The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-05-07
ADDRESS
Read Before the Woman's Temperance
League, Berlin, z Roads, by Mrs.
VIM. J. Kirkendall.

VIM. j. k1rkendall.
We read. in the history of our race, of
star which arose in the East, one
Christmas morning, more than eighteen
hundred years ago, heralding the birth
of a new era. An era of peace and good
will to all who will be guided by its soft
and gentle radiance. An era which
brought redemption to our world from
the thralldom of sin. The era of Eman-
uel, OF God with US. Perhaps future gen
erations will read of star which arose
in the west, 1878 years afterward, herald
ing an era of peace and good will to all
who will take refuge in its light. An era
of redemption from the thalldom of
wine. The era of Temperance, of Joy
with u.s.
The world moves slowly but surely,
and we hail the signs of the times as pro-
pitious. The leaven of Temperance is
penetrating the heart of the State, and
we look forward with sanguine expecta-
tions to the leavening of the whole
lump. The bread, cast upon the waters,
is seen after many days. The seed, sown
by earnest temperance workers, is bear
ing fruits. One of its fruits is the wo-
mems temperance prayer meetings,
which are being frought with such signal
success. A success which does not cul-
inmate in pouring out a few gallons of
poison, nor in closing few hundred sa-
looms, nor even in diminishing the traffic
to about one seventh its former proper
tions. as reported from one of its strong
holds, which, though that were all, is
indeed glory enough for a three month 5
crusade.
But its great, its crowning glory, is the
awakening of thought. Because that
sentence against an evil work, was not
executed speedily, therefore the hearts
of men engaged in this work seemed fully
science of our people is aroused as never
before. In the East, the West, the North
and the South, the spark of heavenly
flame is kindIing into blaze. We have
a glad, strong faith in our hearts, that
this grand move of the temperance army
is destined to prove power in the land
for good.
What, though the powers of darkness,
are stirred up to overwhelm us? The
presence of Moses God will lead US up
through the wilderness of sin. What,
though Satan inspire his minions to but
fet us and spit upon US, as they have in
some other places done? Our dear Lord
suffered all these things, and more and
if the world hated Him, will it not hate
US also? And what, though we have
heaped upon us all manner of insult
Their sword shall return unto their own
hearts, and their bows shall be broken.
They but weaken the idol they array to
strengthen. One such exhibition of ma
licious depravity instigated by the spirit
of evil, and melted by the thief that
goes in at the mouth to steal away the
brain, robbing man Of his manhood and
humanity of all nohle aspiration, and
demonstrating that it makes OF man a
fiend in human form, will do more to i'm
press upon the reason of the nation the
Nervousness OF the whole business, than
a score of lectures by Cough These
excesses seem to be required to awake
us from our lethargy, and they are Sc
repugnant to our better feelings, so re-
voting to our higher type of being, that
they are bringing those who formerly
stood aloof by the thousands to our aid
among our best friends. 1t is another il
lustration of the principle involved in
the maxim of the ancientS-whom the
Gods would punish they first make mad
principle which was made forcibly Gle; ]
in the efforts OF the enemies of human
~ in behalf of African slavery, which re
suited in its entire overthrow in this ma
ton. And in the irrepressible conflic
now waging between temperance and an
ti-temperance, we see a similitude. But
God will bring good out of evil. He will
make the wrath of man to praise him
and the remainder of wrath, he will re
strain. In my youth / heard a gosa
Presby terian brother preach a wise ser
mon. The burthen of it was, no excel
lence without great labor. The though
took fast hold upon my mind, and annie
discouragements and trials of faith, il
comes to cheer, and to strengthen for tht
battle.
| Thus in the calmly gathered thought,
The innermost of truth is taught;
| The mystery dimly understood,
| That love of God is love of good.
If we found the Philistines yielding a
the first onslaught, we might be tempted
to glorify ourselves. But the angel o
the cloud through purposes of mercy to
ward US, shows us our dependence upor
Him, by leading us roundabout wa,
through the wilderness, though He doe
not forget to send a shower of mamma BY
the way, filing our hearts with songs O
praise. To impress upon His children
| sense of the Fathers care, and upon the
hearts of His followers their dependence
upon Him, has been a great feature il
| His dealings with the children of men
since the dav when the morning star:
sang together. But though our arm is too
short to save, yet he bids US be co
workers with Him, and we call upon al
lovers of good, all who would reach fortl
hand to lift up the fallen, all wht
would elevate their race, to aid us to de
stroy this great destroyer. We call upor
all good women to aid US by their pray
ers, and we call upon all good men to aic
us by their votes, for we are not of thost
who quake with fear lest politics shoulo
be defiled by blending with them the
principles of religion Neither do W.
believe that religion will grow one viii
more unlovely because of eXerting h
purifying influence upon the body polite
To right public sentiment by moral anC
intellectual means, is but part of ou
work for what we affect in that way will
be continually wrested from us by the
| greedy hand of gain, unless followed BY
the law; and we cannot solace ourselves
with the delusive phantom that we arr
not responsible for the sin, so long as WI
do not bring our utmost power to bea
against it. There is but one relation tha
we, as friends of temperance, can limo
Gently bear to the traffic, that of uncom
promising resistance and ceaseless oppo
stion. Compromises are always an ac
! knowledgement of weakness, and H.
whose eyes cannot look upon sin will
| the least degree of allowance, has no
authorized us to make any compromis,
with iniquity. Let US go forth in Hi
might, and change public opinion by ar
guments, entreaties, and prayers, anC
call to our aid every element of strength
| and as fast as we can bring sentiment III