WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

White Ribbon, Volume 38, Issue 446, 18 September 1932, Page 1

WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

September is the month we commemorate the granting: of the Franchise to women. These anniversaries should cause us to think of the nohle hand of workers who won for us the right of citienshlp and removed women from being classed with “criminals and lunatics,' as those who had no right to vote This Dominion never had a Franchise Society; the campaign for the right to vote was led by Mrs. Sheppard, Franchise Superintendent of the W.C.T.U. It was a long and arduous tight, in the course of which the women presented to the House of Representatives the largest petition ever presented to any Parliament in Australasia. People then l>egan to enquire, as they are still enquiring. WHAT IS THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION? It is an organisation of Chris tian women, organised in the U.S.A. in 1871, for the protection of U.» Home. Its motto. “For God. Home and Humanity." Tts test of membership the signing of the following Pledge; “I hereby solemnly promise, God helping me, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors, including wane, beer ar cider, and to employ all proper means to discourage the use of and traffic in the same." It stands for: Prohibition: The absolute prohibition of the liquor traffic. Peace: The establishment of International Courts of Arbitration to abolish wair. Purity: An eoual standard of morality for both sexes, “A White Life for Two." It is now organised in 57 different

countries, with a World Membership of over H millions. “All round the world our Ribbon white is twined. ' Its Radge of membership- A White Ribbon Row. It was organised in New Zealand in 1881, and now (December, 1931) its membership is: Adult Unions, 5,743; "Y." Branches, 556; Ma ri, 61; Niue Island. 1,169; a Grand Total of 7,529. It has 8.699 "Little White Ribboncrs" upon its Cradle Roll. At eight years of age these are passed on to its Loyal Temperance Legions, whose membership is 1,064, or Bands of Hope, reporting 1,617 members. What does the W.C.T.U do in New Zealand? Educates women on the Scientific, Medical, Economic and Moral aspects of the liquor question. Through it the Franchise was gained for women, and it teaches the value and responsibility of every woman's vote. Trains women for public life. Educates the young:—Scientific Temperance Instruction in Schools, Bands of Hope and L.T.L’s; Extensive youth work: Trains young people for leadership. Employs two lady Organisers, whose work is the life blood of the Organisation. WIIAT IT NEEDS. The sympathy and support of t?ve:*\ Christian woman. \ greatlv-inoreased membership would help the Union wield a much greater influence for righteousness in the Dominion. “No matter how numerous or how varied the great interests that may claim a Christian woman’s time and sympathy, she should have abundant room in her heart for tin* Temperance reform, and give it some of her best activities."

WHAT YOU CAN DO. Join the Union by signing the Total Abstinence Fledge and paying an Annual Subscription of 2s 7d.; attending once a month the meetings of the local branch, thereby helping forward the work of this great Organisation which, for about 50 >ears, has been endeavouring to arouse the womanhood of this land to line up in a solid united front against every evil that menaces the home the individual, and the race. “Mother-lo\e works magic, but organised mother-love can work miracles." “New Zealand womanhood to-day holds the key to moral victory," and for this reason we invite you to join our ranks and help us to work and to pray for a cleaner and better New Zealand, and the coming of Christ’s Kingdom.