Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-25
An Appeal for the Temperance Cause.

1t is with feeling of earnest solicitude for the
| cause of temperance that the Womans Christian
Temperance Union at this time makes an appeal to
the people of our city. And il does so with feel.
ing OF he.i'aton, for the work in which it engaged
is that which should enlist the sympathy OF every
person in our community, and which can be
fully dOnc only stand side by side in large num-
bers, with strong hearts heating one, and with
noble purpose II is said hnt the suspension bridge
at Niagara though most secure against heavy weight
cannot be safely crossed by company Of men keep
ing time toa band of music. They must break step,
or the vibrations might cause the bridge to WELD
Nav il not be that the steady unbroken march the
forces enlisted in the temperance army shall be- now
erful under the direction OF our Leader who is above
all, even to the pulling down of the srongholds of
the enemy?
Directly or indirectly the evil of intemperance ar.
rays itself against Us individually. We walk day by
day with the shadow of its baleful presence falling
athwart our pathway. seeing the while, some tempt
ed brother cnvcloped in the gloom of its heavy man
tie The advance of every material interest, and of
project for good is Kindred bv this clog to the
wheels Of progress Does 1t not then become our
common duty to lend helping hand TO any move
meni, established ON proper basis, that seeks the
good of our fellow men; Nor should II 1t il
given TO turn aside for little time the streams Of
misery that flow through our land, but let aim to
80 work upon the hearts of the people, that public
sentiment shall demand the shutting down Of the
great rivers at the fountain head.
The question is often asked, what Is being
plished? Let us be content If IL Is only given us to
open the channels through which the streams of good
may sometimes flow. We can but feel that as Il Tn.
ion, our membership has sought to faithfully per
form Just those deeds of mercy that Law u.s.
always some needed labor, whose reward was in the
doing. Dear TO Us l. the sphere of our own home ac
tivitics, and in tenderness have strlven TO carry
needed assistance To tempted suffering ones, and
yet the field Of toll opens broadly before us The
state W. &. 7. L. to which are bound bv auxil
iarv ship. Is setting itself TO broadcast sowing of
the good seed, which must surely spring up and
bring forth abundantly though the harvest may not
be gathered by the hands of the
Believing that II thorough knowledge of the effects
Of Alcohol upon the human system will do much tow
ards undermining the evil OF in'emperance effort
Is TO he made to Introduce exact teaching on this
subject into all our public schools, since our great
hope for the future rests in the characters formed by
our children. To operate with parent society
in this, and other branches of allotted work
which promise large results and to carry forward our
local interests, we most truly need the influence and
labors of the women ofour city.
While the objection Is always strong against IRE
sentation of any necessity of financial help, yet it
must be evident that if we would increase our useful
ness as an organization, We have pressing needs in
this direction We miss from our meetings many Of
our old members, who without evident intention OF
withdrawal. are unable at times TO be present. and
who have perhaps forgotten TO add their yearly as
sessment TO our fund VIII not such OF our nun her
remember this fact and by prompt attention assist in
forwarding the cause, We most heartily invite the
women of Augusta, both old and Young. who have
never identified themselves with our work, to Join
hands with us, in the blessed ministries Of good,
which continually opening before Us. While we
can but feel that we have the good wishes Of many
who have never been connected with US, vet we
fear much benefit to the cause j. lost by the fail
ure to make some definite expression of interest and
sympathy.
Let us not only desire and within ourselves imag.
inc what great good could be effected by this or that
plan of work but conscientiously decide If we may
not be able, tho IN small wsv TO help in bringing
about reality from our visionary schemes. II is
true that there are enlisted in this work of Tenn.
perance Union throughout the United States, MANY
women vita hearts bleeding from the wounds caused
by intemierance, the great foe to their peace. But
there many who have consecrated their talent for
service TO the cause as a thank offering that their
lives have been shielded from the blasting bghting
breath of the destroyer And indeed how can they
he af bpir dear mot
need the kindly, outsreched hand to draw them,
away from the tempter's snare?
Time, with loving touch. often purifes and halows
the lives we watch, but anon they chilled BY some
evil power. An artist once desiring 10 put upon can.
yass picture of beauty through which the loveliness
of the soul might shine forth, chose for his subject
the face of sweet and innocent child and faithfully
reproducing it, looked with sasfact ion upon IT, In
after life a contrast TO the painting which had
pressed So much OF rare beauty and promise he hung
beside il on the wall picture he had copied from the
face of amanin which deeply craven the traces of
his bitter life of wretctdness and SIM What was his
CONSERVATION to find that uncon>ciousy al this wide
interval he had painted from the face, and that
the changes had hrcn slowly wrought through the
passing wears. Friends, would Won keep YOUR own
sunny faced children free from the influence that can
transform them into living pictures of woe and mis-
erv? Then guard them well against the enemy that
would gladly make them capti,es.
The regular meetings of our Women's Christian
Temperance Union are holden on TUESDAY afternoon
of each week, commencing at =, O'Clock. with pray.
er meeting. followed By the business session at 3
O'Clock. We earnestly ask that sisters of Angus.
IA may not hold II 10 he slight thing that they
present withus all these times Surely the
sacrifice make for the sake of the cause.
not go unble-scd, snd in bestowing our influence,
time strength money, to that degree which Is pos.
sible. let ia feel we are performing part in the
heraling aud ushrrng In of the aitemptrancc day
whose m1rnIng star has risen. Iiumhlv and reyer.
emily We wear our chosen name. the W. G. I. L., and
may that God whom delight to honor, and who
alone give Us tile victory put II into the hearts Of
the men and women Of our city, grant that help
and encourlgeironi IN the future which they have
Willingly accorded In the past, and for which we
extend our sincere thanks.
Mrs: C. G. HryT, Cor. Sec. W. G. T.U.
Augusta April I'D, -.
Superior Court-Jud.e Nhttehouse