West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-11-29


rs as individuals, and eventually
in the world at large, when it re-
strains from evil, stimulates to
good and regulates the whole man.
Back of every earnest life is re-
ligion, back of religion is prayer,
our vehicle to reach the Power back
of all, our God.
In looking out over the temper
ance work in our midst, it has
seemed to us that this Union must
diagnose the case more thoroughly
if we would successfully reach the
root of the moral ulcer.
Many well meaning people,
many very useful ones, are appa-
rently not at all interested. Some,
too, are hating. These facts are
recognized. Where is the remedy?
One discouraged lady said to US,
ave can never do anything in this
work until our moneyed men take
hold of and move in the matter; )"
and my heart asked, "What will
move our moneyed men," For
there was much truth in her re-
mark.
Some Of the Executive Commit
tee nave seen fit to recommend to
the Union that requests be sent to
the ministers and Sunday School
superintendent of the city, asking
that they with the Local Execu-
tive Committee take action in
their respective capacities for the
temperance work. But our heart
again asks, what will make these eff
forts Of ours tell, first on these sever
al Christian gentlemen,and through
theirs, directl y on the masses? Or
what power will even lead the
masses to first put themselves with
in the reach Of these influences of
Church, Sunday School and the
temperance meeting? AS Joseph
Cook would say, let US be merci-
lessly straight forward in this mat
ter.
Granted all our machinery has
worked we'll up to this point, what
power will impress the erring one
with all these, or any one of these
temperance truths to the degree
that he cannot forget them? what
carry him to the point that the
soul within him will again assert
its manhood and say | must not, and
from the 'naWst not" shall pass to
the lyjU not and day by day, the
mustard seed growing, he shall in
due time safely pass the Rubicon ?
Ave, here's the question; What
back Of our w. G, 7. u, our minis
try, our Sunday School, our mass
meetings, our socials, our leaflets,
our glee clubs, our pledges. our
young peoples club; all good ma
chlnery ia its place what back OF
all these is still to work the
change?
Perhaps in a doubling way, we
comprehend that God is that Pow
err. But here again our heart asks,
W hat will move God? and this
brings US to the one point we wish to
make this afternoon; What will
move God?
If we trust to our scholarship,
readiness, tact or discipline to meet
this difficulty in all its social and
intellectual complications, we shall
be met with more than confusion
OF face, and it is because the world
ling looks on our particular Of
forts from this one point, that he
smiles at our efforts to combat with
the foe.
| wish especially to emphasize
that while we mast conscientlously
use what talent we have for shap-
ing and guiding this work, and
what personal influence we have
for drawing others into it, yet all
Will come to naught unless we are
daily asking the Great Designer to
harmonic all our endeavors, and
to so order and direct every detail
OF the work that not one needy,
struggling heart shall want for one