OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 2, 1 April 1951, Page 5

OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN

A CALL TO ACTION (Aa Inspiring Address given at the Dunedin Convention by Mrs. J. Hiett) This was inaugurated to gain new members foe our Unions —I.UUD per year for Ntw Zealand. To gain new subscribers for our White Ribbon— 500 per year. New members for L.T.L. and Bands of Hope—3oo per year. New Little White Kibboners .AA) i*er year. How much have we done? Two years have passed. Time Hies. We are told that the most urgent need is prayer. If we believe really, sincerely, that prayer changes things do we pray for our W.C.T.U. work? We all live busy lives. Can we spar* live minutes a day to definitely pray for the extension of our work, every aspect of it? If every meml»er in New Zealard, that means approximately 4,000, pray five minutes every day that would mean 28,000 prayers a week and 112,000 a m0nth—1,344,000 a year. Do you not believe that a volume of prayer like that would change things ? Some say, and truly, that it is difficult to gain new members. Have we tried for one week in the year to gain new members? And another week for W.R. subscribers? When we pray for five minutes each day for our Union and work, things will begin to move. Th« babies. Surely it is easy- to enrol babies. Tew good mothers would object. L.T.L. members, honestly we are failing here. Children everywhere, and it is important to save them. Have you heard the story of the Aberdeen quarryman? A blast had been prepared, the charge was laid, the fuse was lighted; the men concealed themselve* in places of safety, when a little girl was seen toddling across the quarry towards the spot where the explosion was about to take place. She paid no heed to shouts to turn and run away, and her death seemed inevitable. Then the foreman rose. It seemed madness to attempt it, but he cried, ‘‘l maun save the bairn,” and rushed and caught her in his arms. He saved her at the risk of his life. Shall we take his words for our slogan in gaining children for the L.T.L. ‘T maun save the bairn.” It were better for many a child to he taken in its young days than that he or she should grow into a tippler or a drunkard. We must save them. Five minutes a day for prayer and then conceniration on gaining L.W.R.’s, L.T.L’s, W.R. subscribers; Union members. Shall we cease marking time and go forward? Do you remember the famous despatch of Marshal Foch in World War I. “My left is driven hack.

my right ia crumpled up, my centre is smashed—l have ordered an advance on all fronts.” Is that not what our attitude sltould be in dealing with one of the greatest enemies ot mankind? This five-year plan u an advance on all fronts if we carry it out. Each soldier does his part, he is not a battalion, he is not the army, but he is one of a whole army. He does his dnty just where he is stationed. We have one year to prepare for the next poll. Advance on all fronts and votes will increase. Keep prayer going Get after the children. Seek for new members. Make the White Ribbor popular. Hold Home meetings and in vite to these meetings newcomers to the district and lonely folk. Report ah gains to the Editor of W.R. each month. There was an old sayir. e , “Competition is the life of trade. ’ Compete with Unions in your district!, and compare notes to find who is gaining the most. Friendly competition i> good. Our W.R. Editor says, “St. Taul was never at his best except when challenge was about him." Let us challenge our Unions to do better than ourselves. Our Editor also says, “The joy of combat with the enemies of Christ brought all Paul's powers into action. Discouragement could not affect him —it merely stimulated him." Drink is an all-out enemy of Christ. We are Christ’s soldiers. Here is an opening against this unscrupulous enemy. "Though hosts encamp around me, Firm to the fight I stand; What terror can confound me With God at my right hand?”