"NIL DESPERANDUM."

White Ribbon, Volume 39, Issue 466, 18 July 1934, Page 1

"NIL DESPERANDUM."

As one remembers the words of this old familiar song, with its laitin title and the faulty interpretation thereof, one's thoughts fly hack to the old Homan leader, who was honoured and rewarded by his fellow-countrymen, because never in the darkest hour had he despaired of the Republic. And the hour was dark and the situation was tragic, but the gallant old Homan fought on with an undaunt id faith, that the "gods of Home” would never desert the city, which they had founded. The situation to-day is tragic, world empires have fallen into ruins, cherished principles have been thrown overboard, and a deep, dark cloud of pessimism broods over the world, somewhat like the misty chaos which brooded over our planet in the days liefore “God spake a world from naught.” Is there anywhere a people who “despair not of the Republic of th“ world?” When politicians and prelates, financiers and faddists, citizens and churches, 0! unisations and individuals, rotarians and rusicrucians, scientists, as well as soldiers and sailors, are sunk in a welter <>t doubt and pessimism, ever telling us how evil are the times; who is there among us who is on the Lord’s side? Who will raise aloft the banner of the Cross? Who will wave the torch, that 11-htens time’s darkest gloom—the torch lit at the r ane of faith in the eternal goodness t.i God? Who will show to a world weary of creeds and systems, the faith that — “Flourishes in immortal youth, ITihurt amid the war of elements. The wre* k of mattei and the crash of r v rids”? The situation is not so tragic as at the time when the old Roman Empire was breaking up; the days are no darker than those which saw the tragedy of Calvary- when Divine love

came down to rescue a world, which flouted and rejected it and crucified its messenger. Surely the tragedy of Calvarv branded failure over the mission of the Christ “Men said He was a failure - They died, and all their deeds are lost. Hut down th»* centuries still shines the glory Of far Golgotha and a Homan cross.' - From the very scene of His seeming failure emerged the band of men, l*ap tised by His Spirit, who were to save the world and lift it once more to sanity and strength. They were men and women who moved with the perfect assurance of victory. They fought with the scabbard when the sword was broken Like the heroes of all time, they never knew when they were beaten. Over 50 years ago a liatid of women in U.S.A., stirred to the very depths of their being by the evils around them, met together, entered the upper room, waited for the gift of the spirit, then emerged upon their city, their country and the world as a great redeeming force. They saw a world held in slavery to Bacchus and Mars, and on their banner they engraved their sign of freedom from such slavery—Peace, Purity, Prohibition. Freedom from the chains of Mars, Venus and Bacchus. And for God. Home and Humanity they buckled on their armour for the long campaign and a world-wide flght. “And shall we. who are honoured to hear The standard so nobly upreared. Prove recreant, wavering, less loyal than they?" The founder of the World’s W.C.T.P., our loved Frances Willard, said that the W.C.T.U. was organised mother lcve. The world wants mothering. And is not the time ripe and over-ripe for organised mother love to move forward under our Great Commander to the work of rescue?

The world is in travail pangs. The hirtli of a new era is at hand. At this birth the womanhood of the world should preside, rind provide for the nurture of the new born infant in the principles of love, peace, and unity. How can this be done? First, it is a personal matter. Tarry in the upper room till the spirit of faith lives and the fire of enthusiasm burns in you. Then in communion with those like minded get on vo the mountain top with God and see there the pattern of the new age. Then come down and build according to the pattern shown you in the mount. Rights won for women long ago are being filched from us, victories gained by long effort are l>eing rendered useless. Space forbids us to dwell upon all our losses. Hut one or two things that are in danger we must point out. Still remernliering that all is not lost that is in danger. There is one right that women have fought for, a right vital to her influence for good, and the loss of w hich would l>e fatal to her self-respect. This right is now threatened, and it is Mothers to the rescue. Women the world over are l>eing denied the right to work. The cry is being raised “hack to the kitchen.” Chivalrous man never objected to women working so long as they were content to work at the wash tub and wield the scrubbing brush. Hut the professions were sacred to the lordly male — his by divine right. Noble women in the past went through Gethsemane to win for their sisters the right to work —the right to use every God-given ability in the service of mankind. We thought the kittle was won. So it was, hut we overlooked the fact that it was only a liattle in a long campaign, still in progress, and which seems to I** going against us. So fur our own Dominion is only legislating against married women, hut in

