West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-03-24
How a Union was Preserved.
BY GRANDMA THINK-AND-WORK

we must give III up. uO
speaker is dark-eyed, sweet-voiced
little woman, and both eyes and
voice are very sad.
~ cannot consent to your pro-
position, my little sister. There is
no n,ust in the case" The speaker
looks bright and animated, and the
voice is clear and strong. .
"But l, too think we must said
another.
"And I,"-"And I"-until every
one present has spoken except a
little lady in the corner, whose
voice is seldom heard.
These ladies are gathered in the
parlor of the residence of the second
speaker, who is president of the
W. c. T. U. of c..
There has been a special call
issued for this meeting, and it has
been noticed from the pulpit of the
village church on the Sabbath
preceding, with the request for
full attendance of the mem bers tor
the consideration of special bust
ness.
At a previous meeting, it had
been proposed to consider at this
one, the expediency of continuing
the associating for another year,
A committee to solicit member
ship had secured just the same
twenty names that have been upon
it's rolls for the four years since its
organization. But of this number
there are only five who are
active in the work, and several
times during the last year there
has not been a quorum present at
it's meetings.
cit seems very discouraging,
certainly" spoke the clear voice,
that there are no more present to-
day, and I believe this is the third
attempt to call quorum together,
without success. And now that We
are here we are not agreed, and SO
we cannot claim the promise that
He will be with US, who, IF He be
for us is more than all that can be
against u.s. Let us recall to our
minds, dear sisters, the promises
we have made to Him with regard
to this work in the years that have
passed since we took it up in His
name. Have we been faithful in all
things? And, dear sisters, is the
work done which we organized our
selves into union for the purpose
of doing7 If the battle is won,
then we may lay our armor by, but
if not, then surely we must exam
inc ourselves, and see if, indeed, we
have had the whole @rmor on. Let
US pray together for guidance in
this matter.
Then the clear, strong voice
grew sweet and tender as there
arose in that humble room such
supplication for wisdom and
strength from the Father of light
as brought down both to the hearts
that were bowed there with hers,
and each was able to say, 81 know
in whom l have believed, and
that He is able to keep what have
committed to Him." All arose
from their knees with new courage.
and each felt that she had found
where was the weak spot in the
Christian armor she had meant tc
wear.
There was few minutes of such
: silence as is often more pregnant
with meaning than most COLDER
speech, and then the little woman
who had proposed to "give it up,
said: II think there is great nee(
, of careful, Christian Temperance
) work in this community, but it il
} so unpopular, and there is 80 littl
, interest taken by those who art
needed to make it So Why, how
3 can we 60 on when our ministe
s and his wife take no part, AM
s nearly all the members of tn
t church decline to help us-evel
: speak of our organization with con
r tempt, sometimesW
e ooh, my dears, if we have desery
s ed contempt, then indeed we hav
o need to be sorry and ashamed, bu
J. if not we need only be sorry, the
Q those who speak of US so shall b