ECHOES FROM THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 385, 18 August 1927, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE FIELD.

How noiselessly some women work, yet how unsparingly are they giving themselves in many of our country districts, especially, for our great cause: “For God and Home and Humanity.” During au extensive tour of Southland one rejoiced to find the women of the W.C.T.U. running in nearly every district a Band of Hope as a Department of their Union’s work, or generously assisting in the Band ot Hoik* work of the local Churches. The standard of teaching and the programmes are of high order. in towns where L.T.L's. are being carried on the children are responding with enthusiasm to the training and rvsixmsibility of carrying on their own meetings, and one would like to see this very important branch geatly extended. That our women are keenly alive to the need of getting into sympathetic personal touch with girl < of all classes was evidence by the large number of meetings arranged in fa< tories, mills, Girl Guides’ Companies 8.C., S.S., C.E., etc., and thus a wide field was opened up for sowing th* good seed of the W.C.T.U. ideals. In South Canterbury the work continues. In our Y’s branches we have some splendid material to win, and mould and hold for the future of our cause. But a much closer cooperation on the part of the Adult Unions is required. Mother Unions do you realise that these are your daughters? They require your prayers, your kindly personal interest, words of encouragement and sympathy. ,A warm-hearted social evening arranged for them and other young people occasionally does much to cement the bond and to increase the membership. It wras very' encouraging to be told by the forewoman of a fairly large mill that the majority, if not ail, of the girls there are strong Temperance advocates. But they are at the age when the sentiment requires careful training and harvesting, and our women can do this. We need much helpful, well-writ-ten literature of an educative nature for free distribution amongst our w r orking girls, and again it is our women who can supply this. One can say a good deal In ten or fifteen minutes, hut when the talk Is

backed up by a instructive pamphlet much more can be accomplished. In 1873, when the Women's Temperance Crusade started, the narrative reads, “At last, one brother said, ‘let us leave the matter with God and the women,’ and the men withdrew. The matter is still with God and the women. Are we w’omvu doing ALE we can prayerfully, personally, tinancailly? It is OUR Cause. There is a far-reaching and fruitful field. The labourers are very few. The upkeep and extension of the work depends entirely upon the members of the W.C.T.U. and Y’a. C. M. McLAY, Y Organiser.