NBWTA Report 1903-066
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127 126 during the year, and forty senior and twenty-four “Y” (total 64): branches have been formed. The Cambs and Hunts, and Berks Unions (with Miss Porritt as their organizer) have each organized five new branches within their areas; the Durham and Northumberland, six; the East Anglian, two; Yorkshire, three; Lancashire, two; Three new branches have been formed in the London district ; the remaining thirteen, with one in Ireland, being scattered over the counties of Surrey, Cumberland, Staffs, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Notts, Essex, Glamorgan, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Hants, and Lincs. One National Organizer, Miss Lucy Taylor, has been employed during the year. She reports one hundred and twenty-three places visited, eight hundred and seventy-seven calls made, one hundred and three meetings held, five branches, one county Union, and one White Ribbon Band formed, nine hundred and eighty-seven letters and post cards written, literature and mottoes sold £31 17s. 7d., subscriptions, donations, and collections £56 16s. 2d. LOYAL TEMPERANCE LEGION. Planters of trees, we are told, always consider the future as present, and in reading the letters which have reached me from the Legion Superintendents, I am delighted to find how many of them use these long distance glasses and rejoice in the keen interest the children take in their Temperance lessons. One of them writes: “ This is my first year among the children, and all I can say is that I have never worked among a more grateful lot of children. It has been a happy time, and although the work in training the members was great, the success was greater.” Another after a year’s work reports: ‘(I may say that the Loyal Temperance Legion has been worked with distinct success, great interest being taken both by parents and children.” Three new companies have been enrolled, namely Walthamstow, Shotley Bridge, Bromley, and Bow. At the latter place there are 290 members, 270 associates, and meetings are held twice a week. It must, however, be clearly understood that this by no means represents all the new Legion work, as there are many branches where the members have strengthened and revived work which already existed by adopting L.T.L. methods, although it has not been thought necessary to affiliate with the department. Among the older Legions there have been many changes in leaderships, but the new Superintendents are most enthusiastic and report increase of membership. Blyth arranged a model meeting for the reception held there during the Convention of the Durham and Northumberland Union last autumn. Buckhurst Hill has given two public meetings. The Children’s Home has 260 members and 19 officers, whilst Hast Dulwich has doubled its membership. Darlington still maintains its keen interest in the Bird’s Nest, but has not been able to hold regular meetings. The Egremont children gave a very successful concert and holiday cantata at which the girls wore garlands of daffodils and gained money for a Christmas tree. Woking not only arranged a service of song, but planned a doll-dressing competition for Duxhurst for the girls, and writing and drawing for the boys. Vognebeloth raised money for carrying on their work by giving two entertainments. Music is a strong feature, and they undertake the singing at the B.W.T.A. public meetings. Concerts are also reported by the Liscard and Amethyst companies. Sunderland has had two lantern readings, and Bradford a post- card competition. Upper Norwood is working for a sale in aid of the funds for Duxhurst. Middlesbrough now admits boys. Several Legions have been unable to do much practical work owing to illness either of the leaders or among the children. The department has published a new action song, called “ Little Patriots,” which is to be given at the annual Legion demonstration by the Woodford and Walthamstow companies, and the Superintendent hopes that the delegates will all purchase copies, as it is now to be obtained at the literature stall, twopence per copy. A leaflet, entitled ‘‘ What is the L.T.L.?” has also been printed and a second edition of ‘“‘ Hints on Organizing.” A Superintendents’ committee meeting was held through the kindness of Mrs. Wyton, at Lynden Villas, this spring, and we were glad to welcome Miss Fawcett, who has recently been elected L.T.L. leader for the S.M.U. The National Superintendent’s health has made it impossible for her to speak on behalf of the department during the past year, and she wishes to take this opportunity of saying how sp<cially indebted she is to Miss E. C. Staveley for the way in which she has carried out so many of the details for this public meeting, and to the Legion workers who have so loyally done all in their power to make up for her lack of service. Whilst it is true that the L.T.L. is steadily increasing, she would appeal to those branches where no juvenile organization exists, to study our methods so that they may enlist the interest of the children, believing that nations are gathered out of nurseries, and that those who guide the young may exercise greater power than those who hold the reins of government. EpirH L. WItson, Hon. Nat. Superintendent. |