The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-06
TEMPERANCE.
BY MISS C. s. BURNETT.
woman's Work and influence

Woman's Work and Influence
In this temperance work, we hear
much said of the responsibility and
influence Of men, and I would that thev
could be made to feel this responsibility
not only to the tribunal of public
opinion, but to tribunal still higher:
yet am compelled to believe that the
and infence of wom=n
are still greater. Some one has said
that the future holiness and happiness
OF the world depends more upon tho
character and work of women. than
upon the character and work of mon
Would that l could write something
that would show the women who said
thls' even an imperfect conception of
the power they possess to labor in the
cause OF human improvement. Would
could give you an idea of the respon-
slbillty resting upon you, to labor in the
cause OF temperance that is now SO
earnestly claiming the attention of the
best minds. The various causes that
kept women for so long a silent specta-
tor IN all great reforms, are now re-
moved, and in the great work of re-
deemlng the world. woman now stands
by the side of man, ready to aid with
word or deed. And who shall say that
the great temperance reform of the
last lew years does not owe much of its
success 10 the fact that women have
been active workers? The men, in their
efforts to rid the world of this great
curse, need the aid of woman in every
relation-mother. wife, daughter, sister,
friend. First in Importance is the work
Of the mother, since she holds in her
hands the first few plastic years of a
child's life. 0, may she improve these
precious years in instillipg into the
minds OF our youth correct views on
all phases of this question. o, that
every mother in our land might feel
that her boy must be saved from this
terrible habit that Rims both soul and
body. 1t costs something to be good
mother. 1t costs time, devotedness and
self-secrifce, but is not the cause
worthy the necessary etfort2 If every
great and good man could arise from the
dead and make known whence the
power came that called his noblest
qualities into being, how many would
point to mother? The mothers hand
gives the life a bias it Will follow, not
only to the end OF life. but throughout
the eternal years. Hence, in Gods
name, l say. letit be strong and steady.
The character OF the home determines
also, the destiny of the nation and of
the race, for it is the worksnop of civili-
zation. What woman is to-day, man
will become tomorrow. If the
mothers of Utah were interested in the
great work of saving their homes from
the curse of drink, the saloons would
cease to do a thriving trade in few
years.
Second in Importance becomes
the work of the wife. | have thought
that many men lost to hope, and finally
to heaven, might have been saved if the
wife had not become discouraged, after
bearing repeated insults and injury.
When a mans wife gives him over 10
the evil one, there is little hope for him.
A mans wife is either an inspiration
for good, or weight that will drag him
down lower. l can but think if wives
and mothers were but true to their
work, ere long. the dark wave of in
temperance that is sweeping over our
land would be stayed. Sister, in this
work there is something fer you to do,
too. Oh, the depth of a sisters love!
Who can measure il? Be to your
brothers a constant inspiration. To do
this. you must yourself be pure and
good. And girls, your effort should not
cease with your own household. You
have little idea of the influence you
exert over the young men with whom
you associate as friends. Improve
every opportunity to say kind word.
Many of them are better at heart than
they seem. l have learned to feel more
of charity than contempt for the vic
Tins of this vice of intemperance.
Young women know nothing of the
temptations to which young men are
subjected. Our lives are hemmed in by
safeguards as theirs are hedged about
by temptations. While we are sur
rounded by the quiet and sweet in
duences of home, they are bsttling with
temptation on the street, and in places
of business. often with no one to say q
kind word. Young ladies, use discre-
ton, but do what yea IN to swell the
tide Of young men on WIZ N SO soon the
responsibility of this nation will rest.
Women often say 70 me, would like
to do somtl hing for the cause OF tenn
perance. but | 90 not know how OF
what. VIII. l canLot tell you what you
can do, for d. rot know thu circum-
stances of your lif but 1 assure you
there is work for you to DO. The
poet say: If you want field of labor
you can find it everyw here" We have
little conception of the power we pos sess
for good. Womsn's fingers can undo
bars and bolts in the human heart thai
man cannot reach. In view Of the
great responsibility resting upon US
what fearful fact that so many Womer
are Indifferent, silent spectators in thii
great battle "for God and home anC
native land"