A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF CONVENTION

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 385, 18 August 1927, Page 13

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF CONVENTION

MARCH 23rd to 31st, 1927. A friend and I met on the stairs leading to Unity Hall—which is in the basement of the Sunday School Union Buildings, Upper Queen Street not the best of places for women to meet for service and discussions. Many times it must have been a ltrain to hear what each hat! to say. The continual no*se of the heavy street traffic, and what sounded suspiciously like barrels being rolled to and fro, conveyed the impression that it might he anything but a Sunday School Union Hook Shop above the Hall, and thr*t the occupants might be rather enjoying the playing of a little ioke on the Women’s Christian Temperance Union delegates in Conference assembled. However, as we passed through the r and quietly tip-toed to the placed for visitors, we saw be>re us, row’ after row of earnest, capable women, 127 delegates, including several Maoris, sitting at a table, with note books and pencils, listening very attentively to \he matter under discussion, and facing, on a slightly raised platform, the principal New' Zealand Officers Mrs Taylor, Mrs Hiett, Miss Henderson, Mrs Evans, and Mrs Peryman. The scene reminded me of the description given by a Maori delegate on returning to her Union. On rising to speak to her sisters about b**r visit to Convention, she said in

the true, poetical expression of the Maori race:— “My Sisters, I looked around on all the beautiful and good women assembled for a noble work, and they looked to me like a beautiful flower—the central figures forming the heart of the flower. I felt as though I would like to gather them all into my arms and love them.” The great, tender heart of the Maori was stirred to its foundations, as were many of our own race, yet who hut the Maori could so clearly have seen it so with the poet’s vision. Surely, many things will live long in my memory and not the least, just to look round on those women women, mostly middle-aged and wearing on to eventide, with here ...ml there a young one—but women, all of whom hold high ideas, and workers for their fellow' men and women—• for was it not this which brought them together? The President, Mrs Taylor, gave a very fine address, dealing with the wrork of the W.C.T.U. throughout the world. One's thoughts naturally flew back to T. E. Taylor and the fight he put up for Prohibition in our House of Parliament He had a very fine helpmate in Mrs Taylor, and I feel sure she must have ever been at his right hand to inspire and cheer. Our New' Zealand President showed her ability by the manner in which she conducted the business of the meetings, and Mrs Hiett proved a very capable help for her. If you could have just heard the buzz of human voices in crescendo and diminuendo ripple across the room, at any chance for a word of conversation—until the hammer came down and restored attention, you would understand a little better the task of managing a women’s meeting!! Mrs Peryman, Editor of the White Ribbon, spoke of the noon-tide hour of Prayer. She appealed to all W.R. Sisters to try and keep this half-hour for communion with the Heavenly Father, telling of her own personal experiences and of the wonderful help it had proved in t’.nes of stress, worry and work. Fci simile, she took the photographic plate, instancing the exposure of the plate to the heavens for the purpose of

counting the stars—it had to be held perfectly still, it had to be absolutely clean. Then, wrhen photos were taken, to the surprise of astronomers, stars were found imprinted on the camera plate, where none could be seen by the most powerful telescope. So, too, w’ith us, said the speaker, if wre would only set aside one halfhour every day—to be still—to be pure in thought—to receive the influx of the Holy Spirit—would be found strength and power unknown before. Can w r e not accept this, when it awaits our acceptance? Mrs Lee-Cowle w r as very much loved for all her loving kindness .and humour; for just at the opportune moment when maybe things were being taken rather seriously by all, she would rise to illustrate her point of view by a very telling humourous story, and lo! relaxation and laughter! One story ran as follows: \n old farmer and his daughter set out for the town with a goodly load of farm product* for sale. Toward night, they were making the return journey, feeling very elated and happy, for they had disposed of all their goods at fine prices. They had proceeded well on their way when a band of robbers descended on them and robbed them of everything, even the horse and cart. The poor old man wrung his hands and cried, “Daughter! daughter! what shall we do! we have lost everything! everything!’’ “Not quite so bad as that Father. 1 put some gold pieces in my mouth and we have them,” replied his daughter. Much cheered, the old man cried, “Daughter! my good daughter! How I wish your mother had been here! we might have saved the horse and cart!!!” A Missionary from Fiji, addressed Convention for a short time one afternoon, and 1 wis very much struck with one or two things which he mentioned. In speaking of the trouble in China, and Britain’s part in it, he mentioned that It was hard for we British folk to realize that the coloured races formed by far the largest part of the population of the world—there being only one white person to every six coloured—yet we are so apt to think ourselves the

superior race with the divine right and power to rule. To show how wrongfully we nave used our power, especially in regard to the use of alcohol—he instanced India—where none but “white people” and the low T est of the Hindus ever touch strong drink.

In India there are 250,000,000 people who never touch strong drink. Its use is not allowed by the Mohammedans. Their great Prophet prohibited its use, and onlj those who have fallen so low as to forget their religion, use it for their further degradation. Also in Fiji, strong drink is taken there against the wish of the natives. He told us that in Fiji, is forming a strong young Fijian Party, to work for the betterment of their country, a. id one of the conditions of membership is total abstinence. Now’, I would like you to see yonder, a little, frail, white-haired, old lady—w’lio stands to give her animal report on Peace and Arbitration, and also to hand in her resignation of this Department, not because she has lost interest, but just that the years were growing weighty and she felt that rest would be sweet. Also, that younger shoulders could carry the flag more easily. I felt particularly interested in Airs Judson, for she is a daughter of the Rev. Edgar, who travelled from England and settled down in the wilderness with the pioneer Port Albert settlers, as their minister. He was a very remarkable man. Mrs Evans, our New Zealand Corresponding Secretary, is another daughter, and *he was the fi.>t lady in the P.ritisli Empire to take the degre e of bachelor of Arts.

Mrs Judson, in speaking for the Peace of the Na ions and the laying down of arms, spoke of the Quakers in the early History of the United States. The State of Pensylavania has been mainly composed of Quakers. These people were the only people who used no flre-arms. nor employed any means of warfare, and yet were the only pioneers who never suffered death at the hands of the Indians.

She drew’ for us a word picture of a iittle church tn the foreet, where a small hand of Quakers were at worship. Into thefr midst walked the great red warriors, hut no one stirred

—just quietly worshipped. At the end of the service, some stepped forward and offered their hands to the warriors, saying, we have been worshipping our God. the Indians made reply. We, too, have been worshipping your gieat God.

They had entered with murder in their hearts —but quiet and worship had brought peace. An old lady sitting next to me, tugged at my arm exdtediy—"l be one of them,” she said, delighted with the story and proud to he a Quaker.

Then I must not forget the Maori Race. The presence of some six or eight Maori delegates and the interest they took in the work, pleasvd me more perhaps than anything else at Convention. It w’as good to see them amongst, us, taking an active part. One lady spoke at some length on the difficulties of work among her own people—because it was the i’akeha who brought and still brings tin- diink among them in the King Country. Also the Pakeha look down upon the Maoris and do not treat them as equals, especially so in the South—in the *orth there is not so much difference* made in this way. When they wish women to sign the pledge their men ofter will not allow' them to do so. for fear tlia. if is something which they do not understand it to be. Tin Maori lady naively remarked, “that Maori women have to take notice of their men.” I also ha>e a message to give you from Mrs Jury. She started this Branch, and is a very earnest W.C.T 11. worker. Site sat beside me part of the time at Convention. and was very interested to hear of our work. She sent her love to all White Ribbon Sisters, and she thanked Cod that we had kept the flag flying In Warkwortli. 1. HAMILTON. vVark worth.