PLANS OF WORK

White Ribbon, Volume 36, Issue 427, 18 February 1931, Page 1

PLANS OF WORK

Scene: The Editorial Sanctum. Characters: Editor, District President, and a Superintendent of Department. Editor seated by tire correcting proofs. Knock at door, enter District President and Superintendent. Ed.: “Good evening, friends, it’s good to see you. How are you both?” D.P.: “We are well, and if you can spare time, we want to talk over our plans of work before we go to Convention.” Ed.: “Always delighted to hear about people who are ready to work." S. of D.: “Well, we are ready, I’m sure, but we want to know what ip the best work we can do.” Ed.: "I believe our best work is to increase our own membership. Every member is a pledged abstainer.” D P.: “But so many members are like the woman, whose son said, ‘Father is a Christian, but he’s not working at it now.’ “ Ed.: “Yes! That is so, but in our great organisation is work for all, and it is the part of our leaders and officer of Unions to find out what is the special gift of each member, and set them to work along those lines.” S. of D.: “You think members need educating as well as nonmembers?” Ed.: “Most certainly I do. We have many members, who are Pro-

hibitionists, but they are not ‘White Itibboners.' ” D.P.: “Are not all ‘White Ribboners’ Prohibitionists?” Ed.: “Certainly, but Prohibition is only part of ‘White Ribbon’ work. And, according to Euclid, the whole is greater than its part.” D.P.: “I don’t quite follow you. Is not prohibition our main objective?” Ed.: “Yes, just now. But we want to get rid of this dreadful traffic in order to do more effective work." S. of D.: “Don't you intend to rest when we win Prohibition?” Ed.: “No! I intend, then, to begin real work.” S. of D.: “Real work! Is not Prohibition Campaign real work?” Ed.: “Yes! of one kind. But the prohibition of the Liquor Traffic is chiefly destructive w T ork. Now\ no Society can grow and flourish on a purely destructive policy. The W.C. T.U. nas a magnificent constructive „ policy, which many of our members never think about.” D.P.: “We are so anxious to destroy this evi! Hade, that it takes all our time and energy. But I see what you mean. Purely destructive work, psychologically, is doomed. We must construct to endure.” S. of D.: “I thir.k many of us don’t realise this. We are i npatient of any w’ork not purely prohibition work.” Ed.: “And therein we defeat our

own objective. To be a ‘White Ribboner,' in the highest sense, is to he a woman consecrated to destroy all that injures the individual and the race, tut alive and alert to foster and help all that makes for the uplift of humanity and the building of noble character.” D.l\: “How shall w r e make our members ‘White Ribboners’ in deed as well as in name?” Ed.: “Educate them, by voice, by pen. And, above all, circulate our own Official Organ.” S. of D.: “Do many members take it?” Ed.: “Not half our members are subscribers, and some of the other half don’t read it.” D.P.: “How can we induce them to study the work, and read our own reports?” Ed.: “Onl> by personal effort and by faithful * work. It is w ork every member can do. Ask your neighbour and your friends to subscribe.” D.P.: “But times are very hard just now’.” Ed.: “True, but there’s many folk can afford 3d. a month.” S. of D.: ‘‘But 3s. a year seems so much.” Ed.: “Well, let the I T nion take a supply and soil them monthly. Surely there are at least a dozen women in most Unions who can cell one copy a month. It’s everybody’s job; don’t leave it to the Agent or jne or two members.”

D.P.: “Well, its hard to get members to read or to buy.” Ed.: “Most worth while work is not easy. And, if you’ll forgive me for saying so, I think your attitude of mind is fatal to success.” D.P.: “What do you mean?” Ed.: “Well, you don't expect results and, of course, you won't get them! It’s a matter of faith and confidence.” S. of D.: “You mean we should not expect failure? But times are hard; ought we not to face facts?” Ed.: "Certainly! But times may be bad, but worse than all is the mental depression. Don’t forget that we’ve come through bad times before, and we shall win through now! ” D.P.: “It’s good to be so optimistic.” Ed.: “Dear friends, get the vision of a Dominion freed from the curse of strong drink and ready to listen to the voice of wisdom. Don’t you realise that our Official Organ belongs to you to every member? Its financial success means a help to all our activities. The reading of it will teach about those activities. Remember, if the W.C.T.U. is to do the splendid, constructive work taught by its founders, its members must know all about it. Let us go to Convention resolved to pray and work to bring this about.” D.P.: “Then your plan is largely buildinj up a body of educated and trained ‘White Ribboners’?” Ed.: “Just so! Increase our membership, ask every woman you meet to join us. If she isn’t ready to do so, give her our paper to read and learn about us. We are the only Woman’s Society that stands foursquare against the Liquor Trade. We are a Christian Union, we build our membership and our Union upon the rock Christ Jesus, and not upon the shifting sands of public opinion. We pray devoutly, but we also hammer away stoutly!”