The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1885-10-22
why Should j Belong to the w
&. Il. o.?
81 ESTHER 7. HoUsH.
Rational supE Press Dept. ". II. L


1t Is a question busy women ask
each other, and ask themselves.
1--WE have all the duties there is
| time aud strength to perform. Shall
we neglect our homes and children
/ for the w. G. I. W" say some Of
or best women when they are asked
10 become members of the Union.
There are two distinct reasons why
every intelligent Christian woman
should, because Of her relation 10
the home, belong TO the w G. T. L.
! LIST. Home is the centre and source
: OF life, ard woman is the home keep
err. What ever concerns the home,
therefore, is OF vital Importance to
her.
2nd. The enemies Of home are
her enemies aud she is called upon
70 defend both it and herself against
them. Intemperance is acknowl
edged to be the greatest enemy of
the home. the leader of vices in
whose wake many deadly foes follow.
"But why is women called to com
bat the evils Why cannot men reg
ulate the affairs Of the world and
leave Us 70 tue management of the
homesf'
Partly because they cannot; partly
because they will not. The world IS
simply collection Of homes. Pos
sibly for every ten happy and we'll
ordered households, where man is
industrious and temperate, there are
five where man is improyident and
Incorporate. The women Of these
homes are helpless, the children
grow up in tainted atmosphere, and
50 go out TO curse the world by their
own sinful lives, and by their infu
ence counteract much of the good
otherwise existing. 1t is very plain,
The mother love that shields her
own child must also shield her neigh
ber's child. She is pronpted to DO
this by her own self preservation
and that of her home, and by that
love-Christ-l which for the
sake of the lost, seeks to save them.
but intemperance has always
been combated by good men and wo-
men. Why is the w. c. I. U. bet
ter organization than any other?"
Because it is organized mother
love, and sin union there is strength !"
in organization there is power
Nearly two hundred thousand Chris
tian women in the United States
have banded together and say I'VE
are the home keepers; the children
are ours; the saloon is our enemy,
and the saloon must gor'
How has all this been brought
aboutY'
The Crusade was the first person
al work of woman for temperance
True, societies existed and much
work was done in retaining drink
ing men. The Crusade women yir-
tually said: "The drunkard must
not be made. We will pray the sa-
loon keeper not to sell intoxicating
drinks. We will save our husbands
aad sons and brothers." The Spirit
1 Vi tDt l<Dth WAC uDou tucIu anu
great good was accomplished. Into
the temperance work strong spirit
nal element was introduced, and wo
men we're shown the power OF organ
lied effort. The w. G. T. u. was the
outgrowth of the Crusade. So ready
were women for this work that
twelve states responded TO the call
4 for the first National Convention,
held at Cleveland IN 1874. The
blessing of the Lord has been con.
slant, and the carnestness and de
votion of the women without par
allel.
The National w. G.. L. Il. is now
organized in every state and terrific
~, with more than 5000 local Un
ions. Much OF this success is due
The untiring labors Of the National
President, Miss Frances f. Willard,
but much also to tie faithful women
who make up the rank and file of the
army.
By means Of these Unions, the
homes OF the women themselves are
directly Influenced, chilren are bet
ter taught, public opinion Is educat-
ed, large amount of temperance
/ literature is circulated, and the pow
en- Of the liquor traffic undermined.
Moreover, in many states, Seicn
( fIfc Temperance Education is re-
1 quired By Law in all public schools
and this has been done directly
through the Influence OF the W. G.
! 4. u. And their good york has just
begun.
Why should belong TO the w. G.
/ f. L.?
LIST. Because the cause is worthy
Of my name, money and influence.
2nd. Because it is my duty to do
all can Tor God, and Home, and
Native Land
'.lle that goelh forth and wecpcth,
bearing precious seed, shall doubt
less come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.--Ps.
I l26: 6.
What though ~ strass onf shea,es NC gamf
sure Is the pledge OF golden grain.
tVt..4 - a.. .,..l.4. IN.