DOMINION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 11, 1 March 1954, Page 3

DOMINION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Fellow-Members, A short while ago 1 listened to an Anglican \ *car tell of a woman who tor many years was a victim to the drink curse. Her loved ones were in their turn victims to her unconquerable thirst and violent ways, until the day happily dawned when she met the Lord of Life, and, like Mary Magdalene of old, she forsook evil and chose good. At her death, her diary passed into the hands of the Vicar, who, as he turned the pages, was deeply stirred to see written therein the day by day w’ord “Kept” or “Kept by Grace”. \\ hen l heard this story told by the Vicar himself, my heart was deeply moved by love and compassion: love to Christ who can and will keep any stormdriven human soul; and compassion for all those who are still tangled unhappily in a chain of their own forging, but who could be restored to sanity and self-respect if they too would find our glorious Master.

We in the W.C.T.U. have still an even greater work to do than to frame remits to an oft-times unwilling Government. The Liquor Trade pays sums into the coffers of Governments—but, oh, what devilish money! Judas Iscariot sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver and thereby crucified Him —alas, people are slaughtered for money by this Trade and the result is’ a crucifixion of personality to countless thousands the world over.

What can we do? We can still be compassionate. \ T ot in a sentimental gush of emotion which spends itself in a few tears and sighs, but rather tlie compassion that drives us to befriend a man or woman who is being pulled steadily down into the blackness of despair. The world needs compassionate Christians, who will do what then Master did, a working compassion; a going out of the way to be /riendly; a definite seeking as He sought. Let our vocation be the abolishing of the Liquor Trade. Have we invited an unhappy man or woman, youth or maiden into our homes a cup of tea? It’s worth trying. The woman who wrote “kept” in her diary was a triumph to the grace and power of Christ; the person who introduced her to Christ was a triumph to that “inward, compelling*constraint” which is God-given to every true soldier of Jesus Christ. We can also voice our protest. “Silence gives consent” must not be said of us. Let us protest and keep on protesting against any insincere and dishonest propaganda either by Press or Radio; propaganda purposely set out to ensnare the unwary and the youth of this land. There is much to be done. Cars parked outside hotels give rise to the question as to whether those who sell liquor to drivers are not equally to blame for the terrible toll of life on our roads. What a filthy trade the liquor trade is—its hands are stained red with the blood of its victims —this is a business that no one could ask God to bless. Our job? To wipe it out. Sharpen your weapons, my good sister's—a rusty, unused sword is an affront.

As you read this, the Dominion Convention will be in session at Hastings; pray that God will guide and control all deliberations and give us His divine benediction. Yours in joyous service, CONSTANCE TOOMER.