Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-12

u, did much to advance our cause
| alluGe to Luther Benson. ]
need not attempt to say anything BY
way of description OF him as lee
turer. One would have to see and
hear him to form the faintest idea Of
his peculiar style as lecturer. ]
can only think of him as | met him
in a morning call his pleading spray
for me, for if / am not upheld by
grace, l am gone" made the most
lasting impression on my mind Of all
the words he spoke. Oh, sisters. we
have need to pray not only for poor
Luther Benson, but forthose nearest
and dearest to us, that they may be
kept by Power Divine and delivered
from the fearful temptation which
besets them on every hand. | must
say, also, that it was the direct rs-
suit of Mr.. Benson's lecture that the
women OF the w. G. I. U.of Colum-
bus, started out to try to close the
saloons in our town. The success
which by the blessing Of God has
attended our efforts, IS known to
you, But not unto us. s.ah Lord but
unto Thy name, b call 1.-The glory.
The Ground Gaiaed.
The rapidity with which we have
gained ground the last ten months,
would be counted marvellous were it
not for reasons given in the outset.
A more rapid cultivation of public
sentiment against the open. saloon,
with hope inspired as to putting
them away finally from our midst,
has scarcely been paralielled in the
history of the work in any State.
We of the W. c. T. U. do not claim
all the credit, we have only done
our part. Had our sisters all been
aroused, Mississippi even now would
be rid of the accursed dramshop.
The ear of the public has been gained
and what formerly has been sneered
at as "nothing but temperance
lecture" is counted the thing to be
heard. Even those who hear with
unfriendly ear, feel that in some way,
it concerns them. They often realize
they listen to their doom, especially
the advocates of the liquor traffic.
No longer is it cried out against wo
mans work in public, Earnest, So
Der thinking minds grant that this
is the day when the Lord hath need
o: His hand-maidens and has poured
out His. Spirit upon them, according
to Acts 2: 17.-His daughters
prophesy--many stammering tongue
has been loosed, and we cry day and
night for help, strength and wisdom
and guidance. Over 80 local Unions
organized and many more in prog
ress. Letters come with every mail,
asking "Can you send instruction :?
Can you come? We must have a w.
c. T. U"
We have been endorsed by ecclesi-
astical bodies of nearly all denomna-
tions, only two exceptions. | think
our Superintendents Of Departments
are working up with great interest.
While we have only five or six
State Superintendents as yet, others
are being educated up, by studying
our ways and means finding there is
no end to means, of instruction al
ready prepared by National Superin-
tendents, who are glad to help in
quiring ones.
AS to State Superintendent De-
partments, we can confidently say !:
"SulI there are more to follow |"
The reports of those with us to-day
will interest all.
The COlOred People.
Another cause for rejoicing and
thanksgiving in connection with this
branch of our Temperance work is
the way in which the Lord has
"opened a door" for us to the colored
people of our South. 1t is a fact un-
deniable that after the war, when our
land was under "carpet bag" rule,
their minds were filled with prejudice
and almost hatred to the Southern
people. Many of us in our childhood
had hung on our colored mammy's
neck, looking to her for sympathy
and comfort in our joys and griefs,
especially those children left mother
less felt keenly the poisoned shaft
which entered their minds, causing
them to turn from US with suspicion
and distrust. God has heard ON
prayer, and is restoring to us their
confidence and love, for why should
we who are innocent of their bon
dage be cut off, unable to do them
good for time or eternity? But thi:
blessed Gospel of Temperance ha.
broken down the barriers, and We
can now go to them freely in Jesus
name, for by his power he has giver
them the hearing ear, inclining then
to listen to reason and justice. W.
see the bright day dawn.
Our Children.
The unanswerable question
seUhy Oh ubv did not tho womer