The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-06-28
w. C. T. u.

4 al RAp az
passed, we find ourselves in the very heart
and centre of a war, produced by an evil,
far greater than that just referred TO. more
far-reaching in It's consequences and re-
suits, extending to every land and cline.
The North and South of our country were
the confines of the civil war but in the
present we find scerytrAere the enemy, and
everywhere those who labor for its destruc-
ton. Sisters. have You ever thought OF
the wonderful record this war will present
to posterity? Its warriors the retiring
womanhood of the world, its badge the
simplest and most unassuming that could
be worn. yet withal the most expressive,
ever whispering of the very foundation Of
all goodness, purity Of heart; our triple
motto the most comprehensive that ever
existed. 1t is for eeery land beneath the
sun. for every home and for the God of all
nations. Should it be said that women
took no part in the war against slavery,
but dwelt in safety st home, we reply:
could she send forth her best beloved, be
it husband. son or brother. knowing he
might never return: could size spend weary
DAYS and nights of anxious suspense in
constant prayer and yet take no part in
the conflict! But in this war. so appro-
~priately termed .'the peaceful wal OF
/ peaceful words" woman comes to the
front. She turns a deaf ear to her timid,
shrinking heart. to the remonstrances OF
friends, it may be the nearest she has, to
the scorn of the sterner sex and also to
the sarcasm of the public press; in fact she
is deferred by no opposition or discourage
ment.
As is necessarily the case in all warfare
the combatants, absorbed as they are in
the conflict, pause not to survey or admire
the we'll disciplined troops. the system, the
imposing appearance of their army. So the
forces of the "White Ribbon Army"
nobly fighting and oftentimes pressed by
innumerable household cares and the
claims of motherhood, find little opportu-
nifty to reconnoiter or even to glance over
the field. But pause we now. in this
oasis-our social gathering-and take a
quiet review of our rmy Look where we
may we find its centre, and the enemy
with his allies is there too, and alas, his
victims are everywhere. As for our gen.
erals, we have the counterparts of the
bravest thai ever lived. Behold our
leader as she stands at the head of this
army, a peerless woman, brave and un-
daunted, fearless, of unerring judgment,
keen penetration and originality, the ad-
mired and beloved model of her compatri-
OTIS; her weapons and her influence only
gentle words, tender and loving advice,
constant and fervent prayer, humility and
charity most beautiful. What Generalhas
ever commanded SO wide a field as the
President of the Worlds w. G. T. T.?
Among the proudest, the best of names
that history has ever recorded, shall stand
forever illumined the magical, endeared
name of Willard. Always at her post, ac-
%companied by that noble galaxy of women,
the executive committee, who stand ever
ready to aid their superior officer.
The "White Ribbon Army" the out
come Of the "Woman's Crusade" has been
emphatically a woman's war, though all
gratitude and honor be rendered the heroic
brothers who have given us their support
and sympathy. Our army, though osten-
sibly fighting the drink curse, wages war
against every form of evil, as in its many
departments of work we find prepared not
only the avenues OF escape from evil but a
pathway Of safety for those who will walk
therein. This army, too, has its reserve
force, a rapidly increasing company whose
young people have become Y's in entering
the ranks thus early, and the loyal little
ones at the sound of whose coming feet the
enemy, King Alcohol, trembles. The
White Ribbon Army eschews all vices, its
aspiration is Whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, pure and lovely, think on
these things" Our soldiers need no uni
form, the only adornment necessary is that
Of a meek and quiet spirit, though still in
domitable.
General Grants assertion, "We intend
to fight it out on this line if it takes all
summer won the applause and admira-
ton of a nation, but our General says, with
her allies: ''We intend to fight it out on
this line if it takes a lifetime Though
numbering its thousands the great MAORI
ty Of the women Of our country are not in
it's ranks. Among the crowds that fire.
quent the many places Of amusement in
our cities, and our churches, too, we may,
perhaps, meet one or two women wearing
our unobtrusive badge, and such we ever
meet with a thrill Of gladness, though we
never have seen them before and never may
meet again, but we clasp hands warmly
and pass on our way refreshed and
strengthened by the 'blest tie that binds"
1t is a source of comfort, too, to know that
thousands of women who are not with us
a~couediy, still heartily bid us "God
speed and depend ON as to do what they
have not the courage or the opportunity to
attempt. Still others there are who
either through ignorance or want Of heart,
regard us with scorn and ridicule. For
such We have no word of ~reproach, hum
bly, praying that sooner or later the blessed
shirt Whic moves all of Gods children.