WHAT'S THE USE?

White Ribbon, Volume 42, Issue 491, 18 August 1936, Page 1

WHAT'S THE USE?

A question often asked. Small groups meet anxious to help others, but they see the crowds going where there is pleasure and entertainment to be had, and wonder what’s the use of treading the lonely upward way? Well, dear lonely one, take a backward glance and see what has been the use of the small devoted groups. Suppose Noah had asked what was the use of building the Ark and preaching to the people. He carried on and saved the race from extinction by doing Clod's command. Hid Abraham ask what’s the use when called of Clod to go out alone? No! he followed the guidance of God. believed His promises, and so founded the ration which taught the world a sj ritual religion, and which reared a maiden tit to be mother of the World's Redeemer. Did the prophets Isaiah. Jeremiah, and others speculate upon what’s the use of standing alone? No, they spoke God’s message and kept alive His Woid among the people. Moses, called of God, left Egypt, its life of ease and luxury, for the loneliness of the desert, and for the greater loneliness of leadership of a people who grumbled and sinned, but who followed him and Ins successor to the promised land. Daniel dared to stand alone, and obey God rather than man, even if it meant the lion's den. The Hebrew children dared the Mery furnace and found that they were not alone, even there. A fourth was with them. Had Jesus, when He agonised in Gethsemane, shirked the loneliness of the Cross, we dare not think of the consequences. These old worthies dar**d to stand alone. Then why do we hesitate to follow them?

Athanasius stood alone at the Council of Nicaea for what lit* believed to Ik* true. He won, and the medal struck bears the inscription, “Athanasius contra mundum." Luther stood alone when be affixed his theses to the door of Worms, and said. “Here stand 1; 1 can do no other." Abraham Lincoln, in tlie dark hours of the Civil War, dared to stand against tile vested interest of slavery. He struck for the freedom of a race; lit* won at the cost of his life. These heroes of tlie past won because they dared to stand alone for the right. They believed the tight against evil was a real FIGHT, not to be won by east* and luxury, but by meeting the forces of evil, coming to grips with them and overcoming them. And what of to-day? What of our W.C.T.U.? God called our sisters over 50 years ago to save their country ami the world from the rising tide of alcoholism. He fired them with a holy purpose, and baptised them with His spirit. They won the first battle in the long campaign. Then evil rallied to the attack, and listen to what Daniel Polling, the World President of C.K. Society, said at a public meeting: “Prohibition never failed, but we failed; the churches failed, but in this statement i must omit the W.C.T.I’.; they never failed.’’ Read what Mr Malton Murray says in this issue of their rallying again to the fight and to educate a new generation. When the W.C.T.U. World’s Convention met in Toronto the chief daily paper said in a leading article: “In every reform for the uplift of the world during the last 50 years the W.C.T.I’. has l**en the driving force.” Are we worthy members of our great sisterhood? Do you believe that God

lias called >ou to work for the Abolition of the Liquor Traffic, War, and Gambling? Th~~ „ork, even if you are the only woman in your district who believes as you do. Mrs Moffatt Clow, after a long talk with our Editor, telling of omissions and failures, yet bore this testimony: “1 must say that wherever 1 have been all the really temperance educative work is being done by the W.C.T.U., and you’re not doing half enough.” Sisters, realise that you are in a fight against licensed evil, against vested interests. Brewers have money invested in trade, and are labouring to save it. Friends are good to send me news from all over the Dominion. Brewers want to sell liquor to tourists. (What an insult to offer our visitors. Do they only come to drink alcohol?) They want to sell in the King Country. It’s a fight we can only win by educating, and that means work. The fight will not lie won by sitting in meetings, passing good resolutions, having attractive programmes all good in themselves. But the good is ever the enemy of the l>est, and God has called the W.C.T.U. into the wilderness, there to wrestle with Him and to receive His blessing, and go out armoured for the fight. We are not linked up as a Union, as a World Organisation. for a picnic. Realise that we are united for a FIGHT against the powers of evil. The Brewer fights for vested interest. Have mothers no vested interest in their l>oys and girls’.’ Is greed of gold stronger than love of offspring? And our weapons! Use every talent God has given you in His great cause. A craven hung along the battle’s <*dge. And thought, Had I a sword of keener steel, That blue blade, that the King’s son bears, but this Blunt thing! He snapt and flung it from his hand.

And lowering, crept away and left the field. Then came the King’s son. wounded, sore Ik* stead. And weaponless, and saw the broken sve ord. Hilt-buried in the dr> and sodden saiui, And mn and snatched it, and with Little shout. Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down, And saved a great cause that heroic day. WHAT PAN A SMALL I’NION DO? 1. It can meet regularly, discuss plans of work, and pray for guidance. I*. It can read our official organ and literature, and pass facts on. 3. It cun get others to read and study the evils of drink and war and impurity. 4. It can send in items of interest to the “White Ribbon.’’ and make suggestions for larger work. 5. It can follow the guidance of Hod’s spirit and do as He commands. * ,1 <