SUPERINTENDENTS’ LETTERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 36, Issue 432, 18 July 1931, Page 5

SUPERINTENDENTS’ LETTERS.

ANTI-GAM HIDING. Dear Sisters, — You will have noticed from the newspapers that a private member’s Bill has been introduced into the House for the licensing of bookmakers, and has passed the first reading. The Bill seeks to legalise the business of bookmaking. Such a license will entitle the holder to carry on the business at his registered office, and upon any racecourse, subject to conditions laid down by the Race

flub. Provision has also been made for the licensing of clerks. Now the Bill looks to the man in the street, in this time of depression, to be of great benefit to the country as a re-venue-returning proposition, forgetting the evil and suffering of many through the curse of gambling. Our platform is to oppose anything that will increase or more strongly entrench the evils of gambling, so I would ask you all to watch the newspapers when the second reading is coming before the House, and send on a strong protest to the Member of your district, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. De la Perelle. The promoter of the Bill, Mr H. T. Armstrong, laii>our member for Christchurch East, is sure the measure is wanted, and thinks that it has a sporting chance of going through this session. He does not claim that the Bill is perfect in every respect, but repeats that bookmaking should either he suppressed or controlled and tajeed. We ask why entrench it more deeply? If there are 350 bookmakers, as Mr Armstrong says, just now, when the business is illegal, this number will be greatly increased when they can practice in safety for the paying of a licensing fee. MARGARET PIRRETT. 16 Dunn St.. Spreydon, Christchurch. HOME AND MOTHERS’ MEETINGS. Dear Sisters, — Some of you still think I am your Literature Superintendent, by still sending me your orders for literature. I’lease note that all orders should l*» sent to Headquarters, where Mrs Ross will attend to them. Perhaps it is more strange for me to write about something else than literature. At Convention I was appointed your Dominion Superintendent for Home and Mothers’ Meetings. On reading la* 4. year’s report of this Department, I find very few I nions are having "Home Meetings." To me it seems like the 10 per cent, cut In our Bn ion work. This is not a "one horse" power age. hut a "100 horse-power one,’’ which shows that we ourselves must keep up-to-date and use more power. ‘‘But.’’ you say, "where are we to get this power? I have no electric dynamo in my house.’’ I.** me remind you of the power God has promised in Ts. 40:29: ‘‘He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

Then in Acts 6 we read how Stephen was chosen out of the disciples because he was a man full of faith; and after the disciples had prayed, how the word of God increased in power and the number of the disciples multiplied, and Stephen worked wonders and miracles among the people. Doesn’t this prove that more prayer Is the motive power we need to-day? There is an old Methodist motto, "All at it, and always at it.” To me the need of intensity is evident. No success is to be found in any walk of life without this. No business man can make a success of his business, no teacher may’ succeed, no preacher bring into the Kingdom the souls entrusted to his care, except by ways of intensity.

In days gone by how we loved the cottage prayer meetings, which we used to have in connection with the Christian Endeavour, and to-day they are hardlyheard of. Let me ask Unions to arrange one a w-eek, or one a month. The President could say a few words or find a speaker, and go along to an invalid and have an old time meeting; you could often go in the evening instead of an afternoon. The drawing-room meetings will in most cases be better in the afternoons, where you are out to get new members. Do make an effort to do this, please, sisters; it will mean power and strength to your individual Unions. We hear a lot about the economic conditions to-day, but we realise that the capitalist can’t do without the worker, and the worker can't do without the capitalist, so both must unite and work band in hand. As Christian women, let us recognise the power that lies in prayer, and gather together as often as possible to gain strength for these "100 horsepower’’ days. Human hearts are longing. hungering, and yearning after God. He needs the preacher more than ever to-day. He needs also the one without brilliant talents. He needs the commonplace one to complete His wondrous plan. He needs you. He needs me. A commonplace life, we say as we sigh. But why should we sigh as w-e say? The commonplace sun in the commonplace sky Makes up the commonplace day. The moon and the stars are commonplace things. And the flower that blooms, and the bird that sings; But da”k the world, and sad our lot. If the flower failed and the sun shone not, And God who studies each separate soul, Out of commonplace lives makes a beautiful whole. VYith loving greetings.—Yours in His sweet service, E. H CHISHOLM.

NOTABLE DATS DEPARTMENT. Ormondville, June 27, 1931. Dear Sisters. — Having been reappointed Superintendent of the above Department, I want to

notify all Secretaries that I have moved from Oumaru, and that my permanent address will be ‘‘Miss A. P. Webb, Ormondville. Hawke's Bay.’’ July 2<th is the next Notable Day to be kept, being Memorial, or T. E. Taylor Day. On this day, or the nearest day convenient, reference should In* made to the life* and work of some one of our leaders, who having done their work here on earth, have been called to higher service. They did their part in sowing the seed of temperance education, hut did not live to see the fruits of their labours, and we have much to learn from their example of patient work and faith, which should inspire us in our own efforts to-day. Most Unions have had some specially noteworthy worker in their own district. Why not write a paper on your own old friend to give to some other Union? Yours sincerely, ALICE F. WEBB