The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity" WELLINGTON, AUGUST 1, 1947. TEMPERANCE ACTIVITY IN THE CHURCHES

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 7, 1 August 1947, Page 4

The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity" WELLINGTON, AUGUST 1, 1947. TEMPERANCE ACTIVITY IN THE CHURCHES

After a period during which it almost seemed as though the Churches had decided to leave Temperance work to those who would undertake it if they felt like so doing, there is tremendous encouragement in hearing of a very definite re-awakening to responsibility in many Churches and in different countries. How it could be otherwise, in the face of the present situation which is fraught with the gravest danger to the Church life of the future, we cannot imagine. The awakening was bound to come sooner or later. Only those who would not see were blind to the certain consequences of ignoring this threat to every good influence the Church could wield. If W.C.T.U. members, through their Church contacts, can assist in stimulating interest in the subject, it is most earnestly to be hoped that they a ill seize any opportunity that offers itself. During the recent electoral campaign, surprise was expressed by many of our workers in different places, at the readiness with which Church organisations responded to their expressed willingness to address meetings on the subject. That willingness is not only evident during cam-

paign periods, but is there at any time if the right approach can be made. In any case, it is grand to read that U.S.A. Methodists are planning a great Temperance Advance. Every member is being called upon to sign commitments to Total Abstinence. Even Conference in the U.S.A. sent a representative to a great Board of Temperance Conference in Chicago; a group of religious educators, chosen and headed by the Rev. Dr. John Q. Schisler, of the Board of Education, and editors of Church publications, formed this conference, which will be an historic mark, in that it is the first occasion in which every General Board of Methodism has co-operated in an organised Temperance movement.

In our own land, the very energetic and well-organised action of the Temperance Committee of the Presbyteran Church calls for comment. A questionnaire sent out under authority of the General Synod to all sections of the Church, and expected to be returned by the end of July, is a searching enquiry into the many aspects of the Temperance question as they attect members individually, and also as they affect the attitude towards the matter on the part of the whole Church. An article on the temptations of drinking that young people have to face is to lie prepared by the Rev. S. \V. Webber, for the Youth Number of the “Outlook/’ The “Brains Trust” on the Liquor question held at Dunedin Presbyterian Women’s Eellowship, was an outstanding effort to bring the fact'* regarding our New Zealand position to the ears of a large number who might otherwise have remained in ignoranct.

The Baptist Church of New Zea.and has also taken a clear line in a special issue of “Contact,” the Baptist Yeung Men’s Bible Class Magazine, which appeared late last year. Six times the usual number were printed for this issue, and it was twice its usual size. It was a notable contribution to the available information for young people, and shows that this Church has the liquor question very much at heart.

E'or all these si,,ms of vitality in the places where it will have opportunity to increase, all Temperance workers of every creed’will give thanks and rejoice. It behoves us particularly to do all we can to fan the flame till its heat is changed to work.