West-Jersey pioneer., 1884-01-03

I'm afraid to enter, those gentlemen
may think it an intrusion. / should be
the only lady. don't you see?" Upon
this the Governor replied, "My daugh-
ter should never be afraid, even if she
is alone in a good cause" and taking
her arm he drew her into the conven-
ton. What a prophecy was the first
entrance of woman-and Mas woman
upon q temperance convention made
up of men. Read it's fulfillment in her
now happy home, her lawyer hus-
bands leadership. OF the home protec-
ton movement in Ohio, and in the
procession of white ribbon workers
that belts the world to-day.
Out of that small beginning has
grown by quiet and persistent effort,
the thoroughly organized, far-reachlng
association which we know as the
National W. G. T. o., whose influence
| is felt and acknowledged wherever the
| English language is spoken.
| The National Society was organized
| in 1874, and it's growth has been mar
velous. One by one auxiliary unions
have sprung up, until to-day, 5000 are
scattered through the United States
and Territories. Means and instrument
talities in great variety have been
blessed in forwarding this work. Many
departments of usefulness have sprung
up, foremost of which is the work
among the children. OF the three
thousand local unions of which have
just spoken, nearly all have Bands OF
Hope" or temperance schools under
their fostering care. In many OF the
public schools temperance text book
is used in connection with the study of
physiology. In three of the States,
Vermont, New Hampshire and Michi-
gan, law for scientific instruction has
gone into effect And this is by far
the most important and promising de-
partment of our work.
Temperance literature has taken a
higher stand during the past ten years
than ever before. The efforts OF able
Christian writer's have been directed
against the evils of intemperance and
the number of such books increases
every year. A large portion of the
public press, silent or openly opposed
to the agitation of the temperance
question, a few years ago, now fear
lessly urge the doctrine of prohibition.
A systematic and thorough distribu-
ton of temperance literature has done
much toward making the people intel
| ligent, and intelligent public sentiment
is most needed.
| 1t would be strange if the church,
out of which has come our workers,
both leaders and ''rank-file," had not
| felt the wave of advancing sentiment.
Many ministers have been aroused
from something almost like indiffer-
ence upon this subject, to sense of
it's evils, and their responsibility; and
the use of alcoholic wines at the table
of our Lord having been found a
stumbling block in the way of some.
thousands of churches have removed
it forever. Active work among our
Young women is of comparatively re-
cent growth, but already we are reap
ing the harvest of the temperance
school teachings and great number
Of Young women's unions have been
formed, ready to take our places when
we fall.
In looking back we see that this
work began in prayer; that little band
who went out ten years ago to-day,
went, not in their own strength, but
in the strength of the Lord, and so it
has been every step of the way. We
know not what of Gods plans are
waiting to be unfolded in the next de-
cade, but we know that His purposes
are all good, and we also know that
the whole iniquitous business OF the
liquor GTdlllC IS ttuCds5OIlloulC W oiAC
growth of Christ's Kingdom; a sin
against God, crime against society
that no amount of revenue can con
done. Because we do know all this
we have no desire to turn to human
plans for help. Tens of thousands OF
workers in this and other lands are
waiting with prayerful hearts to see
what God will do. 1t is our privilege
to follow Him wholly and to be led
forward in the future as we have been
in the past. But we must bring to our
work the conservation that subor-
dinates every power of mind and soul
to God and his glory; that lays low
self and human planning, and we must
sit so quietly, thoughtfully and sub
missively before the Lord that he may
guide us and use us for His own work.
We earnestly pray that the Spirit OF
the Lord may be poured out upon us,
and that every thing that is not for the
glory of his name and the advance
ment of His cause may be overcome,
and that His will and purpose may be
wrought in and by us.