The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-17
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


Santa Cruz, which was pending when
we last wrote, was largely attended, and
the deepest interest was manifest
throughout the exercises. Upon enter
ing the already well-fiIled church at an
early hour, we took seat with the au-
dience, expecting, of course, that the
minister here, as elsewhere, would go
forward and lead the meeting. After
waiting until the silence was getting
oppressive, worthy brother came to
US and said that it was the desire of the
multitude that we should address the
audience and conduct the meeting. He
insisted, and we entered the pulpit, adj
dressed the people for half an hour upon
the ways and means to lift the people
from sensuality and drunkenness, and,
in response to duty, led them, at the
close of the address, in prayer, for sew
eral minutes.
Brother Anthony, a relative of our
Susan, who, like her, was brought up a
Quaker, and ndconsequently believes in the
moving power of the Spirit, then arose
and made a most thrilling speech. He
believed that the Spirit had sent the
speaker to their city. He recognized
an over-ruling Providence in all things,
and his soul was glad, for he felt that
when woman came to the front, armed
with the power of righteousness, and,
with an eye single to the good of grow
cling humanity, stepped squarley upon
the pedestal Of duty, the great work of
regenerating man would prosper as
never before. He ended his address to
the people with most impressive ap-
peal to the Highest, and the silence and
awe that pervaded the church made a
stiffness that could be felt.
Occasionally hymns were sung. One
woman, only, found her voice; but her
address-her first before q mixed assem-
bly-was replete with words of wisdom
well chosen, and sweetly, beautifully
powerful.
The pastor in charge, whose i'll health
keeps him from active duty, then arose
and made most telling speech. He
quoted the words of an earnest woman
of the East, who, being imbued with
the power Of the Spirit, said, in reply to
some one who had spoken to her about
enforcing prohibition: ave don't want
prohibitions we want regeneration" ;"
This brought Mr.. Anthony to his feet
again. He felt that the Local Option
law, passed by the late Legislature, was
a vital necessity, and that the people
must work through law to accomplish
J lasting results. The debate lasted fol
) some time, and we ended it finally, by
saying that the views of both brethren
were correct. The woman in the East
! whose spiritual senses had been quick.
ened by intense devotion, was raised 81
far for the time, above her present
plane Of life, that her spiritual eye.
were opened, and she beheld the futur,
state . man, yet many years away
when, having overcome his lower ma
ture, he shall be law unto himself
Consequently she was right in saying
awe don't want prohibition; but regen
eratiOn." But Mr.. Anthony was righ
also; for he was viewing life as it nov
is, with drunkenness as the bane of tn
people, for which Il sudden and specifi
antidote must be supplied. We mus
all remember that "we have first tn
blade, then the ear, and after that th
full corn in the ear"
The pastor said he had come to tn
meeting in the first place through curl
osity. He had always been prejudice
: against women speakers, but this phas
. of the woman movement met with hi
hearty Endorsement. The meeting wa
grandly harmonious throughout, an
we have no doubt but the work will g
: on steadily in Santa Cruz.
San Jose being filed with lectures 70
} theweek, we concluded not to hold furthe
: meetings there. The Methodist ehurcl
was placed at our disposal in SAINT
Clara, where we again had a fine audi
ence. The pastor, Mr.. Collins, opene
the meeting with prayer choir, as il
Santa Cruz, favoring the meeting wit
excellent music.
/ The spiritual zeal with which ou
, Methodist friends take hold of thi
grand Temperance work, their liberalit
; above all other denominations in open
! ing their churches, and the aIaerit
with which all people, in the church O
f out, join with them in the promotio
OF the cause, endears us to the MethC
dist people far more than we can ex
= press.
In these meetings we allude only ir
directly to the Suffrage Movement
We feel that God is doing this work /
His own way, by bringing it forwar
! through the hearts of the people. A
' the close of the meeting in Santa Clars
the minister circulated the Local Optic
petition for the signatures Of illegal vol
= ers." Said he, 81 am very sorry, ladiei
o that you are not legal voters. But tn
n time is'near at hand when you will b
d such, and God is preparing you for til
work in His own good way"
Taking leave of our friends in SAINT
Clara and San Jose, we took the earl
3 morning train for Stockton, arriviD
e about noon, at the Yosemite Hous,
: where we met Laura DeForce Gordor
e as cherry as a school girl and as enthus
r astic in her work as only woman ca
be. She has purchased an immense 10
|, Office, and is preparing to start a dali