The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-11-28

baser sort" hang ex-Gov. St. John in
effigy. The w. c. T. {. is termed ga po
litical party and subjected to the sharpest
criticism by men who found no fault with
our societies in Iowa, Kansas and other
the Republicans. Free speech and "a free
ballot have, within fortnight, cost many
voter dear, in the good will of business
patronage of his neighbors while obedience
to the most profound convictions has call
ed down bitter imprecations on many an
earnest woman's head Our own familiar
friends in whom we trusted, have uttered
these words in public print and private
reprimand. Not from the ignorant or base
but from cultured scholars and Christian
deeds. Not in a generation has such a
cross-fire of denunciation whistlod through
the air as that now aimed at those of us
who 'lent their influence to the Prolbi-
ton party.
All this you know from the things that
you have suffered.
But what is our duty in The strife of
tongues?
Dear sisters, we stand before the people
as followers of Him s.who when he was
reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered
he threatened not, but committed himself
to Him that judgeth righteously." Let us,
therefore, pray nightly to God that we
may be replenished with heavenly grace
according to our need, so that the law of
kindness still shall dwell in our hearts and
on our tongues, and charity Cor love) which
''vaunteth not ITSELF is not easily provoked,
doth not behave itself unseemly,' shall
control our every action Next to Gods
spirit dwelling in our own, nothing will so
help us to be considerable and patient, as to
pray for and speak gently of those who, in
our Judgment, have done injustice to our
motives, our record and our character
Let us be careful not to do them a parallel
injustice but by recalling their noble quail
tiles and their kindness in the past, keep
them hidden in the citadel of our generous
regard and confidence until this storm be
oyerpast.
Let us try also to put ourselves in their
places and to realize that they too are sin
cere, even as we are, and acting, the great
majority of them at least, from patriotic
motives. We seek the same goal but have
chosen different roads, each one of us be-
lieving his way the best. In time we shall
agree to disagree and go on without bit
terness. "a soft answer turneth away
wrath but grievous words stir up anger
May God fill our mouths with soft answers
in these wrathful days. If We women can
not mitigate the asperities of politics, Woe
full will be the day OF our influence therein
whether that influence be indirect, as now,
or direct as in some future time. But if
God be with us, we can save our country,
as surely as Joan of Are crowned her king.
That the infinite spirit of Christ may
rule and reign in our hearts, making them
tender true and teachable, | ask you to
observe, as day of fasting and prayer,
the fourth of December, reading on that
day those passages of scripture which relate
to Gods power in the affairs of government,
and also such as illustrate the supreme fact
that ''he who is slow to anger is better
than the mighty and he who ruleth his
spirit than he who taketh city Let us
eXhort you more earnestly than ever before
to observe individually the noontide hour
of prayer. Our prayer for you, beloved
friends, shall also be that your faith fail
not" but that you ''stand fast in the lib
erty wherewith Christ hath made you Free
and having done all, stand
Yours, with firmness in the right as
God gives us to see the right"
FRANCES L. WILLARD, Pres.
CAROLINE b. BUELL., Cor Sec