1928.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 390, 18 January 1928, Page 1

1928.

[fsG OUT THE OLD; KING IN THE NEW. Kiiice last we went to press, we Le passed another milestone on the |d of our national life. Along that It mile of road we have had to fight vnuously for progress. Indeed, I f looking back we may ask oures have we made, during last fv. Hny advance towards our goal )ur three P.’s.: World IWe—>rld Purity—W r orld Prohibition. Licensing Bill which we here woui 4 .have been a long step v, ..rdt National Prohibition — The fc i Schools Bill —a measure. aU • by setting up a lofty standard 1 sonal character, would have dl u the cause of purity — have both lefeated. Yet we are not disu ;ed. The Lower House, repreg the will of our democracy d ntirely with us. 1 h measures had been long ! e the electors, every M.P. had i requested to state his position 4u both questions, and the vote <ne Lower House was undoubtedly « und of the people, i ie measures were defeated, but the words of an old General i> e .press the feelings of the iurt: “Another such victory and are undone.*’ ■lh regard to “Peace” decided *mce is being made. Last Conxion the W.C.T.U. passed a resolu- ® asking for the abolition of ypulsory Military Training and the f titution of compulsory physical Inina. Our conviction is that we |u*d have a manhood trained to I Perfection of physical fitness not

to kill their fellowmeu, but to serve them. Since list Convention, the Synods of at least three great Churches have spoken with no uncertain sound for the abolition of compulsory Military Training, viz., the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches. Compulsory Military Training made the German soldier the deadly machine that threatened the ruin of civilisation, and it failed to make that machine successful in its aim. All over the world the demand for the outlawry of war is growing, and everywhere it is being recognised that prayer is our mightiest force in the outlawing of war and of every other evil. The following extract from the magazine, “The League of Nations ’ —for Church and Home—No. X. iR worthy of our most careful attention. PRAYER FOR PEACE. Eternal God, Father of all Souls, Grant unto us such clear vision of the Sin of Wr.r That we may earnestly seek that co-operation between Nations Which aloDe can make War impossible As man by his inventions has made the whole world Into one neighbourhood. Grant that he may, by his co-opera-tions, make the whole world Into one Brotherhood. Help us to break down all race prejudice: Stay the greed of those who profit by war, and The ambitions of those who seek an imperialistic conquest Drenched In Blood,

Guide all statesmen to seek a just basis For international action in the interests of peace. Arouse in tlie whole body of the people an adventurous willingness, \s they sacrificed greatly for War, So, also, for international goodwill, To da;e bravely, think wisely, decide resolutely, And to achieve triumphantly. —Amen. The noble Prayer above was written by Dr. Emerson Fosdick, of New York. In 1926 he preached the Assembly Sermon in Geneva—a powerful plea for just Peace. If every mother in every Christian home would use the prayer, what spiritual forces would help the statesmen grappling with the greatest problem of the age! Let not the sufferings •>f the War lead to another like it. Tear out the page, read, learn; use the Prayer. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” At least, so think the million or more women in America, who have pledged themselves to make use each day of this prayer for International goodwill, recognising that without such goodwill war will again claim the children. On the same page are printed two little pictures, one of a schoolroom with a lady teacher, apparently talking about the League of Nations, and under the picture the words: “If we do not end War” and by the side another picture of Soldiers in a Trench, and the words beneath it: “War will end us.”

The Superintendent of our Bible-in-Schools Department enclosed a prayer card in every report form sent out, with a request that Unions do all in their power to restore the Bible to the schools in our Dominion. 1928. This may be our victory year, nay it will be so, if wa have faith to take God at His word. Prayer is dominant desire. Is our dominant desire to end the iniquitous liquor traffic? If so, we will spare no effort in the fight. It is largely a matter of personal responsibility. Each man and woman to tell their own friends and associates the facts about the trade, the benefits of prohibition in U.S.A. and in Finland; of partial prohibition in our own No-License areas. “Get into the fight 10-day! There is work to do, and the call means you, Go into the fight to stay.” Organise your forces at your first meeting. Set yourself to see that every woman In your district is invited to become a member of your Union. Arrange your committees to take each district, each church, each home. Educate. —First yourself, that you may be prepared to answer every objection raised. Next, your Union. Keep the White Ribbon on your table every meeting, question each other upon the facts therein, see that your members use the facts provided in your own official organ. Rather less than half our members take our official organ. Use it so frequently at your meetings that they may feel their need of it. Some who take it do not read it, and consequently are ignorant of much that has an important bearing upon our work. When your own members are educated upon facts, then in the streets, in the shops, in the trams, in the trains, on sea and on shore, at home and abroad, they can tell out the tnith and the truth will free us from the curse of strong drink. But we must fit ourselves that God may use us. As our own loved poetess so beautifully puts it: “Lord make us worthy Thy glorious call, P'lll our hearts full of Thy longing for all; Open our eyes to Thy truth’s shiuing light,

Thrill all our souls with Thine infinite might, Then send us forth to shine through sin’s dark night, “Till ALL belong.”