The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-01
W, g. q u. go1unn
The w. CT. U. and the Churches

U. AS fast as openings for doing good
have presented themselves we have tried
TO meet the demand, so that now our
many-sided society reaches out in about
forty different directions. Some lines
of reform are now vigorously pushed,
for which nothing was done in an or
ganized way before the w. q. t. u.
began its work. The awakening Of
the public mind on the subject OF
heredity is an example. What we have
done in this one branch ofreform alone,
justiies our existence az benevolent
and Christian organization. Every one
Of our departments of work seemed to
be called into existance by the plain
leadings OF Providence, and at its birth
received baptism Of the sincerest
prayer. The superintendent of these
departments have been chosen only
because it seemed evident that God
had raised them up to do just such
work. They work by the watchword,
"This one thing 1 do" and each one
believes that her particular line Of work
is necessary in order to Chrstianize the
world. All our workers are Christian
women who endeavor to meet the full
measure of personal responsibility in
the work OF the churches to which they
belong.
They are in this w. G. T. u. work
for exactly the same reasons that some
of them, and many other church mem,
bers, are in the Union Sunday school,
or Christian Endeavor, or Young Mems
Christian Association work. 1t is
found necessary that Christians should
combine their efforts along many lines
of work, in order to save the world
AS all our work is intensely practical
we have very few among US with those
objectional peculiarities which hinder
usefulness. Such people naturally
prefer associations where there is more
talk, and less of hard, business effort
We are peculiar orly as all Christians
should he peculiar people. by being
Jealous for good works. Our mistakes
are such as are common to all men and
women, who have courage to venture
and who are determined to do some
thing.
We have Joined ourselves to those
warning voices that time being the
world has for the most part disregarded.
1T reformers are able to speak with
sufficient eleGucnce, they may get ad-
miration for the form of their message,
but men do not SO quickly and readily
receive the message itself From the
beginning Of history, men have usually
''stoned the prophets All this has
been carefully wei ghed, aud our many
sided reform work demands a consecra
ton which compels US to do duty and
leave consequences with God We
invite all Christians everywhere to
carefully scrutinize the work We are
doing. Are not the churches made
better and helped forward in their work
by what we are doing? We have no
secrets to keep. Our meetings are as
open as those of our churches, and in
every particular we regard ourselves as
responsible for what we do to the COM
munity and to God. We are one with
the Sunday school, and all other Chris
tian associations. In common with all
of them, we exist for Christ and His
church.
We are doing a work which the
churches need to have done in order
that the world may be saved. Like all
other Christian Associations, we are in
the church and OF the church and for
church. Where the women of a com.
munity unite to do the broad work of
W. G. T. e., every church is helped
thereby. If the church exists for any
one work more than another, it is in
order TO bring up in the RICH way the
children committed to its care. The
children are the special charge Of every
local W. G. T. U. 1t aims to protect
the children against every foe. In the
interest Of the children, the National
society, through one of its departments
of work, has helped to have laws enact
ed requiring scientific temperance in.
struction in thirty-six states and terri
tories. No one can believe that this
great work would now be done if it had
not been for the W. G. T. U. This is
but an example. We exist to help
forward the educational work of the
church for children. The CHI ildren OF
our Loyal Legions are growing up to