The Press., 1888-06-28
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
WEARING THE WHITE RIBBON.
Conducted by the w.C.T. U.l

Conducted by the W. CT. U.l
 WEARING THE WHITE RIBBON
 "We white ribbon women are set on pinnacle to be stared at. always feel, whenever have the white ribbon on, that l must behave myself, is the terse remark of our Quaker evangelist, Hannah Whitall Smith. Following the line of her Bible readings, we may take a little text from "behave myself, for the quaint expression reminds us of the charity" that "suffer- eth long and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, Is not easily provok- ed, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in in- iquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things"
 The teacher of the Greek W. O. T. U. class at Nashville, during the national w. O. T. U. convention, explained that the word "easily" is not in the original, but should read ''is not provoked. And it seems to me that is the definition of wearing the white ribbon-"having a soul that is not provoked. Resting se- cure in the great calm heart of infinite truth, we cannot be provoked, we cannot "behave" ourselves "unseemly."
 The white ribbon is pledge of sister hood to the associations to which we be- long. How do we "behave" in the flood of light Paul showers upon us. How en- " and criticisms fade out in that broad sunlight ; how pride and false judgment hie away to the dark corners Do we place ourselves squarely in the position of another before we condemn? Our pa- tience meets a little tax, but Glove suffer- eth long, and is kind" Love waits for the trembling feet, holds out the strong hand, helps over the rough places.
 The white ribbon has made women more acquainted with each other. It signifies @ uniting of heart and hand for a common good There is. no room in it's closely tied bow for dissension or strife. It unites in telligent christian womanhood for all oI education and prevention, that will make pure and safe the home, our own home and all homes. It is itself a badge of SO cial purity. How in it's presence ought slanderous whisperings to vanish "Think } eth no evil" Telleth no evil. Doeth nc , evil.
 There is a worldwide significance also We are interested in a new way in womer across the seas. Where the altar fires o l the w. O. T. U. burn, the women of Eng land, the women of Japan, of Australia, o the Sandwich Isles, turn sisterly hearts to wards us, and their prayers with our't l belt the globe. We are bound by tha } mystic sign to knowledge of them, anG . sympathy with them.
 ] The white ribbon is a covenant witl God. Before it was morn the woman sou heard the cry of "Rachel weeping for hel 3 children, and would not be comforted be 3 cause they are not, ,"-heard the tramp 9 tramp of countless children's feet in tn, l. years to come, and the weary tread of lit !. tie ones grown old with want and sorrow q The covenant was, I will come up to tn, 1. help of the Lord against the mighty. !, will unite my heart and hand with chris !. tian womanhood to save the perishing, b, ]. love and knowledge, by persuading mel
 everywhere to prepare the way of tn ,, Lord make his paths straight" ETH. n The women who uniformed their son s in gray, and said, like the Spartan moth .- CTS of old, "Come in victory or come nt s more, are here beside those other womel d who belted the northern swords upon thei e boys in blue, with words as pitiless an, l. brave. The women who wrought in sil B the stars and stripes upon the flag tha J. symbolized their love and faith, to-da D win warmest welcome from those wh e decked their "bonny flag of stars an
 
 O fervent. The women whose prayers wer s so diverse, that when the southern woma }. gained the ear of Heaven," home the @ brought her warrior dead" to the woma n of the north, and when the northern pray v CT was answered, the best beloved wer n slain in southern households, sit side b e side to-day, and wear the badge of lov
 above the hearts that hate no more, whil ,f we clasp hands in compact never to b o broken, and solemnly declare before hig y heaven our mutual loyalty to "God, an
 home, and native land"
 What God hath wrought? Surely
 winsome thing is the human heart Tn a bloodless warfare of to-day, where wome T share the field with men, make us forge l. the past.
 i. 70 veterans of the blue and gray, who fougl 'r on southern field,
 f The purposes of God are true, His judgmer stands revealed;
 , The bangs of war have rent the veil, and To Y his high decree
 !. 4 One heart, one hope, one destiny, one fla Y from sea to seal"
 l, -FrGnces K. Willard, in HdshUiite COnUeStion.