IMPRESSIONS OF THE DOMINION CONVENTION

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 4, 1 May 1950, Page 2

IMPRESSIONS OF THE DOMINION CONVENTION

By A First-time Delegate

If you desire a really happy, worthwhile exi>erience, let me urge you to attend the next W.C.T.U. Convention, which will be held in Dunedin in 1051. The 1950 Convention held in Wanganui in March, is now an event of the past, but the memory of it will remain with me through the year. During those days of spiritual help, business, making new friends and discovering someone j>erhaps one knew in younger days, many thoughts kept racing through my mind. One, the privilege of being a delegate and meeting the Dominion Officers, who previously had been only names to me, and the question arose, can I take hack to my Union a true picture of all the doings of Convention with the inspiration arid enthusiasm found there? The Communion Service in the Baptist Church, so simple yet so deeply spiritual, led me to appreciate the place women hold in the service of our Lord. On the Sunday evening, the Parade Service in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church and the sermon was a challenge to the highest Christian life. Naturally, some things puzzled me, being a “first-timer” at such a gathering, and one was the fact that all Dominion Superintendents present, when speaking to their reports, stressed the lack of reports from individual unions, and therefore the incompleteness of their Convention eports. !t was regrettable that the splendid departmental demonstration displays had to be dismantled on the Saturday afternoon, hut this was unavoidable as the room was required for Sunday School purposes. First-time delegates, particularly, could have studied these rea'ly splendid displays more fully, had more time l>een available. Words cannot express my appreciation to the entertaining unions—the colossal task they had in arranging accommodation for about HO delegates, the Civic Reception, the Saturday afternoon motor drive, with the “Get-together Tea” following—all the little attentions that gave pleasure and comfort to everyone during Convention days. Although the Convention was serious and businesslike—our President knowing just when to call for silence, there were moments of delightful, original humour. As I listened to the " Plans of Work ” discussions from time to time, I realised the earnestness and zeal exercised bv our members. We must help others to catch the vision! There must he no slackening in the Temperance cause! Tt was a busy week, full of blessing, of joy, and of opportunity. Each delegate should carry back to Her district, something of the enthusiasm received. We have renewed friendships and made new ffiends, hut above all, we have strengthened the cords of service, for God, Home and Humanity. Contributed by Mrs. M. Moore (President Hamilton Union)