Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-09-26
SKETCH
OF THE NATIONAL MOMEN'S CHRIS.
TIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.


ing war the laws are silent, Us a
well-worn AID generally accepted
maxim. Its truth was painfully
brought home to us during the late
war between the States. While the
better and more moral elements of
the country were fighting for home
and honor and native land-for it is
the moral men who are always the
patriots those on whom ties Of all
kinds, and especially the ties ofmor-
ality and patriotism. rest but lightly,
were at home expending their ener-
gies in the pursuit of wealth and
pleasure, and in the repeating of any
and all laws that stood between
them and either their greed of gold
or the selfish qualification of brute
passions. In consequence, this
baser element erased from the stat
ute books all the prohibitory laws
which had been passed by the men
who at the time Of their repeal were
too busy fighting for individual
and national honor to have time to
watch and restrain venal and cring-
ing legislators and politicians. The
repeating Of these laws, coupled with
the issuance of alcoholic beverages
to the Union soldiers and the fatal
frequency with which the doctors
prescribed brandies and whiskies for
every triaing ailment had increased
to its full the great tide of intem-
perance. On, on, and on, blood
crested, and dark-billowed, this
flood of drunkenness swept and
swept, rolling its waves into the
home of almost every family and en-
gulfng down in its sunless depths
the brightest and best, the purest Of
heart, and most glorious Of promise,
until every breeze that blew over the
nation was wet with the tears of wo
men, and loud with wailing Of little
children.
This state of things continued until
1873. On the 23d OF December Of
that year DIR. Dio Lewis preached
sermon at Hillsboro, Ohio, on the
evils of the drink traffic. Every
woman's heart in the audience vi
brated to his words and down in
their souls depths they determined
to do what they could for the protec-
ton Of their home. Thus was set in
motion what is since known as the
Woman's Crusade, which spread like
wild-fre all over the Northwest.
The women going in companies Of
two visited nearly all the saloon men
In the States in this region, and by
prayers, tears and entreaties, suc-
ceeded in closing up the saloons in
over two hundred and fifty cities
and towns. They reclaimed armies
of drunkards, filled the Sunday
schools and churches to their utmost
capacity, and reduced crime of all
kinds to a minimum. Such flame
of enthusiasm could not last long
and in less than six months it was
burned out. But from its ashes rose
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. Hence" says Jno. B.
Finch, "though the WomaL's Cru
SADIE as temperance movement was
per Sc a wret ehed failure, yet as a
preparation for organized, systematic,
intelligent work it was Of God and
by Him directed" The preliminary
meeting for the organizatiun of the
w. G. T. U. was held at Chatauqua
in August Of 1874 and the first con
vention called at Cleveland, Ohio, in
the November of the same year. Al
this convention an organization was
effected, constitution adopted, and
plan of work laid out. Miss Annie
Wittenmeyer was elected president
and the now world-famous Miss
Frances E. Willard secretary. From
that date the w. G. I. U. has stead
lip grown in numbers and power
1t holds annual conventions, alter
mating in the place Of holding then
between the East and the West
The next is called for October ant
will be held in Philadelphia. Mis-
Willard has been the most untirin!
and faithful of all the workers, hav
ing visited and spoken during tn
decennial year of 1888 in ever,
State and territory Of the United
States. She was in Kansas whel
their prohibitory amendment wa
submitted by the legislature. Sh'
lent efficient aid in Iowa and Main,
during their fight; and in 1880 sh'
was in our own State and aided th'
Mississippi temperance workers il