The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-27

OUR MOTTO: FOR GOD, AND HOME, AND
NATIVE LAND.
Perhaps it is not known by some of our
readers that the WOman's Christian Tenn
perance Union has been in existence for
more than ten years; that on Dec. 23rd,
1888, it reached its decade, and that almost
every Union in the country, notwithstand-
ing the inclement weather, celebrated the
anniversary of its birth on that day. What
brought it into existence, do you know
Hear what a venerable lady said to Mr..
Cough: "You may be surprised at such
work as singing in front of saloons, and
kneeling in the streets to pray, but what
could we do? We had no hope from man
we had no expectation from the Legisla-
ture we had no faith in the laws; we
would take our bruised sons and battered
husbands and our wounded brothers, and
tend and nurse them and bind up their
wounds; and then sometimes cover their
faces to go away weeping and broken
hearted, but hopeless. Now we have car
ried that matter to God--we haye been and
told Jesus" We in Virginia have little
sympathy with such demonstrations until
we reflect upon the desperation of mothers
and wives who have besought rum-sellers
again and again not to..sell liquor to drunk
ards and minors, only. to. see a. smile of de-
rision upon.their faces while they turn away
without reply and continue their fiendish
work day after day, and might after night.
True it is, as Joseph Cook says, "Seven
out Of ten whiskey sellers are willing to
ride rough-shod over the heart of the
orphan and the widow Feeling the truth
of this, we can but honor the chosen leader
Of the first crusade, Mrs. Eliza J. Thomp-
son, of Hillsboro, Ohio. ''She is the only
daughter Of Gov. Trimble, than whom
Ohio never had a chief magistrate more
true. Nearly forty years before the cru
SADIE she had accompanied that noble father
when he went as delegate to the earliest
National Temperance Convention, which
was SO small that its opening meeting was
held in the dining-room of a Saratoga
hotel Of that period. Going with him to
the door Of this dignifed assembly where
the white cravats of the clergy were a
feature of prominence, the timid Ohio
girl whispered: 20, papa, I'm afraid to
enter, those gentlemen may think it an in
trusion. I should be the only lady, don't
you see?n Upon this the governor re-
piled, My daughter should never be afraid,
even if she is alone in good cause and
taking her by the arm he drew her into the
Convention. What a prophecy was the
first entrance of woman, and this woman
upon temperance convention made up
of men She is the wife of Judge James
HI. Thompson, a leading lawyer. Their
gifted son Allan, once among the most
promising young ministers of his day, died
a martyr to his loyalty to the cause of
total abstinence, after year of reforma-
tion, and wonderful christian activity
and power. Now, mother in Israel, she
rejoices that God gave her strength to go
forth to the battle, for her heart was re-
luctant and fearful on that memorable
morning of Dec. %. 1878, until her daugh-
ter went to her with open Bible, the tears
OOuloluS uOWA AAO1 CuOCAoa ttllu olt1u, L
opened to this, mother it must be for
you,''-it was the 146th Psalm. And what
is the outcome of this fanatical outbreak
The organization of the w. G. T. U.,-the
"sober second thought" which now has a |
foothold in every State and Territory, it's
auxiliaries numbered by the thousand, and
new ones constantly springing up in coun-
ties, districts and towns. Virginia brings |
up the rear with her fourteen, but she is |
sure and steadfast. The tenth anniversary
was not celebrated in many places in our
State, because of it's recent admission into
the Union, but the voluntary offerings to
the National from the different Unions in
the United States, and persons interested |
in the cause, amounted to 50, 113, "a on that
day. When we thinkof the self sacrificing
spirit Of the women of the w. G. T. u,
the giving Of silver pieces and jewels that
were held too sacred even to be used, be-
cause possessed by loved ones gone to
Heaven. but willing to be parted with to
rescue the perishlng, we Ac,soao they are in
earnest, and that they will never give up
the work while God gives them strength.
The day is not far distant when every
christian mother. and wife and sister will
~. sxl.,.,o ,.o,,lrc