Dodge City times., 1888-04-05

prayed fervently and increasingly that the
work might not lag in any district, but
make such progress as it had never before,
through the efforts OF my faithful constit-
uents: and surely the Lord heard the PRAYER
of His hand-maiden for there has been Il
gathering in of new recruits During the
past five months we have been greatly
blessed in OuI increase.
WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS.
Our first great need is Il strengthening Of
our organizations. We cannot live on
theories, however fine, and ideals, however
high. These may make the atmosphere OF
convention helpful and inspiring, but the
local union must have women to make the
theory feet, and the ideal an experience.
Growth at the roots is the present demand.
The only way to get this growth is by
calling out our forces. and putting them
into actual service. SO small a fraction of
our actual membership are engaged, that
the work goes halting for need OF help.
This scate of things has two main causes:
First, head and heart are not captured by
the great ideals and enthusiasm OF our or
ganiZaton: second. the talent and energy
of the rank and file are not successfully
called out and applied. To correct the
first we earnestly recommend the follow
ing: First, let no woman accept an Office
in the W. &. L. L. unless she intends to
make it her first work. 1t is the cause
, OF God. and the cause of humanity. One
woman cannot do everything. When cho-
SELL therefore, let her say. This one thing
| do. Always remember neglect OF duty
or careless work on the part OF officers,
will eventually run any union.
There is no mission that reaches the
masses like the w. c. L. [. Facing the
foreign missionary i'll every land is the
whisky barrel of this christian nation.
Public conscience which has kept away
the wine glass from the foot of the White
House table, must shatter them at tie
head of that table, whose demoraliZng eX
ample threatens every home in the land.
During your term OF office. dear sisters
strike the blow for God and the union
Then let the weekly meetings be more
than a careless hour, with a hap-haZard
L program, let every union take up IL course
of reading. Take up the books which
lead along the lines of our great reform
y make a study of them, not "A careless read
ing; give out written questions one Weel
u in advance: secure five minutes essays OF
G single point: have discussions, and think
|
: over humanity. There is food for the i'll
tellectral life in a study of Our work. lie
every white ribbon sister devote one-hal1
y hour each day to the temperance work
l. and who can tell the result: Some one vii
e say: What can be done in a half hour: 1oi
can keep some of our leaflets on hand ant
: mail one where it will do good. You cal
@ write letter to Il defenceless neglected
girl. or a tempted young man, talk to Il
!. Sunday school teacher about the need o1
temperance being taught in the Sabbath
: schools. You can seek the acquaintance
of our working girls in order to betrienc
}; and defend them. Spend few moments
n in special prayer for our temperance worh
|; and workers everywhere, no concert OF
q action will bring the results or the bles
J. sings following individual effort. d.
/, some little thing every day, and the frui
i will soon appear.
= OUR MESSENGER.
It Remember this is our state organ, the
y medium of communication by which plan
r of work are to be made known. and tht
:. movements of the different bands of work
e ers. As your District President. | hat
J. planned writing a serious Of letters, both
: advisury and commendatury to you, my
y constituents, hoping in this way to stir III
= your pure minds to the remembrance OF
y many things; and | learn at the outset
b of my return to active work that not one
half of our w. G.. L. L. members i'll my
h district take our official organ. Do you no
|, know that the columns of our state pape
/, is the only means provided by the district
k whereby can reach you with message
Comrades, how can you keep step with th'
g onward marching columns unless you keel
It yourself posted as to the movements OF tn
d brigade to which you belong. OF what us'
to shoulder your guns unless you load then
e with ammunition that will carry dEsna,
o into the ranks of the enemy: How vii
= you be able to cope with that enemy tln
y less you are warned of the dangers befor'
you, and can face your foes boldly: Car
d your chosen leaders keep you in line, anC
drill you in the various kinds of work, HIi
c less you lay hold OF the communicating
: wire by which they seek to transmit theL
g messages to you:
il Is there w. c.. L. L. woman listening
: to this message of mne who is not yet fur
n nished with this source of instruction aAt
II encouragement. Dear friend let me say tC
). you that you are losing much. NheI
! you sit down with difficulties, that sur
|: TOtIlu YOU. IOt kHONlHS WHICH way w t'ii q
T. that you may advance, the way will naiy :
). times be opened and the clouds lifted. II
, you had sour Messenger you could reaO
e the messages of hope. and the work accom-
i plished and advance made along the line
7. by your comrades, that come to you in ANY
issue of our little paper, and you Woui,
rise in renewed strength and zeal to tak'
the step firmly and bravely before Whici
your spirit had SO fatered.
Are there any faint-hearted ones WiIt
think there are hills OF difficulty III tht
way of our success: Believe me. the diff
culties now before us are but hiliOcks il
comparison with the mountains OF ditficGl.
ty that loOmed up before us in the begin
! ming, and one concerted movement on the
part of the thousands of women now eu-
listed under the w. c. L. L. banner in
: Kansas would trample them down to dead
level. where the Kansas brigade might be
viewed without one false step.
| NARCOTICS.
We will endeayOr to get a bill passed
by our next legislature, prohibiting the
sale of tobacco and cigarettes to minors. y
few years ago a call was issued from Lon