Germany and other European countries single women are being thrust out of positions to make way for men. Mothers must uphold vomen’s right to work, for two reasons: (1) For the sake of our girls. If a girl is not allowed freedom to develop her Cod-given talents she must become u parasite, depending upon some man to keep her. father, or failing him, must “catch a hus?»and.” Are we willing to degrade the noble womanhood of this land until they become a race of parasites? (2> For the sake of our boys. If the Inn knows that lie can ln*at his sister in the race for a position, not by hard, honest work qualifying himself, but just because he is a boy, how he will slack, how demoralised he will become how poor will in* his estimate of women-parasites to lie “loved for a day and then flung away." The position as regards married women is equally grave. The right to work means economic independence. Many men would deny women this right, they would wish her to ask her husband for every 3d she needs. Th** law does not compel a man to give his wife any money, he must feed and clothe her only. It is not unusual to find men refusing their wives 3d for a tram fare. Such women have to seek the protection of the Court, and under a maintenance order get a small sum of money. It is worthy of note that in such cases a magistrate, who will allow a man 2/6 a week for tobacco and a little extra for pocket money, because "a man must have a shilling or two in his pocket,” would look askance if a wife asked for 6d a week for chocolates Then, the magistrate having heard all the man's expenses set out, and his wages, say £4 weekly, will allow the husband to retain £2/15/- for himself and grant the wife 25/ - a week for herself and four children. To such straits are women reduced when they are not economically independent. Take the teaching profession for an example. Here our own Dominion is a sinner. Before women's societies support a Government which denies a married teacher a position answer this <1 uestion: — I K> we run our schools to provide tlu* l*est education for our children or to provide positions for unemployed teachers? I have the greatest sympathy for th* young teacher out of a job, but th* initial wrong was in training more teachers than were required. We spend hugh sums on education, and we fervently hope that no mother is satisfied that we are getting value for out money. We are turning out folk all run in the same mould, discouraging all individuality or initiative, fostering mob psychology and failing lamentably to train leaders. Why? Because the lasi thing considered la the welfare of the child. Ration teachers, change tinteachers monthly if required; teachers must have positions, must U- removed to be promoted, why worry about the children? Well mothers do consider their children, and must insist that the child is

entitled to have the best teacher available, whether she he married or single matters not. Moreover, a woman teacher should have the right to any position in the sendee for which she is the best qualified applicant. Considering the number of women teac hers, why should they not ha\e a woman inspector, or even a director of education if a fully qualified one is available? All women ask for is a fair field and no favour. Moreover, to many women teaching i more than a means ol livelihood, it is a life work. Is it justice to compel a women to give up her life work if she marries? Some women would refuse matrimony on such terms. The economic independence of women lies at the root of all reforms. Woman Is an individual soul, has a right to live her own life, to have the control of her own body, an*l not In* forced to sell herself for a living and become a victim to that lust which sonic men think marriage legalises. We cannot go backward, our motto is ever “Forward! Onward!” In past times the mistress of a home found ample work to keep both herself and her daughters busy. They baked, brewed, preserved fruit, nuule jams and pickles. s*-\ved, taught the children, and led a busy and useful life. Now all these things are done outside the home and there is no work for a family oi daughters in a home. Why, then, deny the right to work outside their home? We emphasis*- this because the right to work lies at the root of every other right. White Ribboners, leave tiie ranks of pessimism and join the ranks of workers. The pessimist says “It’s no good trying, you can’t alter things.” The optimist replies, “(if course these things must not l»e. they can lie altered,” and she sits down in the easy chair and leaves others to alter them. But the peptimist, knowing that it can be done, rolls up her sleeves, tackles the job, and she floes it. Re Deptimists' “Vigor, Vitality, Vim, and Funch That’s Pep! The courage to a*, t on a sudden hunch. That’s Pep! The nerve to tackle the hardest thing With feet that climb and hands that ding, And a heart that never forgets to sing, That’s Pep!”* I lielieve that the world is passing from the darkness of doubt to th* glorious sunlight of faith and love. ls*t mothers help it forward Think thoughts of peace and success. Talk success, think success, until you create an atmosphere of success all around you and breed confidence in all. “Hold Thou Thy lantern so mv stumbling feet Shall keep the way; The night is dark, the fogs urouii I me meet And I am prone to stray.

Hold Thou Thy lantern and wht breaks the dawn Grant in** to see Tile Bridegroom at the gates of iu<>i Awaiting me.”