VICE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

White Ribbon, Volume 38, Issue 452, 18 April 1933, Page 7

VICE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom the world rejoices. Who from our mother's arms Hath blessed us on our way, With countless gifts of love. And still is ours to day.

The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. I>r. Rushbrooke, World Secretary of the Baptist Alliance, said in Christchurch: "If God equips a woman for the ministry, site should be allowed to carry out her ministry. ’ He then referred to Deborah, the Judge of Israel. Deborah said to Ba’uk, "You must lead the Children of Israel against the Canaanites.” Barak answered, "I will—if you go with me.’ And Deborah led. We find, in reading that ancient story, that it was Deborah who strengthened Barak, who kept up his courage, ami what was the song that they sang when they overcame their enemies. "Praise >e the Lord for the victory of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.” We are here to-day to praise the Lord for all His wondrous leading. From a small band in ISBS to thousands of consecrated women to-day, joined hand in hand, and surely willingly offering themselves anew to s<‘rve Him in this Godgiven task of destroying one of the most gigantic enemies to the coming of Christ’s Kingdom. We here at Convention are representatives of thousands of New Zealand women. Will w r e say in their name, and 01 . own, "Consecrate me now to Th> .e.'vice. Lord, by the power of Love Divine?" Then the reproof to Reuben (in the story of Deborah); "Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds?' shall not be said of the White R bboners of New Zealand women. We will rather line up with the invisible yet p.eser.t Christ, and fight for the cause that needs assistance; for the wrong that needs resistance; for the future in the distance, and the good that we can do.

Our platform of Peace, Purity, and Prohibition is a challenge to every woman, especially in these days of fearsome happenings. Ruskin said: hold of God’s Hand and look full in the fare of His creation, and there is nothing He will not enable you to achieve.” We hear of wars and rumours of wars. Are we futile? I believe there are sufficient women in the world to make their Governments know that they (the women) are determined that there shall not bp another war. Let New Zealand women stand by the League of Nations. Give the lie to the talk that war is inevitable. and by prayer and faith help to oust this demon of war from the world.

White Ribboners, anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. Here is something that everyone of us can do, and may God crown the labours of His people with the glorious consummation of Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men. Our platform of Purity. The greatest foe to purity is ignorance—not ignor-

ance of evil, but ignorance of the vital facts of life, and I feel that we have not done all that we should have done in imparting knowledge at mothers' meetings, yes, and at young people’s meetings also. A number of years ago Nurse Chappell attended one of our Dominion Conventions. Allow me to quote some words from an address she gave. She said: "The position which numbers of even Christian people take up on this subject is almost incomprehensible. it seems as if their purity is superior to that of the Creator, when they are ashamed of His handiwork in the human body, and are afraid that to teach their children the truth about their bodies and the purposes of the different parts will soil the mind of the child. Or is it an insinuation that the mind of the child is so vile that it will seize on this knowledge and use it in wrong ways? The Bible says, ‘To the pure all things are pure.’ My ex|>eri- * m e of children is -and it extends over thousands—that the pure-minded child sees the beauty, purity, and wonder in the fa< ts of life when purely given. No wonder the Master said. ‘Unless ye be converted and become as little children ve cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ ’’ Further on, she says: "We can only uplift by pure knowledge. Only sufficient knowledge of the evil to give protection is necessary, and 1 do believe that every section should recei\e knowledge suitable to their needs and ago in every Church.” She concluded thus: "Seeing ignorance has caused such a terrible state of things, right knowledge given early enough, and at the right time, and in the right way. and blessed by God, will bring order out of chaos, and new life out of the evil of the present time." It was war time, but impurity is still doing its deadly work. Difficult as this problem is, we must find a way to teach our young people to think on whatsoever things are pure and lovely and of good report. Kingsley says: "It is very easy to turn our eyes from ugly sights, and so consider ourselves refined. I will never believe that a man has a real love for the good and beautiful unless he attacks the evil and tin- disgusting the moment he sees it.’’ Rrohibition. We have been intensely interested in the centenary of the total abstinence movement, begun in England on September Ist, 1832. by tho seven men of i’reston. One hundred years ago these fine men were scoffed at. There was dense ignorance on the alcohol question; but in the face of tremendous opposition, they were faithful to their convictions, and to-daj millions of women and men subscribe to the truth of total abstinence; yes. and to the need of orohibiting the Liquor Traffic from having a foothold anvwhei a on God’s earth. The centenary was worthily celebrated in many parts the world, and many of you will have read the "Call to the Nations,’' which was subscrib' d t> b> representatives of 42 nations and "rianimously adopted at the WoC.is Oi’iff n ary Congress held in Caxtou Hall. London, last year. The concluding words of the Call were: ‘This Conference declares itself convinced that so great an

