WHAT WE WANT.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 391, 18 February 1928, Page 14

WHAT WE WANT.

About this time of the year there are so many money-raising affairs on hand, that it becomes difficult to think of them, not as ends in themselves, mere “means to ends.’’ Everyone who reads this is. has been, or v/lli he helping in one, most likely ojveral. Every section in Church, charitable, and public work has to raise money. Beyond me to count how many sports’ presentations, trophic, all need to collect money, till to onlookers it seems as if begging was very like a trade, crowded with well-trained and tireless workers. For some it is a deteatabl • job. for some it seems a habitual pastime. But whet I started out to say was this: how far can the W.C.T.L., as a body, keep out of it? It will pay us in our working ability if it can be made clear, and kept clear, that we are net a money-raising, but an educational body. We are not out to win Inhibition this election as an end in itself It is ? signi>ost on the way to having a sober, healthy, contented country, not merely a win in the game of politics. A voter does not matter so much, but it does to have a child understand that it is altogether to his own benefit to be a teetotaller. A good orator may win a number of voters in an evening. Pray that we get good orators, back them up vigorously. But it takes much longer than an evening to educate a child. Try to reach th rt child of indifferent parents, or of those on the other side, who lives nearest to you, and when you have got him enthusiastic, you have won a personal victory to be proud of. And you know perfectly well it is not to be done with money. It needs patience, increasing skill, faith, faith above all, for it is a spiritual victory. Such a child matters more than his parents. For one thing, he is likely to live longer.

For another, he will be on our side, or on our children’s side, in the harder struggle that will come after prohibition is w r on. Now that the election is coming so near, we cannot hope to escape from tumult and shouting. But can’t we. as a body and as individual members, help to carry through in a gentle and Christian spirit by eon-

centrating on the educational work near at hand, and keeping out of the more spectacular “money-raising efforts?” Do not exclaim at once bow necessary these are. I belong to six associations at least, always hard up, and am asked regularly to help in the “efforts’ of many more. But, whe re coin of the leaim is t.io best we can give to many organisations, th * I’nion work of educating tin* children needs more. It needs coin of the spirit, of personal touch with the children, not so much as to-morrow's voters, but to-morrow's men and women. ‘Freely we have received, freely We know it by heart long since, don't we? We’ll have to give freely to teach these children. Who are you trying for? Wish you the best of luck. KATHERINE MERCER.