The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-24
Temperance Reading.
MANY WAYS OF WORKING FOR
TEMPERANCE.

seeks tor itself another course by which
it finds its way to the sea, so, earnest,
ambitious women have sought for them
selves by-ways wherein to SOW the good
seed of Temperance which might per-
haps have been overlooked if the broad
err channels had not been closed. All
will admit that woman is the true edu-
Gator OF the human race. The first law
maker provided by nature for the child
is the mother. And for the first ten
years our power is absolute. Let us
then lay broad and firm foundation
of strong Temperance principle cement
ed with mothers love and consecrated
with mothers prayers, on which our
sons shall build a character that will be
a power for good as they grow to man
hood and become the future lawmakers
of our Nation. "First, get our children
right on this subject; let them grow up
with an utter aversion to strong drink.
Teach them to shun tobacco, liquor and
cards, the three great evils from which
springs all manner of crime. Teach
them that rum is tiend, and show them
the wreck and ruin it works. Lead
your little ones through the narrow,
dark alleys where broken-hearted moth
ers' and children testify to the manner
by which the liquor seller makes his
money.
Teach your daughters to despise the
gewgaws and rum-bought wealth. I'M
press upon their minds that behind all
| that are the shivering forms and hut-
tering rags of numberless children who
are worse than orphans. Never cease to
take text for a Temperance talk
around your tiresides from every crime
or misdemeanor proceeding from the
sale or use of rong drink which comes
under the notice of your children.
Training the boys Alright is the sheet
anchor OF the Tempe ance cause. 1t is
purifying the stream at the fountain.
Let not our young men grow up ac-
customed to see men of dissolute hab-
its and impure lives honored as citizens
with public offices of great trust. Hold
out to them all warnings and all coun-
sci lest they bring our gray hairs down
in sorrow to the grave.
And when we have done all this in
the domestic circle, is there no other
work waiting for our hands? Can we
not help to rescue the perishing, es-
pecially among the Incorporate of our
own sex? Hearts that have become
hardened by strong drink and evil as
sociations have sometimes yielded to
the power of sympathy and kindly
words fifty spoken. Let no opportunity
pass unimproved to act the part of the
good Samaritan in their time of sick
ness and distress. 1t opens new feel
ings, develops new nature, and brings
the wretched outcast into the family of
man. Show them by our acts that our
earnest desire is to do them good Do
we not sometimes forget that our Di-
vine Master not only healed but actual
ly la d His hands upon those whom He
sought to save? Throw the broad man.
tie of charity over their failings; we
know not to what temptations they may
have been exposed. Perhaps if we had
been surrounded by the same circum-
stances, we, too, might have stumbled
and fallen. Remember that just in the
measure that we labor unselfshly for
the good of others will we be blessed
and strengthened.
e For | count this thought to be erandly true
That noble deed is q step toward God,
Lifting the soul from the common sod
To purer air and broader view"
A man who has been an habitua
drunkard for years has been in my hus
bands employ under pledge that he
would keep sober, and, upon the
strength OF his employment and good
resolutions, had bought com Fortable
home for his wife and children, the
conditions being if he should fail il
paying a certain small amount each
month through his own neglect the
home should revert to its former own
er. With all this incentive to sober
ness, once and again has this man fall
en-, and after getting sober has wept Ike
a child and begged to be tried jus
once more. Upon inquiry, find thai
this man had drunken father and {
drunken mother, and that his mother
died while drunk. Wen child ht
was fed on the accursed stuff with ,
spoon from his fathers glass. Oh, how
ought we who have been shielded al
our lives from all such contamination
who have been hedged in with Temper
ance influences. to pity these poor soul
that are struggling through life, carry
ing burdens that we know nothing of
How can we, the women OF the w. G.
T. u, win such men from their cups
and not only win them, but hold then
in the ght wayp 1 believed speak thu
sentiment of every one of our nobl,
band when say that we are ready an
eager to do anything within the spher,
of Christian women to save the drunk
ard to his family and the world w,
must not sit with folded hands lament
ing our inability to do great things il
this cause. If only one talent has beef
given us, we will not be accountable TO
ten.
Let us do with our might what on
hands find to do; always looking to tn,
never-failing source of wisdom anC
strength. Prayer moves the arm tina
moves the world. Let us then, in III,
language of a great Temperance work
er: pray, as if all depended upon God
and work, as if all depended upon our
selves" If we can not legislate, w,
can agitate. We can educate, and W,
must consecrate. We may have Blu
little to do but that, but that little
when faithfully done, may have an in
fluence for good. 1t will cheer tn,
hearts of other earnest workers for thu
right, and in some degree, perhaps, dis
courage and weaken the power of thu
T,,tn Z, Al