“PAY-UP.”

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 400, 18 November 1928, Page 2

“PAY-UP.”

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE NAPIER UNION. The other evening in the over-seas news item, 1 read that the Duchess of Yoik was busy choosing and buying her winter wardrobe. No doubt she would have to pay for it, and those who were supplying her would see to it that she did. Perhaps you, too, have been buying and choosing your new clothes for the coming summer—you would, no doubt, do the same as the Duchess; pay for wdiat you choose to wear. How’ much could you buy for 2s. 7d.? A pair of shoes? no; hose, no; gloves? no; a frock? no; a hat? no. Not one article of your summer outfit could you buy for 2s. 7d. (Though once I did purchase a very good hat for Is. Later, my uncle, who saw' me wearing it, g.ive me a 15 note and told me to buy another and give him the change.) Perhaps you could get more value in so me other department for your SO. 7d. Crockery? Well you might buy a cup or a plate or two for that. Books? Possibly a cheap papercovered edition of some popular novel—-or some penny dreadfuls, but no book of any real W'orth (except, perhaps, a cheap edition of the Holy Scriptures) could be obtained for the small sum of 2s. 7d. Now r , 2s. 7d. paid to your local Treasurer—w'hat does it bring to you? It links you up with the praying Temperance women of your town, women w'hose aims and ideals are of the highest. Not only those in your own town but in your district, your Dominion. Makes you one of the eight thousand women in this land who have dared to come out and be separate from all other women anil

women s organisations, in that they are pledged to “work and pray t|ll death or victory” for the overthrew of the drink traffic; links you up and makes you one of the great army of women of the world who have followed where Frances Willard led. Nbt only with those wiio are now' working in that immense army, bnt, by faith, you join with those who have crossed to the beyond. Not only do you link up with these honourable, devoted, and noble women, but your 2s. 7d. entitles you to a comradeship in service for the high ideals for which the organisation of the W.C.T.U. stands. What a small price to pay to enter the ranks of this aristocracy of consecrated womanhood. As we think of what our membership means, do not the narrow thoughts of life, the i>etty rivalries, the hurt and injured pride, and the selfishness to which we sometimes are liable become dwarfed and fade away? Surely we catch a vision in all its splendour of w'hat our 2s. 7d. will bring to us. And, as we “pay up,” we also “give up” ourselves till deatli or victory for “God, Home and Humanity.”