TALKS, ADDRESSES AND READINGS

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 9, 1 October 1946, Page 5

TALKS, ADDRESSES AND READINGS

It is interesting to note the variety of subjects spoken upon; and the many speakers who address our monthly meetings. Many valuable contacts are made by keeping a good “look-out for people who will speak on matters of which they have special knowledge. Sometimes they may be in our t< wns for only a few days, but will gladly speak for us if invited. Interest and variety are added to our meetings by this means. We are always glad to lear someone ‘‘new, ’ however glad we may also be to hear our own old friends.

During the pa*t month, some of the reporters state, there have been many good contributions to our meetings in this way. At South Invercargill, the Rev. R. Thornby gave a very interestresume of the life of our founder, Frances Willard. At the VVinton meeting, Mrs. Duncan, a missionarv from China, spoke on her work, teiling of mam instances of answered prayer. At the I'apamii meeting, Mrs. Rise ley. of the Salvation Armv, spoke on “Wc •men to Remember,” and told oi the position of clergymen’s wives from the Middle Ages to the present time, with special reference to Mrs. Wesley, Mr*. I ait, and Mrs. Booth. Mary of Bethany and Lot’s wife were also named as referred to by Our Lord. At the Lower Unit meeting, the Rev. Mr. Clement gave a Temperance talk, referring to Air Force instances. One hoy drank because another did, but no one who was “going up” drank at all that night. He said that if lemonade instead of beer had been provided, they would have been quite satisfied. Mrs. Ogg, at the W anganui meeting, read an account of the growth of prohibition in the l .S.A. since Repeal in 1933.

An outstanding address was given by Mrs. Stephenson Craig at the Hamilton, and later, the Cambridge meeting, on the very important subject of Gambling. She attacked convincingly every form of this evil tiling, urging upon members the necessity of refraining front it, and also to “fight the good fight” in this, another place where a stumbling-block caused the weaker brothers and sisters to offend. The essence of her contention was that "if money were not a gift, it should he worked for.” The spirit of getting something for nothing was demoralising in the extreme. The buying of raffle ticket* by Church members was spoken of, and »he custom was shown to he dangerous. The W.C.T.U. stood for the abolition of this great evil as well a* that of the liquor traffic. Mrs. Miller, at the Takapuna Union meeting, told of the horrors of the London blitz, which she saw, the story

being very *ad, hut interesting. This Union is sending parcel* to British Unions. A very interesting addres* was given by Mrs. Williams, L.W’.R. Superintendent for the District, on her work, and ‘‘The Baby.” The Devotional talk given at the Auckland Union meeting vva* on the words, "Be not afraid of the mighty forces of evil against u*. The battle is God's, l ight on in faith, lru*t in Him, keeping your eyes* on the Lord.’’ At the same meeting. Ensign Newton spoke very interestingly on a visit she and a *ister Commandant paid to the East before the war. They had a wonderful time visiting many fine citie* which have since been bombed, including Shanghai, Pekin, Tokio and other*. The Commandant, who had spent many years previously in China a* a Salvation \rmy officer had the joy of meeting many who had been led to Christ through Her influence. At two successive meeting* Onehunga had outstanding addres*es. At the ‘‘Pay-up” Social on August ftth Mr. Pace spoke on the question of whether the Bible supports total abstinence, pointing out that alcohol has its ti*cs, and i* wonderful in commerce. New light is continually being thrown on the Bible, and discoveries provoking fresh thought are made each day. It is now known that wines in Bible times were diluted with twenty or thirty times the amount of water. Mr. Pace reminded listeners that most of the Palestine wine was pure grape juice put into bottles, and olive oil poured on the top to prevent fermentation. On August 22nd, at a combined meeting of all the Onehunga Ladies’ Guilds, the Rev. C. Leadley answered the question, “\\ by dt* vve fight tin* liquor traffic?” giving four answers. 1. It is a moral evil. 2. It is a poison. 3. It masquerades as a medicine and i*. really a habit-forming drug. 4. It i> a destroyer, and for financial gain. Continuing, the speaker *aid, “Who would .*av the British were wrong when they prohibited the Juggernaut procession ? Net the people of India had permitted it.” The need for prayer was emphasised, and the truth reiterated that with God on our side, success must finally crown our efforts. At the Oamaru meeting 11 1 - month the Rev. Mr. Stewart gave a most challenging address, showing the downfall of nations and empires through drink and kindred evils. We need to take stock in New Zealand, where the drink bill lias risen to £213,000,000. The Rev. Mr. Hoffman, of Feilding, was speaker at the Palmerston North September meeting. Personality, he felt to he ;he greatest thing in the world, and it was marred by drink. It is a duty to avoid it for ourselves, for vve are enjoined to “present our bodies, a living sacrifice,” and also for others, for vve must “do nothing to cause ot.r brother to offend.” Home life, tin* foundation of the nation, should be pcserved at all costs. It is a woman’s concern to maintain the sanctity of the hone, and this could he achi‘*?d through faith and prayer.