The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-21
W. C. T. U. COLUMN.
WOMAN AND HER WORK FOR
TEMPERANCE.
Read by LIZZIE H. LINCOLN before the Executiv
Meeting of the County W. C. r u held
at Calvert December IL, 1889.


but note how fast science, literature
and art have developed since the
dawn.
What most interests us at present
is the advancement in woman's posi-
ton, compared with what she held a
short time since.
George Eliot says: ct may not
be good luck to be a woman, but one
begins with it from a baby, and gels
used to it" | hope every woman
may feel the full importance of her
position. of the influence she casts
around her, of the latent power with
in her control, and not get so used
to being one, she need not exen her
self to develope these faculties, and
feel she is only reflection. And as
far as luck is concerned, she has the
power within her control, to make
that good or bad to a certain extent,
she is free agent equipped with a
mind to think and study for herself
the book of nature and the field OF
science are as free to her as to man.
With heart to sympathise with the
unfortunate, to feel for the miseries
and sins which surround her, and
how keenly she realizes, that man S
inhumanity to man, makes countless
thousands mourn, and a soul to
give back to her maker, ransom
for its birthright here. This is wo-
man with her God given powers as
she stands ready for her life work.
From the very beginning OF the
world we have sample OF her infu-
ence, as the Bible reveals to us the
history of Mother EYES influence in
the Garden of Eden when she tempt
ed man and brought sin into the
world. She has had a reputation to
live down. This was very unluck Y
beginning for woman, it was a blot
on her earliest history. But we can
prove that she is not willing to get
used to being that kind of woman.
From the tree OF knowledge of good
and evil she has her choice and we
think she has shosen wisely, as field
after field opens to her and demands
her presence and labor, mentally,
morally and spiritually. With all
the advantages she has gained we
would caution her, "be not fashion 5
gilded lady" Be a whole souled
noble woman. Then her sphere Of
usefulness will continue to grow
broader and stronger. There is q
battle for her to fight, a victory fol
hyr to win, or let King Alcohol gair
the day and rejoice in her defeat
The Temperance cause is her recog
nized field of action. She IS the
prime factor in this movement
There have been other agencies which
have done good work. We have
the zealoss labors and the granc
eloquence of John B. Cough, as he
presented the living truth anc
showed the evil power which is sap
ping the best blood of our nation
His lite was given to this reform
and it was no sacrifice, for death
found him on the platform pleading
for suffering humanity. Truthfully
could he answer the summons "here
am at work in thy vineyard" Ther
we have had the blue ribbon move
ment of Francis Murphy. These
have done share in the good work
as lone agencies. Here comes wOman
to the front as united organized
power to take up the work. She
says we will build a Temperance
ship large enough to carry all who
will join us. We will build broac
and strong. We will place therein {
n0n- Sectarlan plank so all will fee
welcome to busy themselves abou
their Master S work, uncramped by
creeds, that all may feel the vessel i:
filled with Gods free air and sun
shine, to give strength and vigor, tc
work for the love we bear one an
other, feeling we are our own broth
er's keeper, and caution has proved
that the propelling force should be
non. partisan so as to avoid shipwreck
on the polical rock for we see many
sacrifices made for love of party, i
seems to lure its voters to yielc
principle, truth and everything which
is noble and manly for selfish re
nown, and being woman and hav
ing no right to vote she had better
steer clear of party influence unit
the ballot and the power to use il
are in her hands. Thus built anc
equipped our vessel to be thing o
beauty, of promise, and of power
as she sailed out of harbor, bounc
for the port of Prohibition, namec
the National. with the banner from
her top-most mast bearing the in.
scription Woman's Temperance I'm
ion and the white bow indicating
truth and purity, her watch word
For God, for Home, for Native
Land, she had on board lifeboat:
from nearly every state in the Union
These gave promise of aid and sup
port on her voyage, be it long o.
short, rough or calm. We know il
union there is strength. We feel Sc
cure, so much so we had scarcely
stopped to question Have we bu |
| as carefully and prayertully as die
Noah? For without these we are a
the mercy of the winds and waves
If we seek to run by selfish motive!
disagreements and contentious will
arise. AS we turn with pride anc
hope to her she falters, she stops anc
back from New York and Chicago
comes the news, our National is be
ing deserted. We ask what is tn,
matter with the d cSS9 What il
the matter with ither drift
ing?
The words of Patrick Henry come
to us with a significant meaning
"United we stand, divided we fall,
and we feel to day as though w,
stood in the Conemaugh Valley
where the pent up waters were no
held secure and our lost hopes anc
treasures lie wreched and strewn OF
every hand. Disaster and defea
have met the Temperance cause il
so many places this year. We pray
Jesus arise rebuke this storm ant
calm it with Thy word. Can thl
result be woman's luck, if so, let:
add to it woman pluck and seek t(
come forth Phoenix like from the
ashes purihed and strengthened. Fol
sacrifice for this noble cause is worthy
of thee oh, woman, and feel thy labor
and influence are demanded in it:
overthrow. For the hand that rock.