Sword and shield., 1885-10-24

difficulties the ages bring, with a
clear brain and a steady nerve.
When reason and human love can
come to the rescue Of mems passions
they will arbitrate national differ
ences in international councils; and
spears will be beaten into plow.
shares, and swords into pruning
hooks. Dear women of Mississippi,
YOU are wanted in your Unions, in
YOUR own towns, to be co-workers
with Christ tor the humanity He so
loved and believed in, that he spent
thirty-three sorrowful, lonely years
on earth, struggling to open our
blind eyes to seeEhe redemption and
peace there is in divine .ove. 1t is
not so easy to follow whithersoever
He leadeth-intc petition-work, into
Bands of Hope. into legal conflicts
with saloons, into home-opposltion,
into speaking thg word in season,put
into your heart to speak privately
and publicly. But if it is placed be-
fore you to do any of these things,
don't shrink back you are called,
YOU are needed, and the lowliest obe-
dience is the highest service. In the
words of another, ''There are two
points, one in the depths and one on
the upper heights, from which the
perplexitles of the world are less
perplexing than from any interme-
date point. One is the path of low
" obedience-and only reveals to-
dan: the other is on the threshold of
eternity-and commands the ages.
Love keeps our steps to the one
faith bears lis on eagle-wings to the
other. Silence your own objections
by going to work. As George Elliot
saws Il love the souls that rush
along to the goal with full stream /;
that have too much of the positive
to be harassed by the perpetual mega
tives: which after all are but the dis
eases of the soul, to be expelled by
fortifying the principle of vitality"
There is one indisputable fact In our
Temperance work-however man is
blessed, the greatest blessing is to
come to woman. To her, the saddest
of all things Is to lose faith in her
ideals; to begin. to cover with the
mantle of charity the objects of ones
deepest reverence. Not only does
her blessing come in the certain hope
of realizing her highest ideals in
father, husband and son, but in the
enlargement of her own soul and
life.
cannot tel you here all the
blessings thateflave come into my
own life but wrote to Miss Willard
the other day that something was the
matter with me-I do not know what
unless dear Mrs. Erwin had been
praying for me, as | was no longer
afraid, And all suggestions of what
people would think, only made me
mere quietly determined to say what
was given to say, and to do what was
laid before me for our loved cause.
But | have not done much, and in
stead Of opposition, there has been SO
much sympathy, SO many kind tender
hands outstreched to help me up
every steep place, that | have
thought ''surely every one knows how
tired, how weak and bruised am
by the way | have already come in
iife's Journey" And so many per-
plexities have slipped away that | am
reminded
'Who tolls while others sleep;
Who sows with living care
What other hands shall reap;
They lean on thee eHtranced
II calm and perfect rest /"
You are tired and weak too | can
hear the inward whisper OF your
spirit:
''There is nothing left for me;
If all my strength were shown,
So small the amount would be,
Its presence could scarce be known i"
But listen
'sThe word of old was true,
And its truth shall never cease;
The Lord shall fight for you,
And ye shall hold your peace"
George Elliott says:-I do no
see how | can fotgive George Elliot
for saying first the things Iintendet
to say-however, she says: 9Th,
highest lot is to have definite belief
about which you feel that neoessit.
is laid upon you to delare them a
something better which you ar,
, bound to try, and to tell to thOs
who have the worse. We women o
Mississippi, have definite beliefs
let US not fail to declare them b.
word and deed. Our greatest stun
, bling block is that we are afraid 0
, the judgement Of men; if we coul
, once cast this fear to the winds an,
! listen truly 10 the still, small voice
whispering to our better selves, tn
] women Of the Christian ChurcI
would find all things possible t
) them" Give me no light, grea
) Heaven, but such as tends to energ
t Of human-fellowship; no powers bu
4 such as tend to make complete
+ womanhood. This white ribbon W
!. wear means: "With spotless purity {
q purpose, in the white light of God
e truthfulIness; with womanly gentle
S ness; with more than manly reason
0 ableness-we will labor unfaltel
!, ingly, sowing beside all waters, unit
f God gives us to reap the harvest
n National Prohibition" !"
\ Blessed are they which hang n.