WORLD WORKERS OF THE W.C.T.U.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 7, 1 October 1953, Page 4

WORLD WORKERS OF THE W.C.T.U.

(By Verna G. Jackton, Masterton)

In considering some of the World’s W.C.T.U. workers, I feel my first pleasure is to pay tribute to the Canadian President, Mrs. James Lade and her band of workers in Vancouver. The organisation of every detail necessary in running so large a gathering as the World’s W.C.T.U. Convention, was planned for and carried out. Convention delegates were the guests of tlie Canadian W.C.T.U. throughout Convention; buse:» being provided for those at a distance, to attend Convention and get to meals, and as our President, Mrs. Toomy has already told you, we were well housed in the Armoury Hali. Committee meetings were held in the Faculty Building/, postal arrangements were on the spot, gifts of Canadian souvenirs were given to overseas’ delegates—chocolate, fruit juices, soft drinks, a tin of Canadian salmon and lastly each delegate was given a tin of Andrews bruit Salts! On our homeward journey, while at San brancisco, the W.C.T.U. officers entertained Mrs. Toomer and myself as also did the officers at Honolulu, during our four day3* stay there. We were both invited to speak at meetings, and this we were pleased to do. I would like to describe one important section of the World W.C.T.U. work-that of our World Organisers—the missionaries of our Organisation. Six of the ten workers were present at \ ancouver and I will endeavour to introduce von to them: — v . 1. Mr*. Loretta Hoyman (Egypt) is a veteran in World W.C.T.U. organising. She is an enterprising, earnest ( hristian woman, with a great love for her work and those among whom she is working and is possessed of excellent organisir g ability. I found ber on June 2nd (the day before Convention) busy arranging Egypt’s display tables, articles made by W.C.T.U. classes, literature in

various languages spoken in her area, Bibhc* pictures, etc. The display was a credit tu tU Egyptian Unions and the carrying and packing u which, was no light task. A large band of \oud men, some 200 of them, show films and give talks on the dangers of the drink and drug liabiis to students’ adult and Sunday School gatherings, Cyprus has been organised, Baghdad visited and many meetings held. Miss Ghalli of the Y.W .C.. 1 and the Presbyterian Church assist in temperanct work in Egypt. 2. Mr*. Rivera of Puerto Rico —our second veteran organiser is now doing part time work. She has visited ten countries since last World Convention in 1950. To talk to Mrs. Rivera of he: work is a most interesting experience. She goes quietly on her way, but she gets there. In Dutch Guiana, Temperance Radio programmes are given fortnightly by their W.C.T.U. President. Paraguay is organised. Cuba, though not affiliated, has i Union in action, run by a Pastor’s wife; \ enezuela delegate reported that work in her country is on sound lines and so these two veteran organisers carry on their work tor God, for Home and for Every land. 3. Rev. Mr*. PortV who, alter the death of her husband, qualified as a minister of the Gospel, is a Spanish lady and is now working in South America. She visited Panama. Nicaragua, Peru, Guatimala and adjacent countries and seven Unions were organised. Mrs. Ports found that the drink habit had become a custom in some church communities, Protestant’ and Catholic. Protestant denominations were somewhat isolated in these largely Catholic countries, but she found them tint people and ready to help and work with the W.C.T.U. Every country in South America has now an established W.C.T.U. in their main centres —a noble work, indeed. 4 Mr*. De Benito, Mexico, a new organiser, who was the first Bible Woman in Spain, says she is happy to be in the work of the W.C.T.U. So far, her work has been to organise among the children in Mexican towns. Several adult Unions assist. Mrs. De Benito says that Mexico needs the W.C.T.U more than any other country. There are 5,000 liquor bars in Mexico City alone. Church Pastors, who, at first were not so co-operative, now that the? understand our aims are assisting in the work. 5. Mr*. D. Allen-Lodge is also a new organiser To meet her js to realise that she is an outstanding character. Her field of work in Kenya Gold Coast and Sierra Leone is very far-flung The first mentioned, calls for both tact and endurance. Mrs. Allen Lodge, when in native villages always ("alls on the Chief and in other communities, she works in with the churches, notably, the Methodist and Seventh Day Adventist, and where possible in Women’s Clubs. In this way, she h* s established bases from which to work, and has in many cases, met with success. On the Gold

Coast, site was welcomed and found the established work in centres in good heart. This intrepid worker visits in native homes and lias found much encouragement among the coloured W.C.T.U. women. 6. Miss Elsie G&inham (Germany) is not new to Germany, having served for six and a half years as a welfare worker and is now a W.C.T.U. organiser. Miss Gainham’s previous experience is most valuable, for she knows their language, their home and community life. She is received as a speaker in their schools, and is a tower of strength to Frail Klara Fischer, the W.C.T.U. President of Germany. Her earnest plea is for licensing of the Liquor Traffic. In some zones in Germany, at the present time, e\ery grocer, baker, chemist, in fact everyone who likes can sell liquor without a license. This leads to drunkenness among voting and old, with its trail of crime, and broken homes and broken lives.

Both the President, Frau Fischer, and Miss Gainham pleaded that the World Convention do their utmost and pray without ceasing that this terrible state of affairs be stopped. Of the other four oiganisers, two arc working in India and their report is of great progress in Temperance work. One of them is in Greece and though a newly formed Union exists, a delegate came to the Convention and brought an excellent display of literature and work. The last of the ten organisers has been appointed to Argentinethis is a new appointment. .Argentine is not a new field but it is a difficult one and needs assistance. There is much more to tell and work, also to he done, here in our own New Zealand. I will close with one stanza from “The Psalm of Life,” “Let us all be up and doing,” in the service of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.