Superintendent’s Letters.

White Ribbon, Volume 42, Issue 494, 18 November 1936, Page 10

Superintendent’s Letters.

METHOI>S DKPARTMKNT. Hear Sisters, — Once aKain I bring the five-fold plan l)efore your notice. It is nearing the end of the year, when reports will have to be sent in to the various Superintendents. The Churches are recognising that their best chance of teaching is in the Kindergarten, and so must we recognise that our biggest chance is in the department of the “Kittle White RibIwners.” One of our aims is to guard children from strong drink until they are seven or eight years of age; therefore I urge all Unions to work the first and each fold of the plan. (1) Enrol Babies. Has your Union got a L.W. Cradle Roll? If so, have you held a meeting for the mothers this year? Have you a Union lending library? Any of the following books are suitable, and good: ‘The House of Life' (Baker), ‘The Cradle Ship'' (Howes), “Inside Information” (Baker). l>o you enclose literature on “Heredity” and “Hygiene” when you send out birthday cards? Sisters, it is not too late to do so now. (2) Educate Children. —What is your Union doing with regard to this important work? Don’t overlook the mission of the L.T.L. and Band of Hope. It is to teach, to educate, to build up, to turn out convinced, convicted, ardent, aggressive abstainers, in such numbers that

the drink traffic will have to go, because the supply of boys and girls has run out. C.od send the day. It is our part, sisters. to train the children in Temperance principles. It is the easiest, safest, happiest. and the most permanently abiding form of Terr.i “ranee work. Do your share in this wonderful adventure. Remember. the L.T.L. is a training ground for future officers. (3) Enlist Youth. —Mental characteristics are -more important than physical.

Adolescence is a transition stage -a period of “cross roads.” They are loginning to live their own lives, think their own thoughts. Bodily and moral faculties are awakening; new emotions, new powers, never recognised in children. have begun to lay hands upon them. Such persons are very susceptible to influence, either for good or bad. One good friend, one good book, one encouraging word, may determine the life of an adolescent. Hence the supreme importance of our \ work. Do try and form a Y.D.B. in your Union. Encourage them to take up the work of our Union, to study the methods of the W.C. T.U., hold debates, study scientific temperance, moral education, heredity, and hygiene. Train in officership. i. Equip .Mciiilhts. —We do not expect our members and officers to be 100 per cent, efficient, but we do expect them to have a working knowledge of our organisation, and that can 1* done by holding Schools of Methods. Groups formed to study the Constitution, the Handy Book, and the “White Ribbon.” Prayer and faith, with zeal and good organisation, must make efficient members. Try to give expression to your thoughts. Addresses and talks at our meetings are much used, and it behoves every speaker to learn all she can about how to get her message home to her hearers. The best addresses often consist really of one master thought. Procure some good book on public speaking, and studv it. 5. Enigliteii the Public. Many years ago a small band of women were so seized with the necessity of doing something ai>out the Liquor Traffic that they held a prayer meeting, and then started the “Crusade,” which resulted in the dosing of 200 liquor bars within a few weeks. What better can we do than to maintain the spiritual glow of enthusiasm shown by the women who blazed the trail for us? As Christians, we should all be on fire with zeal, with spiritual fervour. A fire is only use;ill in so far as its glow is maintained, so as to give light and warmth to those around it. Each member of our organisation is individually responsible for creating such an impression on the outsider that it is evident she is lit from within with an urge to further our great cause. Sisters, do bring your meetings up-to-date. Introduce new methods; try and interest women of other organisations in our work. Make use of the fine supply of leaflets that may lx* procured from the Literature Department. Show exhibits offer a great opportunity to enlighten the public, so do posters. If 1 can help you, just call on me. Yours, for the best interest of tin* Union. AMY KASPER, Dorn. Supt. Methods Department. EV WGELISTIC DEPARTMENT. Dear Sisters, — 1 have been asked by the Ikiminior; Officers to take over the Superintendency of tills Department until next Convention. The work of the Department was very dear to the heart of the late Mrs John Cook, who was Dominion Superintendent for so many years, and nothing would have pleased her more

than just to know' that the work of the Department has been faithfully carried on during the past year. 1 am hoping- to send out questionnaires to each District Secretary, who should lie able, from the Union reports sent to District Convention, to supply me with information regarding the work of the Department in the various Districts. The importance of this Department cannot i>e over-estimated. It is the essentia), fundamental, all-important Department, because the work was born in Evangelism. Yours in the work. AN!TIE M. McLAY. Supt. DOMINION PRESS DEPARTMENT. Dear Fellow-Workers. — The usual questionaires are lieing sent out to the various Unions once more, and will “Press” Reporters or Secretaries kindly forward reports of work done in their departments during the past year, not later than December 31st. 1936, to the following address? Thanking you in anticipation, and with every good wish for a Happy Christmas and a Bright and Glad New \ r ear. With loving greetings. Yours, in White Ribbon bonds, EMMA TREVURZA, Dominion Press Supt. 169 Peter Street, Ashburton, Canterbury. N.Z. FLOWER AND PHILANTHROPIC DEPARTMENT. Dear Fellow-Workers. — Thi will be my last opportunity to call atici.iion to return of circulars. So glad to tell you that many are already in. One tiny Union felt they could not report much work done, but what do you think they do? They make one member at each meeting a matter of prayer: What a beautiful idea for us all! A very few reply that nothing has been done, but should these Unions (you know who you are!) change their minds, it will not be too late to send again. I am quite sure that they have all done something, and shall be glad to give them another chance. The work is truly a delight, and as the story of the year’s work unfolds in the reports, I rejoice that so much is done. God bless you all. Send along soon. Yours in His glad service, ADA SPENCER. Dom. Supt. Flower and Philanthropic Department. “Chlngford,” Belmont. Hutt Valley. SOCIAL AND MORAL HYGIENE. Dear Sisters. — Will each Union please let me have answers to the following questions, aiei report any other work done in the abo\« Department, not later than 20th December? 1. Has your Union appointed a Superintendent for the Department of Social and Moral Hygiene? 2. Have suitable leaflet* been distnhuted ♦ mothers of Cradle Roll members. or young people? 3. Have you any books in your branch library relating to the subject?

1. Have any addresses or talks ls*eii given at any meetings, or protests made against offending posters ami practices? 5. What do you consider the greatest need in this work in your district? (Miss) K. A. PUDNEY, Supt., 16 Wallace Street, Herne Hay.. Auckland. W.l. r.OOl) CITIZENSHIP I>KPAKT.MENT. ]H>ar Sisters, — As you know, the alsive Department is a very important one, and one whim ♦ very I nion works, whether there is a local Sup* rintendent oi not. Any worn r.ot coming under any of the other W.C.T.U. departments might i>e included in the Hood Citizenship Department. Will District Superintendents please forward to me the reports of all their Unions in this department? Yours for Service, ELLEN E. WILLIAMS, Dorn. Supt. (lood Citizenship. “A rmley,” Northcote, Auckland. N. 4. 4