MADAME PRESIDENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 40, Issue 477, 18 June 1935, Page 2

MADAME PRESIDENT.

The branch to which I belong ha.s during the last two years been handicapped l>adly by its need of a good local President, who would l»e on the spot, know local affairs, and easily keep in touch with what is going on around the headquarters of her branch. Several capable members having their hands full with other organisations, it has had to fall back on a visiting member from another branch, or on a stranger temporarily near at hand. Neither expedient can he satisfactory, and to he even partially successful entails greater stress on the substitute than it would on a local, who would do the work better. Please do not jump up here saying, “The women ought to try to do the Job before criticising anyone else who does her best,** for I can claim charity as the second expedient. The beginning of nearly every branch is that two or three women, united by their eagerness, gather together several others. The work is then divided l*etween them, according to each one’s ability at the time. Please note “at the time." Our object is not political propaganda, nor money-raising, nor pleasant social aftermons. It is evangelistic, that is, message-carrying, educational. And the first people we have to educate is ourselves. We want to have every member able to take an officer’s share, not if, but when necessary The original leaders shift, or die, or grow old. If ther»* are no capable successor-; at hand the branch weakens, finally lapses. If the leaders' work has been done properly, they will be followed regularly, in their varied positions, by the newer members, who will proceed consistently to make their branch, an 1 all others to which they go, steadhy stronger in faith and works. To do this, see to it all the time, that every member has her actixe share, thereby strengthening her interest and making the meetings more interesting, hut don’t let. her hold on to it too long. If a member is particularly efficient that does not mean she should lie permanent secretary and treasurer, and press reporter* and White Ribbon agent and re cruiting superintendent. If she is, th? chances are that when she leaves ther*> won’t be anyone else really good enough even to order proper funeral services for the branch, and It will just fade away. Instead of asking for that, let the already callable memi>ers deny themselves the pleasure of fulfilling several positions, and see to It that all newer rnemlwrs are trained to take them in rotation. It is not nearly as easy to do that as to do the jobs oneself, hut it is what pays best. Take, for instance, the press reports, Have a Press Superintendent who doesn't w'rite and send in the reports herself, just because sh** always has done and does it so well, but sees that the helpers she arranges send, each one in turn, to the White Ribbon, to the local press, to any other available paper to which a special item

is of interest. It can’t be don* successfully "just any old way " It must l>e done in regular order, each trying her turn at each part methodically, consulting with the others to see that theii reports agrc*e, so that one w ill not omit the points stressed by another. (The sub-ediior will do that, if required.) In this department, too, one assistant should be on the watch for published items of interest to the branch, and have them ready to Ite brought forward at the meet it gs. It may is* something that will prove Important to the Empire. as Princess Marina’s abstinence from intoxicants. This will have more effect in the social life of which her position makes her a leader than any delivery by doctor or philosopher. Or it may be the arrival of a stranger, \». hose welcome should he arranged at once, to enlist her sympathies if possible. Don’t leave all such details to the president. If she Is u good president she will see to it that the work is divided. That is her Job. If each of those amateur reporters becomes •» capable on**, as she will with practice, presently she will feel quite confident in taking the secretary’s place at a pinch, or part of the routine, and then carrying on as president. KATHERINE MERCER

I >ea r Comrades, — As the year advances and leaders in our ranks are called Home. I feel that we who are left to carry on the work should lie much in prayer. We are reminded in this in Is. 62:6, "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, keep not silence hut give Him no rest till He establish and till He make (Jerusalem) our land a praise in the earth." The absorbing thought that must be in every true Christian’s mind is: Are we goinj to win through in this great struggle against the liquor traffic? The close of this year will declare it. The time is hastening on. The days

arc y. ow ing fewer in w hich we can help to win through. When polling day is past, shall we be able to say, or rather will the Lor*] Jesus say to us, "She hath done what she could”? What are we doing? Are you on the roll? Are your friends tilery too? Are you using your Influence always by word and example to lead others to vote right? Have you reiterated again and again the necessity to use the vote for God, Home and Righteousness? Maybe you are doing all these things, but are you wielding the greatest weapon of all? Are you, arc we, praying ••ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, intercessors (intercessors on behalf of others), keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish and till He make N.Z. a praise or the earth." I am glad that the W.C.T.U. stands in the forefront for the destruction of that which destroys men and women, body and soul, but let us pray—pray In tremendous earnest for the abolition of this fearful traffic. When we have lieen face to face with one who is in the grip of strong drink, his fruitless struggle to lilierate himself, to gain his freedom, then we know that there is only one power that can set him free, the power of our lxirl Jesus Christ; and we, by prayer, can put into operation that power. Th* drink traffic is mighty, but God hath chosen the weak things to confound the mighty, and if we pray with faith w* will see the slaves set free, we will re joice in a glorious victory. We are th« Lord’s remembrancers. And in answei to th»* believing prayer of N.Z. Whit* Ribhoners this mountain will be remov ed as Jesus promised and will be cas‘ into the depth of the sea. Have faith in God. Pray withou* ceasing. If we pray we will w*ork with renewed zest. Yours for victory, JESSIE HIETT