Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-14
Temperance.
A Southern Tribute.

Rev. DR.. A. G. Haygood, of Emory
College, Oxford, Ca, whose devotion to
his work and ours has often been noticed
in our columns. paid the following hand
some tribute to oui president on her recent
visit there, and it is sent us by southern
lady with the request that it be published
in THE UNION SIGNAL; it was originally
given to the Wesleyan Christian AdUocate
cf Georgia.
Miss Frances Willard is the president
of the "Woman's Christian Temperance
Union' in The United States. She gave
her whole time and energy TO the cause
of Christian Temperance. For number
of years she has been engaged in this
work. | have watched her course with
great and constant interest. BY corre-
spondence | have known her for some
years; last week | met her heard her,
and had much talk with her of AN
altogether cheering and useful sort to me.
She came to Oxford from Atlanta imme-
diately upon the adjournment of the
Georgia stale convention of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. | invited
her to come that she might speak 10 our
citizens, above all to our students. We
are all glad that she came and grateful for
the good she did. She said so little of
herself, in either private or public talk,
that l would have small opportunity TO
write of her if left only TO her words. 1t
Gid not seem to occur TO Miss willard 10
speak of herself except as it was necessary
to explain her work.
A few words | may say Of hcr--the
woman She is a Christian woman out
and out--~a woman who believes in God
and both te' ches and practices religion.
Her writings, her speeches, her converse
tion, her manner, her work. indicate
deep ard ttoron9h religious experience.
One OF the most beautiful and healthfnlly
stimulating OF religious Biographies is IL
little book, issued lay he ilarpers, Miss
Wizards sketch of the life, death and
character of deceae ed sister. 1t ought
10 be in the Sunday school libraries, and
it would be a blessing III every home. 1t
has been in mine
Few persons-I do not say few women
in our country have been .Mole literally
endowed with natural gifts few have had
better educational advantages; and few
have made better use of opportunities or
better i'm provement of "the talents" Tho
best schools laid the basis; large acquaint-
ance with cultured and good people,
constant study, foreign travel and residence,
hard work and above all prayer and
religious conversation, have built nobly
upon the well laid foundation. Miss
Willard was for years the head of the
Woman's college in the Northwestern
university where she did her best work
after the best methods. So she did not go
into the temperance work to get a place;
she left a place lucrative, pleasant, honor
hot SIp MIGHT feel
it al honor to fill, to do work to which
she felt that God called herr In this
she reminds me of our own-always our
own, Morgan Galloway. Friday at IL
O'clock, A. N Miss Willard spoke in our
church at Oxford to full house 1t was
one of the few bright days we have seen
in many weeks; the sun seemed to exert
himself to make the day delightful and
fair. l think every student, except
possibly two or three who were confined
10 their rooms through indispostiou, was
present The exercises were opened with
reading the Scriptures, singing and prayer.
For about an hour Miss Willard talked to
US concerning temperance and righteous
ness. Modest, self poised, with masterful
use of her resources. she gave us the very
best address have heard on the subject
OI ltIlpeldu l1tlt was uOb oiC tbius
to criticise as to argument, style, eocuton.
spirit, or personal bearing. This is high
praise know; it is not too high She Is
ELOQUENT with defamation, in some
passages i'm passioned without trace OF
rant. it was Iull, steady stream OF
golden words, rich in thought and suggcs'
lion. Her address was full of instruction
and helpfulness 1t was manifest that she
had studied her theme consecutively and
thoroughly, her easy adjustment of her
address 10 the enyironment-to the place
and time-showed that she was not giving
us "a committed speech"
| believe that her visit TO Oxford left
us blessing; know it gave US unmixed
delight. l was glad that she came, outside
of my interest IN her special mission, for
our students will always have higher
conception OF what Il gifted and educated
woman is. Pity that all our young women
cannot hear her; it would inspire and lift
them up.
Nothing in Miss Willard Or her address
at Oxford can be objected 10 by fair
minded and intelligent people, except 1t
be that some say no woman ought TO
speak in public. Before we commit
ourselves to this position, it would be
well to have done finally with commence
ment exhibitions ut our female colleges.
the reading of essays and the singing Of
songs by young girls, dressed for display,
to the very best of their several abilities.
Mise Willard is a mature woman in
middle lie, who dresses plainly, and
speaks in behalf of IL cause that ought TO
be dear TO woman-lho cause OF temper
ance and religion.
Before we pluck at her eyes for one
little "mote" let us pull out II few
"beams'' from our own.
ATrICUs G. uAyGooD.
Oxford, Ga Jan. Is, 1883.