Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 74

General Combination of Fonces

page break

General Combination of Fonces.

decorative feature

[unclear: The] Unity is strength." Strength as well as skill is wanted to win a Tempervictory at the coming elections. Not only should every single individual be

to vote for Temperance Members of Parliament, and Prohibition for the [unclear: ling] Districts, but every Society in any sense in sympathy with our reform, to be invited to make it a common cause to destroy the liquor traffic.

In the first place it will be incumbent on all Temperance Societies, of whatto sink all differences, and rise to a vigorous effort on common lines. Ever there are two or more Temperance Societies, co-operation in this work to be their first care. In a struggle like ours combination and organisation be soul of success.

It is not enough that each society should be vigorous and independent—by means alone there will be misdirection of effort, waste of energy, and possi[unclear: rossing] of purposes. Guerilla warfare is no longer suitable to the conditions or community. To hazard the attack while our ranks are disorganised will be to invite failure.

Our forces should be like a well-organised army, where all are prepared to into one general scheme, and pursue it with zeal, under responsible officers, [unclear: led] for the purpose of managing the attack.

The Temperance Societies, such as Good Templars, Sons and Daughters of perance, Rechabites, Bands of Hope, Prohibition Leagues, N. Z. Alliance, favour Societies, and W.C.T. Unions, might be expected to combine from a [unclear: bon] sense of the fitness of things, and the influence they would thus and. They are natural allies.

Beyond Temperance Societies, wo may now reckon on many of the Churches in with us in this moral reform work. The Courts of every Church in the [unclear: try], at one place or another, have already declared in our favour, and many of most zealous ministers in the Colony are our best friends. Each Church should before receive an invitation to join our combination, and organise for the work. Re women of the Colony are now voters. They have a deep interest in this [unclear: fion]. Women have suffered in greater proportion than men from the evils of traffic. In many places, the women have organised themselves for political [unclear: needs]. If invited to join our combination to return good, honest, Prohibition [unclear: bers] to the House, and to work against the continuation of the drink traffic, influence would be a mighty power in our favour.

All over the Colony, there are organisations of Working Men's Societies, among in this question has become one of serious discussion, and, in some, of settled simple. Among these will be found bands of true and devoted men, ready to in with our efforts to remove from the country the worst foe of work and as that now operates against their interests.

If in every Electoral District, all these forces were organised into one body. [unclear: In] the view of opposing the tactics of the supporters of the liquor interest, there The little doubt about the result. Steps should be at once taken, in every [unclear: abo]rate, to bring about a meeting of representatives from all such Societies, so [unclear: i] have abundance of time to organise the whole into one powerful body.

Each District Deputy should see to this being done. Get some Lodge to [unclear: be] the delegates, offer the use of its Lodge-Room for a first meeting, send out [unclear: slars] to each Society, and thus bring together good men who will unite in such [unclear: able] scheme. Care must be taken to work such combinations on cardinal [unclear: simples]. Vexatious details, if insisted on, would ruin the whole effort. Make one plank of Prohibition, and the return of truly honest men who are [unclear: agreed] to give the voting power to the people on this great question, the [unclear: ment]ral point of common effort, and there is no reason to fear defeat.

Issued by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, I.O.G.T. Price—2s 6d per 1000 copies; or, including postage, 3s 6d per 1000 copies.