DOMINION PRESIDENT'S LETTER

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 3, 1 June 1954, Page 3

DOMINION PRESIDENT'S LETTER

My dear Fellow-Members, When you read this, I shall still be travelling in the North Island, visiting Unions in Wanganui, Taranaki, South Auckland and Auckland. Winter, of course, is not the happiest time of the year for travelling but like St. Pj.ul I needs must throw myself on the kind hospitality of my White Ribbon sisters. St. Paul adjures the early Christians to be given to “hospitality”;one wonders if there were times when he was .n sore straits. Hospitality! What a lovely virtue that is, with a wealth of meaning in the word: Hospice, a place of safety and refuge for weary travellers; Hospital, a place of comfort and safety for pain-weary sufferers; and then the word “Hospitality” itself, the word in action conjuring up an ever open-door whth a welcome given generously.

I remember my father speaking of a certain woman, who, as soon as her husband crossed their theshold with an unexpected guest, would say, “Tom, whatever made you bring Mr. (or Mrs. —) here for. You know we have nothing to eat,” then straightway bustle the visitor into the easiest chair and the cosiest nook by the fire. Out would come an abundance of good plain fare, all seasoned with loud expressions of great joy. ‘‘My, but I’m that pleased to see you,” “Come away up to the table, there’s nothing to eat, which Tom knew r very well, but I’ll give you a right good cup of tea.” My father honestly loved going to that home! The woman’s words were just a shy veneer to hide a loving heart. St. Paul had some wonderful women helpers, several of whom are mentioned in the last chapter of Romans; women apparently given to hospitality.

Our Motto, “For God, Home and Humanity” is a significant one and I wonder sometimes if we grasp its deeper meaning. It is linked with the First Commandment “Thou shalt love the Lord, thv God w’ith all thy heart —and thy neighbour as thyself.” Out from cur love to God spills the overflow to —our neighbour! Let us guard against a passive allegiance to our Cause: forming Remits, while vitally necessary, is not the end-all of our labour for God; rather, the adding of a little good plain fare and a warming cup of tea such as my father received, backed up by a spontaneous welcome, would reach the heart and the home of some storm-tossed, sick at heart, weary “neighbour.” Let* us frame Remits by all means, nay, we must, but also let us not think that in so doing, we have fulfilled all the demands of the First Commandment. If our work really costs us nothing, let us fear it. This war we wage against evil costs ‘sweat, blood and tears” and nothing less will bring victory against Sin. Women can wage a grand and victorious War against the Devil with

such homely weapons—the Tea-pot, plain bread and butter AND a loving, understanding heart. Let’s go to War; will someone just put the kettle on. Yours in Joyous Service, CONSTANCE TOOMER.