The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-10
THE BATTLE OF THE AGE.
Miss Frances e. willard Thinks 1t Is Against

Iho duCO IL NlHtIu, IICSHtCHI vi NV
Womcn's Christian Temperance Union, spoke at
the morning service of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church, yesterday, her speech being introduced
by a few pertinent remarks by the pastor, Rev.
A. II. Carrier. The audience was a large and
interested one. Every seat in the audience room
was taken, and extra chairs were placed in the
aisles. Miss Willard said that it seemed to her
that every age has its own fight. The battle of
this age is against the evil of intempePanee, and,
thank God, that in this battle, Christian women
can rally, and yet be womanly and gentle, losing
none of their qualities which Christs gospel
confirms and strengthens in them. Their mis-
sion is to overthrow the greatest enemy of
Christ's gospel. 1t seems fitting this meeting,
to-day, should be held in q Presbyterian church,
when we remember that this crusade had its
first meeting in a Presbyterian church. On the
23d of December, 1873, from the chapel of a
Presbyterian church, went forth that first band
of devoted women, with the benedietion OF its
pastor resting upon them.
We know very we'll that those who are en-
gagged in the sale of Intoxicating drinks and the
majority OF their patrons are not those WHO
gather IN churches; that their Children are not
to be found to-day in the Sabbath school. Tho
Womens Christian Temperance Union going
forth from the church with the Bible as their
weapon in their right hand are the soldiers who
seek, with peaceful warfare, to reach and
save the unit of humanity. To speak earnest,
pleading words to those whose appetite for
drink is destroying them; to try to get the bot
tie of drink out of the sido pocket and put the
Bible there in it's place. We do not come with
the OWL reaching palm of charity but the hori-
zontal palm of sympathy, We come to say that
we would like you on our side. That we, too,
are sinners. except as Christ has lifted us up,
and by the faith he has given us sustains us
above the ordinary standing ground. We
hllNavA bnnfhnR fha rnIf non hA I'M
in your weakness even as we have been.
You are advertised even to the little children in
your degradation. We ask you to sign the
declaration of independence with US. That the
product Of the vineyard, of the still, of the
brewery, shall no more find in you a patron and
a slave. We need no humble confession of past
degradation, but will give you a pledge of
brotherhood and sisterhood. Intemperance is
the most dangerous headland on our republican
coast. and we must place beacons there. Who
ever may think this is a thankless task is mis-
taken. To many of us it is the secret of a happy
life. 1t is a work we delight in, a work filed
with rich rewards. More than one heart has
felt that this work brings a benediction and a
blessing.
If you look among the little folks in the infant
class you will find just as many boys as girls,
and with Just as bright, beautiful and innocent
faces. When you come to the intermediate
classes a wedding out seems to take place, and
there are many more girls than boys, while the
Bible classes are almost entirely composed of
SOullB dtllCS II lllO w tcl, III 0dlllOIIld. JntIC
are churches the entire membership of which is
composed of women. They even fill all the
Offices in the church. When the men do come
in and take the back seats they look as if they
had sacrificed something, and appear as if they
thought they ought to be given a chrome. I
speak as a teacher of boys, and l have taught
many. 1 do not believe they have a fair chance
to grow up as our girls, good and true. Girls
are at home with their mothers example, while
the boys are among the clustering temptations
of the street. Would that the standards of soci-
ETY. were more alike for boyho0d and ~girlhood;
would that the standard which young ladies set
for their girl associates would be taken for boys
and set as a standard for them.
l see that in New York the boys and girls are
to be taught to leave severely alone the drinks
whose mission is solely to destroy. When al
are so taught, then shall begin the better day.
Our work in the realm of home is such work as
this, and we come into society teaching total ab-
suinence, and that the conviyial habits of former
days shall be altogether questionable now
Every life has its pictures, and there are
many here no doubt who might give testimony
that should Danish the wine-cup from all tables.
Miss Willard told with great feeling of a young
married man in Chicago who had been a victim
to drink, but who had been emancipated. A
great banquet had been arranged for General
Grant, on his return from his travels abroad, and
this young man, leaving at home his wife, who
feared his fall if tempted, went 20 the ban
the banquet went on and the guests
grew merrier. He was reproached for his
needless austerity, and, yielding to the
demands of his companions, at length took a
glass of champagne. The demon was awakened
and glass followed glass. He became boisterous
and unruly. 1t would not do for the great
soldier at the head of the table to see such
things, and he was taken from the room. She
told how he was gone from home three days, and
pictured the anxiety of the wife, and her greater
sorrow when he was at last brought home, a
mere "reminiscences of what had been a glorious
manhood, cursing the day that he was born and
4I,AA I'D S1NA 4lA.-l H. -A---
would stand for thousands and tens of thou
sands. They did not miss that young man when
he was removed from the banquet. The revelry
went on. And the short-lived merriment of
those who drink is the lingering heart sorrow of
those who remain at home,
She said she believed no man should be IL
censed to put poison into his neighbor's hand;
that the government should not issue licenses
for so dreadful a purpose; that no man should
vote that these things should be. and that all the
forces of Christs church should be utilized
against the greatest enemy of humanity. Our
cause is no more secular; it is sacred. [ believe
that governments shall come to that point that
the statue book of the State shall no longer con
tradict the book of God. You want the officer
back of the law to so enforce the law that the
liquor traffic will be a parlah on the face of the
earth. No halt must be called in the
march of humanitys army until this is
accomplished. The fanatics of Yesterday are
the reforTners of today, and will be the victors
of tomorrow. One slavery has been destroyed
in this country; we propose to destroy a greater
one-that which not only destroys the body, but
the soul. There was Il time when there was no
religious liberty in the world. The Bible was
chained to the pulpits of the churches. Then
Luther came and set the book free: Here
stand; 1 can do no otherwise, God help me,
amen God marches on. Nothing except the
eye of faith can follow him. Let US march OIL
ward with the faith of those who have seen q
heavenly vision. As the shadows lcngthcn they
point to the morning of another life.
Services in Other Churches.