The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-05
Temperapce not On the Wane.

duu bdihcQ Will Lue ledueIo. 11oNC
been with them at their private and
public meetings. have tried TO under
stand their motives as well as their
plans; the secret Of their success, and
their grounds Of hope; the why, and the
how, and the when of all this. And
Notwithstanding we hear it every day
from the outside that the crusade Is
about over; that the singing and pray
ing Of women must give place to law
that something more tangible is needed;
that electors and city councils must set
tie the whole question, etc.,-my ooser-
walton leads me to conclude that the
great and stupendous work, the magni-
tude Of which is comprehended but by
few, has not been commenced, and that
the spontaneous uprising and outburst-
ing of this wonderful revolution is too
deeply seated in the affections and re-
ligion of its adherents to pass away,
either as a failure or temporary relief.
The most who have engaged In it be-
lieve, too, with unwavering faith, that
the hand of God is in il. And having
consecrated themselves, under deep i'm
preston Of duty and divine guidance,
for the overthrow of this evil, their &C
tions must be commensurate with theil
faith. 1t is not for a mere theory, or tC
crafty the ambition Of an earthly leader,
or the establishment of a sect or party,
that this war is waged, but for the
emancipation of suffering innocence
and helpless childhood. The home, the
heart and the ties Of kindred, have 10 dc
with 1t as we'll as the safety, prosperity
and happiness Of the whole country.
The opposition, too, is weak, having lts
| foundation in violence and wrong, and
attempting to perpetuate a system oi
things which no right-minded man oil
attribute of Deity can take sides with.
That cry, 'The crusade is over; the
woman's work a failure" comes
not from the friends but the enemies oi
Temperance. While would have nc
objections to the rigid enforcement OF
the law by the proper authorities, dc
think that the law and the Gospel, judg-
ment and mercy, should be left entirely
distinct and separate. The men may
and ought TO use the law as a help and
check to the wheels of reform, but in no
sense interfere with the faith and labors
Of the noble band of devoted women
who, under God, are manufacturing and
mouldingpublic sentimentso as to make
the enactment and enforcement of Tenn
perance laws possible.
In many mass meetings I have at
tended, nothing has so affected the peo-
pie as the appeals Of the drunkard's
wife, the starved children, desolated
home, crushed and broken heart, repre-
sented in life picture by the sufferer
herself To those who knew it to be so,
this is heart work that does not merely
dam up but dries up the fountain of in
temperance. No saloon keeper can
well stand before the pleadings Of her
whom his business has ruined. a sa-
loon keeper acknowledged TO the writer
that this was more than he could stand,
and he gave it up.
AT Peru, Ind, at mass meeting, a
drunkard's wife gave such a recital OF
her suffering life as brought tears from
the most hardened, and convictions to
the hearts of the most profligate, and
this instance alone did more to inaugu-
rate the wonderful movement there than
any other one thing.
At kokomo, Ind, only a few days
ago, / was present when the wife of an
inebriate, by the name Of Mary Antiny,
arose in the presence of a crowded house,
ana stated that she was a poor, ignorant,
Injured and heart broken woman;
that she was happy in girlhood, but had
for thirty-five years lived the life Of a
wife; that her two sons,
noble boys once, had fallen and were
following the footsteps of their father to
the drunkard's grave. "Oh, that they
could be saved, but where they are /
know not God pity them and me ~
Thus she openrd up the hidden sor-
rows and anguish of a mothers broken
and bleeding heart. All eyes were
swimming with tears, and all hearts full
Of emotion.
She then lifted up her hand and eyes
toward heaven and exclaimed, "Oh, Sis
ters, when you pray remember poor
Mary Antiny, the drunkarTs wife. Ask
God to forgive me and him and all. and
make me happy yet before die" She
then fell upon her knees, asking God for
help and pardon. All the assembly
knelt in prayer. A minister having
asked all the Christians present to pray
Tor the poor woman, offered a short and
appropriate prayer himself. When
they arose this woman stood up with a
countenance all radiant with peace and
JOY: She stood a moment, then said.
.Glory have found my blessed Saw
Tor at last" She then affectionately
embraced the lady who had brought
her TO the meeting, saying, II thank
you Ior bringing me here to-daY.n She
God.
1t is the testimony of all who have
engaged heartily in this marvolons
temperance work, that the compensa-
ton TO themselves in the publication of
their own hearts, the unfolding. elevat- /
ing and lifting up of their own Spiritual |
natures, IS worth to them a thousand
lines more than they have sacrificed /
would then say word of cheer 10 Inc
ady temperance workers: Don't mind 1
What others say or do, or fail to follow
ne impressions you have Of duty. Look /
o God for support and guidance; 'Scom-
mt your way unto him and he will |
'ring 1t TO pass;n put thy hand in his |
land and say, 'Lord, lead me; I have /
10 wills of my own; Thy will is my will" |
Ihis kind OF trust aud conservation will |
,esult in victory. To go back now is TO |
ilstrust God and not only Weld the |
Temperance cause, but every good cause.
sVen our holy religion itself. For this. |
is the great prayer test; YOU |
nave asked God TO do a thing He is both |
a0le and willing to DO, and has prom |
sed In answer to the prayer of faith. |
Human wisdom and human law have
allied and may fail again, but that wis |
comes from above, and that /
aw that is above every law, has not, |
Will not fail. G.. z. RILEY.
My GRANDFATHER's STORY. NV
tells the following sforv.-