Wellington, the followinj dates are given for Unions organised Mrs Leavitt organised Auckland or February 4th. 1885; Dunedin. May sth Invercargill and Port Chalmers, also in May, date not given; Christchurch, May 15th; Rongiora, May 28th; Napier, Jun* llth; and Oamaru, June 16th. Mrs Dudley Ward was the first lk> minion President, and dur..»;r the iater part of 1885 she organised the follow*

ing branches: Wellington. September :5; Nelson, September 16; Wanganui, October 5; New Plymouth, October 27; October 29; Hawera, October 81; Xshburton, January; 1886. At this first Convention the membership was 528. The second Convention met in Blue Ribbon Gospel Temperance Hall, in Christchurch, on February 23rd, 1887. The membership had increased to 551. As evidence of our world wide organisa-

tion, letters were read from Miss Willard. from Mrs laavitt, then in Japan, also one from the Brisbane W.C.T.U. At this second Convention the title of the Union was altered from N.Z. General Union to N.Z. National Union. Tills was done by a majority of only one. the voting being 9 to 8. As early as this in our history a resolution was forwarded to the Minister

for Education asking that scientific temperance instruction should In* made compulsory in our schools. The Auckland Union was organised in February. Mrs la*avitt was the guest of Mrs Dewar. The Union started with a membership of 70 in the olu City Theatre, since demolished. The first officers were: Pres., Mrs John Brame; Sec., Mrs Edwin Holloway; Treas., Mrs Alexander Dewar. The two former have since passed to their reward, after some years of faithful work to the Union. Mrs Dewar, now in her 90th year, still takes an intelligent interest in our work, though un. able to attend'meetings regularly, she held the office of I‘resident for some vea re before her retirement. Mrs 1 hildy, who so generously remembered the Auckland Pnion in her will, was the accepted authority for the Legal and Parliaments r y work. She and Mrs Davies were the leading spirits in organising the Franchise work in Auckland. The newly-organised Union presented Mrs Leavitt with £2O to help her on her way to the next stage of her journey. Dunedin was organised in M»y. Mrs Booth was holding meetings there. At Mrs Leavitt’s first meeting three women joined. Mrs McKenzie, Hon. Secretary of the Ramahai Mission, lieing the second. Another meeting was held in the Garrison Hall, w r hen Mrs Miller * joined. She and Mrs McKenzie helped « in Booth’s mission. Mrs I*on. Dominion President, stood by Mrs McKenzie, and while she w'tnessed the signatures on the pledge cants, Mrs Ihm pinned

on tin* piece of blue and white ribbon. Mrs Miller was first Superintendent of Young People's Work. This work in Dunedin started with an incident w r hile the blue ribbon was being pinned on at the meeting. A small boy asked Mrs McKenzie for a bit of blue ribIxm to wear. Mrs McKenzie asked him to come to her homo the next day, and bring his brothers and sisters, and if his mother gave her permission he could sign the pledge and wear the blue. He turned up, and said his mother would be only too glad if they all signed the pledge and kept it. He was the son of the publican aT the corner of the next street. From this small beginning the work grew until 400 children were linked up. Then an old hotel in I’elichet Hay was bought, and called Leavitt House.

Meetings and various classes were held ♦here. Mm l>on writes: “1 was in Dunedin when the Union purchased Leavitt House, and attended the lirst cooking classes there, organised by Mrs Miller, and I used to give talks at the ‘penny readings,’ which took the place of the Hand of Hope, and also gave evangelistic addresses on (he Sunday nights in the same building. 1 was in Dunedin when the Union raised money and built a cabmen’s shelter, where hot pies, coffee, and tea could be procured by the cabmen till after midnight.” Miss Nicol, who was Franchise Superintendent for Dunedin in the early days, is still at it as "White Ribbon” Agent to-day. Miss Fulton, daughter of Ihinedln's first President, has written as follows concerning the founding of Dunedin Union: —"There were good gatherings from the first, when Mrs Leavitt. with quiet, forceful speech and manner, first addressed us. With he* wavy grey hair, and sweet personality was combined a strength of character and rare knowledge of public woik. Many of her hearers were already pledged abstainers through the efforts of Mrs John Jago, and now rallied to the White Ribbon standard raised by Mrs Leavitt. The Sailors’ Rest was inaugurated at this time, with a committee of men and women to carry on meetings for seamen visiting Dunedin

