The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
A CALL BY THE W. C., T. U.

To the -T0therS ana DaugRterS OF INC
IVoman's Temperance Crusade:
The fifteenth anniversary of Gods blessed
Pentecost which sent you out to pray and
plead in the saloons comes December %, 1889.
The electric power of that magical uprising
is now applied, by means of systematic or
gaaization, to the Womans Christian Tenn
perance Union, formed in every State and
Territory, and numbering, with its honorary
members among the voters, and its Loyal
Temperance Legions among the boys and
girls, not less than half n million souls. This
society has never been either sectarinn or par
tisan, though its partisan enemies outside the
organization have long tried to fix upon it the
stigma of these two designations. 1t has fol-
lowed the white banner of prohibition where
ever that banner has been seen to float, and
at itSrecent convention in Chicago adopted
the following resolutions:
"ReSolred, That we believe it is vital to the
temperance reform that the principle OF pro-
hibition be made the dominant issue in Amerl-
can politics. We therefore give our appro-
val to that party only which declares in its
platform for prohibition in State and Nation,
anc stands in action for its application to
law.
RESOLVED, That We greatly rejoice in the
victory of our principles at the ballot-box in
the new States of North and South Dakota,
and are especially glad that the dominant
party in South Dakota has explicitly declared
for National prohibition"
Neither in constitution nor departments
of work has it ever referred to politics. and
its well-lnown bylaw is still III full force,
as follows:
mo State Union shall be bound by any
principle espoused or plan devised by the
auxiliaries must subscribe to the total absti-
nence pledge and the Constitution of the
National Union"
In the recent convention of 465 delegates,
thirteen from Iowa, headed by Mrs. j. Ellen
Foster seeded from the National W. G.
T. u, and claiming to represent the true
spirit Of the work and revival OF the
Crusade fire, announced a convention at
Cleveland, for the purpose of organizing
in Ohio a national movement on the annI-
versary of the Crusade.
Your Executive Committee then sent the
following message to the loyal white ribbon
women of Iowa.
"Resolred, That the Executive Committee
Of the National W. G. T. U. sends greetings
to all women Of the State Of Iowa, whether
members of the W. c. T., U. OF not, who de-
sire and purpose hereafter to adhere TO the
National w. c. T. u, and cordially invites
all such women, no matter whether their
sympathies are with the Republican, Demo
cratic, Union Labor, or Prohibition parties,
to meet at time and place to be hereafter
designated to consult as to the best method
Of procedure in view Of the secession OF the
Iowa delegation, although no test Of loyalty,
political or otherwise, had been made by the
National w. G. T. U. Convention. At this
proposed conference Frances E. Willard and
other leaders will be present. Mrs. l.. ID.
Carhart, of Marion, Iowa, former President
of the Iowa W. C.. Il. u, will furnish cards
admitting to the privilege of the conference
women who desire to adhere to the National
W. G. T. u, aud who avow this on their ar
rival at the conference. The time has come
in Iowa to strike for the society whose motto
is: For God, Home and Native Land"
In view of all these circumstances, we feel
impelled to call for q rally of the Crusade
clans, and by this we mean. as we have al
ways meant, irrespective of sect or party, q
rally of the forces in this land that pray for
and purpose the outlawing Of the liquor traf-
fic and protection of the home; a rally Of the
wage workers who demand one day of rest
in seven, and that it be kept free from the
saloon temptation; a rally of the men and
women who in heart and life have as their
motto: For God and Home and Native
Land" Let this be held on December %
thatred letter day of the Lords right hand
when women were divinely called to go forth
in battle array against the curse of Christen-
DOM
The women of Ohio will be called by Mrs
Monroe, President of State w. G. T. u, to
send their representatives to Hillsboro, and
the General Officers of the National w. G.
T. u. will join them there, with the exception
Of Mrs Stevens Names intrepid leader, who
holds the fort at home. In all the States
Crusade Camp Fires will be lighted, every
local union holding meetings, so far as
possible, according to the programme follow
ing this: Let these meetings be held in the
churches. There is rot village in the land
where some one church at least, is not with
us in courage, as all who are in earnest to
fight the liquor traffic are sure to be with us
in heart The cry is: TO your knees, O.,
crusade Israel, claiming by conservation and
faith the presence and power Of God in the
w. c. L. u, even as the Pentecostal power
passed into the organization of Christs
Church; even though some call that uncleall
which God hath cleansed by constant trial,
and is now burning in the fires of persecu-
ton that its dross may he consumed, and
its pure gold refined and frightened. Pray
for the serene strength that comes alone
through the indweling Spirit; pray for that
personal Pentecost which shall hold you
steady in the storm, that gentleness which
alone can make you great, and that quictness
which, when God giveth it, none can make
trouble Pray that the Government may be
upon His shoulder, and that humanity may
be lifted up out of the drink dclirium into
the boon of brotherhood and light Of life.
Your Crusade Comrades,
FRANCIS L. WILLARD,
CAROLINE B. BUELL..