THINKING IT OUT.

White Ribbon, Volume 35, Issue 414, 18 January 1930, Page 12

THINKING IT OUT.

(An address by Miss A. M. MclAy.) We often say *T think,” and we have not thought at all. We have merely jumped to a conclusion. To think is to pet one's ideas into orderly arrangement, one idea following another, and approaching a conclusion gradually by working out the problem. liut thinking deeply is like praying earnestly—it costs and we are very often not willing to [>ay the cost. It has been said that the great impediment to thinking things out is prejudice or bias, and that in presenting a case to our own minds, or the minds of otilers, we are constantly emphasising certain facts and subduing others. The corrective to bias is to study calmly all sides of a question, and if we will take the time and trouble to so study the Drink Evil in our IKrniinion, 1 think we will find this is a problem upon which neither prejudice nor bias influence us. We can come to only one satisfactory conclusion, namely, that the solution to the problem of the drink evil is the abolition of the Liquor Traffic. We can safely say about this traffic that it has not one argument in its favour. There is no logical reason why it should be allowed to go on its wicked way, a menace and a hindrance to everything which makes for the moral and social uplift of the people. On the basis of feeling all thinking begins I feel, therefore I think! And just as thought rests in feeling, so it should issue in action. I think, therefore I act! What is wanted these days is deep feeling carried into clear, honest thinking, and issuing in action. What a revolution there would he in New Zealand if the Christian womanhood of the Dominion would all enlist in the noble army of White Ribboners, which is the only women’s organisation raising its voice against the curse of alcohol. “The drink problem ought to he right up in the forefront of thought ahd prayer and intensive effort in the outlook and programme of every Christian, and also of the Church to which we belong.” The fact that our doing is so feeble and erratic, and often so mischievous, is due not so much to lack of feeling as to

our mental indbrpoftition for thinking things out The abolition of the liquor Trait* a woman'l queatioit, and the W.C.T.D be "Big" Woman'i 1 • inisat i<>n, which 1 lo make t be \\ 0meii think It is a "Mil: BUSiW not moral) national, but world wide it Is doing business not in Wen Zealand onl). but In Ilm - country in the world it ■ Hum morel) perish able commodities, but it is moulding imperishable destinies, it Is rendering • ntiai national serrk 1" it startout to do kittle against the liquor and in its great crusade brought to the fore ■ woman who will ever - bi notal.lc as tt leader- Frances Willard. and man) sta • her day, have prored that s woman ran be great in public spirit, in reform moTementa, and in leadership it is a < oojk ■ ttmulstlng tfon s in the Dominion, for it has high Ideears ami a serious purpose. it a creditable and notable record of ach merits, and for orer half s century has triumphed oTer Insurmountable cult!membeis - bsll nerer lack the •ion and the guarantee of natty II the) keep thetr led on the t of the business and the purpose ot hui Ineaa '*we come to uplift."