Dominion President's Message

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 7, 1 September 1951, Page 3

Dominion President's Message

1 )car Fellow-members, How quickly the months go by ami ! have been taking stock of the last six months since Con\ention— a half-yearly balance, as it were. It’s a good thing to do; helps us refrain from repeating mistakes, though multiplying successes. “Count your blessings,’ was a good hymn, not .;ung >o often now, and we forget the counting of them “one by one” which, if we did, would please <»od and strengthen ourselves. Hie last few weeks have been spent in travelling again, and it has been a great joy to meet such grand women a*, we have in our ranks, the old, the young, and the “not so young.” Also your Dominion Officers met together to discuss plans for energising our Movement. There were many problems tackled in the name of Him. Who said “Certainly 1 will be with thee.” I also had the privilege of attending the N.Z. Alliance Annual Meeting and it is good to know that there is such a strong of like-minded men and women, all working mightily to bring about a downfall of our country’s Drink problem. What an enemy within our gates! What a stupendous Drink Hill for a lit’!** country — £21,2K1,965 for 1950. And behind tlu figures, what pictures could be drawn: accidents; death, murders; maimed bodies, quarrels and fightings, broken homes and broken hearts. How can one count blessings while contemplating such an organised evil! \nd yet we can. The Messing of prayer is ours, and if only used, would strengthen and fortify us into a mighty uncoilqjerable host, A.v we using I’rawr—the key to (iod’s storehouse of ammunition? Another blessing—a “sound mind’ of the "spirit within.” that should take us into the hearts of the troubled. No drunkard, whether man or woman, is a really happy person despite the lioast “that one drink won’t do me any harm.” The “soundness within” is not there. Are we taking, with kindness and understanding, a “soundness of mind” to Hie victims of strong drink? A third blessing is joy of heart—something which should be contagious and should add to our ranks. Have we that blessing—a joyous act in our Temperance work ? The drinker nearly always says he drinks to he happy—but more often, he gets a sh >cking headache. Can we count joy as an asset? Is there joy in your Union? Is it evident among members? joy that will make us go out with winged feet and soft hands to bind up the broken-hearted: to bring soundness of mind to victims of strong drink? Have we strengthened our Unions with joyous service in the name of Him, who has called us to preach deliverance to those who are bound? Our glorious task is “For (iod, for Home, for Humanity.” May we not fail Him. Yours in Joyous Service, CONSTANCE TOOMFK.