Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-05-23
". G. T. d.
The District Convention Of the
W. c. T. 0.
reported for the Graphic.

On the morning OF the 14th, seven OF
the ladies Of the w. G. 7. u, (one OF
our number having gone the evening
before) boarded the train to attend the
district convention at Macon City. As
we had yassed over the road a number
of times, nothing worth Of note, called
our attention until we reached Macon.
where large committee of white rib
ben ladies met us. and took Us In
charge, robbed us Of our baggage, and
started for headquarters, and as we
marched two abreast, just by changing
one little word, we felt IKE singing
that old army song:
Tramp, tramp. the boys are marching.
Cheer up comrades we viii Gomez
But to reach the place of rendezvous,
we must need pass some of the forts of
the enemy, we could not see behind
paneled windows and screened doors.
but our mental vision could penetrate
even there, and our hearts grew faint
as we contemplated the bats and
snares within those dar6 dens. to en-
trap loved ones, rob them Of their man
hood, deface from the soul the image of
God, bind them hand and foot and
drag them down to unending darkness.
And as the fountain of mother love
was stirred and sympathy for suffering
humanity touched, our arms seemed
strong enough to batter down the
screens and take the snares away.
But alas they were intrenched behind
the strong arm of the law and fortified
by public sentiment we passed quietly
on. 'Tis true they fired glances Of
scorn and contempt at US, but our
armour was strong. None were
wounded, 1t only made our steps
little stronger to do, to dare, and even
suffer if need be. Some Of our number
had forgotten their uniform, they were
soon replaced with little white rib
bon, fit emblem of the purity of our
cause, but we hasten on to the church
where we found a large company, we
will call them soldiers, for they were in
charge of that grand general Mrs. Clara
Hoffman, our State President and Miss
Rose Philips, State Secretary, with her
large store of ammunition, and we felt
safe. But language fails to describe
the place or the thoughts that crowded
our minds, so great seemed the con-
trast, from the scene we had just pass
ed. In front we read in beautiful let
ters the grand old motto of our Cnlon
For God, and Home and Native Land
And there seemed to oe deeper mean
ing than even before. For God, what
could we do for him, he Goes not need
US. Yet he has honored us to be in
some humble way. coworkers with him
in the great work of human redemp-
ton. For home," and we glance to
our left, and there we read, Mother s
save your homes,' and thousands OF
OF wretched homes all over the land are
calling for help. For native land,
and the feld seemed to open before US,
so broad and the work so great that
We were ready to cry, "Who is suffi-
: cient for the work" But we look
again and IN evergreen letters we read
"ln God We trust, He will help US. and
beneath it a cross and to our right an
anchor, and the spirit gently whisper.
; ed "t;ive to the wind thy fears. Hope
and be uudismayed. God hears thy
cries and counts thy tears he will llfi
up thy head" But we must not { oget
the beautiful flowers so taste fully
arrayed, for somehow flowers have
always been associated with oul
thoughts Of purity and Heaven. AND
never could we join more hear tily in
. that grand old hymn:
, "Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in christian love,
. The fellowship OF ofkindred minds
Is like to that above.n
The doings of the Convention will bt
given by an abler pen. We will only
. say that nothing was left undone, thai
was necessary to make the Convention
a grand success, and to the delegates
it will ever be green SPOT along the
rugged pathway Of life.
a DELEGATE.
T Cel1 M