evil fiii Is the liquor Traffic requires th«» advocacy of an equally great remedy; and th»t« Conference calls u|*on all who art* seeking constructive mkihl progress, statesman and citizen alike, and M|W* dally the youth of the world, to unite In the overthrow of tb»* common en»my. Numerical strength ia contingent on definite action, and It seems to ua, aa an aaaevnbly of workers representing many lands, that now In the time to step out Itoldly. an«l therefore effectively, for the entire alndltion of the Liquor Traffic, We hslleve that thta la the moat Im|H>rtant tank of thla generation, and we urge it with all the influence and united |s>wer to our hands ’* Dr Klla Book. World President, In her greeting, said: *‘l confidently believe we will win our fight to hold Prohibition. May the memory of Llveney and hla comrades give us all courage to go forth to the ultimate goal of the destruction of the legalised Liquor Truffle.** Amongst the messages from many countries was one from Bulgaria Dr. I'opoft natd: "Have signed the Cfcll on behalf of 20,000 mernbsrs** Thank Ood for the interest taken In thla question throughout the world We heartily endorse the sentiment expressed by a UN worker: "We prohibit lon ista declare here and now to all the world that In this war there will be no surrender, no retreat, and no compromise'* Against such a spirit the Liquor Traffic may do Its worst, but It cannot quench the fire, it cannot oust the truth. It cannot break the spirit of those who stand for Ood, ior Home, and for Humanity. V\e will say. with our American sisters ‘The l|«e shall not break where ] stand," and may we reverently add, "For we keep the charge of the laird our Ood" V It hough tremendous strides have l*ee,> made during the 100 years In teni|»erance sentiment, and “Alcohol or No Alcohol" la a question In almost every country, now is the time to Is- "Instant m season and out of season." The Liquor Traffic la that Vested Inter* sts are jeopardised, and those Interested sre nsin : every’ ]• *ice, every strategy, every ounce of satanlc wisdom to hold faat to w*hat they have, and to gain lost territory. In Palestine. l»efore the war, there were licensed houses In Jerusalem; now, under llrltish administration, there are 4<mi, and in the whole of Palestine nearly 1000 At leust three breweries have l*een established for the manufacture of liquor, ami the amount lmi»orted has U* , n do u Med The Dish op of I,ondon said, and we say, Hear? Hear! "Thut If there was one thing that made him furious It was that the population of the Holy land w.ji sober under Mohammedans, but was taking to drink under the Christian administration ** He udded: "It Is not Christianity that makes them less sober.** We hops that Miss Agnes Slack will b* successful in reorganising a strong WT TP. In Jerusalem, that the (Tirlstlan banner may l*e unfurled and the Christian Influence make a strong ap|>enl against strong drink In May "White Kihlmn" a | aim graph reads. "A man. getting excited at a temperance meet-

ing. called out. 'Why does not the Almighty send His lightning and blot out all the rum holesT (Julck wate the reply from another In the audience, The Almighty has the lightning alright; what He watnts Is conductors **' And w hat the Ixtrd wants Is women and men who not inly attend Conventions and decry th-i Liquor Traffic, but who will do definite work For w. keep the charge of the Imrtl our Ood. The line shall not break where I stand, for we keep the charge of the Lord our Ood. and what does thut mean hut thut we will give ourselves f.eflnitely, eouraieously, to thla -we will la* conductors for the Almighty. Will you take for your slogan. ‘The Line shall not break where I stand, for we keep the churge of the Lord our CMT" Then this 1913 Convention will set the India of H«*aven ringing, because consecrated women are willingly offering themselves for the emancipation and salvation of thousa ids for whom Christ died. There are 12.000.nn0 women In r.H. who stand for Prohibition. Will there be 12,000 in New Zealand In W.C.T.tT. ranks by the time we c«lebrate our Jubilee? It can be done l’nwavering devotion to our Meal and faith in our Ood. and there In no auch word us impossible.