and Port Chalmers. Dunedin’s first officers were: Pres., Mrs Jas. Fulton, Taieri; Sec., Mis Thos. Dick; Treas., Mrs (’. Regg. Among the names of those whe rallied « ' th* ir help may l>c gi\en Mrs A. t. Hroad, Mrs Williams, Misses Hi own high, Mrs Hoot, Miss Glasgow, Misses Cummings, and others, who could hardly have foreseen the dimensions to which the work would grow in Australasia.” From Dunedin Mrs Leavitt went to Phristchurch. where she organised a strong Union, with Mrs Packe as President. Mrs A. U. Newton and Miss Aidred as Seen eta l ies, and Mrs W rough-

ton and Mrs Toneycliffe as Treasurers. Mrs Leavitt held a three weeks’ mission, during which time she addressed a number of meetings, and got in touch with the clergy of the various denominations. Mrs A. C. Newton went oil the public platform for the first time at the inaugural meeting of the W.C.T.U. Mis I aeke had a great deal of enthusiasm and ’•go”— a very capable Presi‘lent. The office-bearers and many of the workers were exceptionally tine women ot keen intellect, refinement and great courage. All worked well to. gether, each esteeming other better than herself. They were appreciative of each other’s gifts. The cause was put first. Personalities and trivialities were, for the most part, not permitted to in. terfere with its progress. I nder the able leadership of Mrs K. W. Sheppard the I'nion worked strenuously for women's franchise. She placed most importance upon the equality of women, blit wanted the vote for all purposes. Men and women were to work together in all departments. It was largely due to the work of the YV.C.T. P. that woman’s franchise was gained in New Zealand. Mrs Newton was more interested in helping to gain women’s franchise as a weapon to fight the liquor traffic with. Mrs May, a very charming woman, was particularly r n teres ted in the Social Hygiene Department. Mrs Heath, wife of the wellknown draper in Christchurch, was a very keen worker in »be I’nion. Miss Jane Roberts was a worker with wonderful originality. She was passionately fond of children, and in her profession as a public school teacher she saw so much suffering and poverty among tli<‘ children owing to the drinking habits of their parents, that she count'd no i<ost too great in fighting the liquor trade for their sakes. The Christchurch Union worked I’rison (late Mission, Anti (lambling. Social Hygiene and Purity Departments very vigorously. A refreshment booth was provided by Union at Canterbury A. and I*. Show, at which literature was distributed. Every bit of educational work done by the Union met with much opposition, and indignation at what was scofllngly called “advanced thought.’’ Mrs I>. Renzie Newton represented New Zealand at the World’s W.C.T.U Convention .held in Geneva in the early days, and her daughter, Lady Rutherford. represented Canada at tnat Conference. Rutherford, a keen Pro-

hibitionist, at the iirst dinner party she gave in England to which many distinguished guests were invited, wrote her expected guests that no wine would be served at her dinner table. The guest.h all came, and greatly admired the courage of the.r young hostess. Several years later when Sir Ernest and Lady Rut herlord were entertained by the King of Sweden wine was not served at the Royal table. Invercargill had already established a Union, but their President, Mrs Brown, wanted it brought under the Ccnsti ution of the N.Z. Union, which Mrs Leavitt went down and accomplish ed. Port Chalmers was organised also in ISS*>, with Mrs Johnson as President. She is still President, thus holding the Dominion record for length of service as President.

Mrs Leavitt was unable to organise in Wellington. The Editor of the White Ribbon has a vivid memory of Mrs Leavitt’s Wellington visit. Our Editor, then a girl in her earl, teens, accompanied her grandmother to Mrs Lea vitt's meeting, (»rannie was most anxious to hear the brave woman who had dared to come so many thousand miles to plant the White Ribbon in New Zealand. The meeting was in the old ArV in Manners Street, and was very poorly attended, only the two or three front forms beine occupied. Later in the same year, Mrs Dudley Ward started the Wellington Branch,

the first officers being: President, Mrs Robt. Hunter; Secretary, Mrs J. Plinimer; Treasurer, Mrs Baker. The second year Mrs Costall was President, and her daughter, now Mrs Port, of Wellington Central, was Treasurer. Mrs Geo Bennett was the second President. Mrs Bennett belonged to a noted temperance family, was a sister of the late Mr John Harding, of Waipukurau. She landed in Wellington in 1848, and lived there lor 43 years. Her grandson, Mr Robt.

Ponton, is one of our most indefatigable temperance workers .while a nephew, Mr A If. Harding, of Kaipara, is a member of the Executive Committee of the N.Z. Alliance. Mrs Johnson Wright, I'resident of Wellington South, was one of the first members, and is still with us. Mrs Johnson Wright, President of Wellington South, was one of the first members, and is still with us as our National Superintendent for Evangelistic Department. Mary Leavitt passed to her reward some years ago, but the work she start ed here is still growing and spreading. May the mantle of these pioneers fall upon many daughters.