The White Ribbon. ”For God, and Home, and Humanity." WELLINGTON, AUGUST 18, 1942. OUR KINSHIP IN SERVICE THE WIDE WORLD OVER.

White Ribbon, Volume 43, Issue 7, 18 August 1942, Page 3

The White Ribbon. ”For God, and Home, and Humanity." WELLINGTON, AUGUST 18, 1942. OUR KINSHIP IN SERVICE THE WIDE WORLD OVER.

“In Love Sene One Another."

On April 13tli, l Lad one of the great pleasures of my life—to demonstrate in practical form the unity of thought and community of service which marks the World’s Woman’s Giristian Temperance Union. With two friends, Mr. H. Cecil Heath, Kditor of the "Alliance New’S,” and Mr. Ernest Winterton. Editor of the "White Ribbon,” 1 met, in response to their invitation, some of the leading officials of the W.V.S. (Women’s Voluntary Service) wdiose war work in Britain has taken such practical forms as the provision of canteens, food for the "blitzed,’’ the transjmrt of evacuees, and even the organisation of motor-cars to convey hard pressed members of the Government to imjiortant engagements!

It was a delightful spring morning when we met outside No. 88 Eaton Square, one of London's most beautiful open spaces, where already a Snack Bur Trailer was drawn up. The cost of this trailer had been met by the W.C.T.U. of Quebec Province and 1 had the pleasure on their behalf of handing it over to the W.V.S. for service in Greenwich. In doing so I recalled Frances Willard who more than half a century ago, stood on a jutting rock overlooking the beautiful bay at San Francisco, where she watched ships sailing with liquor to distant countries. It was then she had the vision of a world-wide society of women who would, as an organised body, combat this evil. Women were sent forth to different parts of the world and thus the first

women’s international organisation, the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was formed. I told the assembled group that the United States and Britain are to-day welded together as never beforc since the separation, and that in botii nations, as in the British Dominions, the spirit of service of the W.W.C.T.U. was being manifested. The White Ribbon Women of British Columbia had sent £3OO to provide a Mobile Canteen to w ork in the London District, wdnle the W.C.T.U.’s. of Australia and New Zealand had, during the past six months, raised over £I,OOO for canteens, rest houses for seamen and soldiers, and a much needed hostel for Maori girls.

I stated that the W.V.S. was meeting a great need and that the provision of this Snack Bar Trailer—which can be transported by an ordinary motor car—would help to link' the English speaking I»eoples in common service. It would also probably lead to developments of the same kind.

Lady Iris Capcil, V ice-Chairman of the W.V.S., in accepting the gift, expressed appreciation of the interesting account 1 had given of our W.W.C.T.U. She was sure our Canadian friends would like to feel how they wxre helping to make W.V.S. work more efficient by bringing comfort to homeless people after raids, and serving those wdio w'crc engaged in most arduous work in a most practical way.

I should like to pay a deserved tribute to the work of Mrs. Dunbar, head of the Overseas Department of the W.V.S., for her help in connection with the presentation of the gift from Quebec.

May I pass on to my comrades in the White Ribbon movement some words of the great logician Professor Jevons, wno said in my hearing: "It is little unrememl>ered acts of kindness and of love which lead to the greatest things of life.”

AGNES E. SLACK