OBITUARY.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 383, 18 June 1927, Page 9

OBITUARY.

In the death of Mr A. C. Broad, who fell asleep at his residence, C J«y Dell, Dunedin, on June sth, wv have lost a stalwart Advocate. From the time of his arrival in 1 880, until the hour of his death, he was an out-and-out worker for Prohibition. When he established the Otago Brush Works, he hung a card in the office window with the words: “Friends, step inside and sign the Pledge,” and though the stubbs of the Pledge Book show how

many accepted the invitation to sign, no record will show how many were repeatedly helped 'until safe on the way of Total Abstinence. Mrs Broad, who died several years

ago, was cne of the first six to join the W.C.T.I’., and from that time her

husband wa> the unfailing friend of the Organisation. He was one of several gentlemen elected as an Advisory Board, when the Union was working for the Franchise. The Hon. Mark Cohen anJ Professor Saunders, of Dunedin, are the only two remaining. On the day the Women were enfranchised, Mr Broad, as a memorial of the event, presented his wife with a beautiful new residence which was named “Willard” after Frances Willard, and ever since, that home had always open doors for workers in the Temperance Cause. Quite a host to-day happily and gratefully recall the hospitality, and privilege of meeting in Willard such veterans as the late John Jago, T. E. Taylor, Frank Graham, Rev. Frank Isitt, Rev. L. Isitt, Judge .'dams and others.

In spite of failing health, .Mr Broad retained to the last, keen interest in every phase of the Temperance work. For some months at his own expense, he was responsible for a weekly Temperance Column in the press, and his interest in it was continued almost to the day when he entered the life immortal. Money, time and energy was given unceasingly to the Union, Band of Hopes and Youth Work, who will ever remember the strength of his counsel ami his generosity. Today we grieve that the earthly activity s of this honoured and beloved comrade are ended, and extend our sympathy to the bereaved sons and daughters. He is not dead who leaves behind rich legacies of heart and sou! and

mind. Noble deeds live on, flooding the earth like sunrise at the dawn.

THE LATE MRS

And she was not, for God took her

On Tuesday, May 17th, there passed away, with tragic suddenness, a valued members of the N.E. Valley W.C.T.U. Mrs Ogg was canvassing for signatures for the Women’s Petition re Licensing Legislation, and when calling on a fellow-member of the Union, asked for a drink of water as she felt faint. Mrs Hinkley took her in and did all she could for her, but before the doctor arrived, Mrs Ogg bad passed away. Our hearts go out in sympathy to the bereaved family. It would be hard t 3 tell just how great a work our late Sister did. She was one of those retiring, devoted workers vs ho keep out of the limelight, but who, in her quiet way, influenced for good all with whom she came in contact. She was ever ready to help in the Church, Dorcas Society, W.C.T.U., indeed in any good work as far as her indifferent health would allow. We shall miss her much, but may the memory of her unfaltering faith in the final issue of the Prohibition Cause, urge us on to renewed zeal.

MISS RUTH ATKINSON. On Thursday, May 19th, there passed to lier rest the dearly loved President of the Nelson Union, Miss Ruth Atkinson. Her health had been failing for some months, and the doctors persuaded her to go to Hanmer, but heart trouble ensued and the end came suddenly—a great shock to her many friends. Miss Atkinson was a daughter of tlie late Arthur S. Atkinson, for many years a well-known solicitor in Nelson, and as the Rev. A. Armstrong mentioned in his impressive tribute to her memory in the Methodist Church, “her mother was a woman of courage and strong endurance—the first white woman to climb Mt. Egmont in the pioneering days before tracks were made in the primeval bush on the mountain slopes.” Miss Atkinson was born in Auckland. but removed with her parents in her early girlhood to Nelson. She was one of the early pioneers in Temperance Reform, and one of the Founders of the Union in Nelson.

She possessed keen, mental alertness and high literary culture, and to these were added the gift of high, moral

courage and strong convictions, fitting her for Leadership in helping forward movements in social reform for the uplift of the community. She never spared herself when she felt she could do anything that would help anyone in trouble, be it to the benefit of women and children, or to assist in civic progress. Her strong individuality, her quaint humour, her outspokenness in the cause of right and good, her large hospitality and her interest in every good work endeared her to her fellow-workers and many friends. Much sympathy is extended to her adopted daughter Faith, to her sisters, Mrs Fell and Miss Mabel Atkinson, her brother, A. R. Atkinson. and other relatives. The officers of the Nelson Women’s Christian Temperance Union took part in a beautiful, brief service at the Nelson Cemetery, and a large number of members showed their respect to her memory by attending ihi Impj esaivi a< i \ lot * held la Methodist Church, on Sunday evening, June sth.