Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-30
THE Wet. A. MEETING
Bessie Bramble Finds q Few Weak
nesses Among the Sisters.
SINGING ISN'T ALWAYS MUSIC.
Too Much Display of Alleged Piety and
Long-Winded Reports.
THE HOME DUTIES OF THE LADIES
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. J

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.1
The non-partisan National w. C.. T. A.
Convention last week was not so imposing
in appearance as the main body of the W.
G. T. q. from which it seeded last year;
yet it made great show in enthusiasm and
devotion. 1t Is hard for outsiders to see
any great cause for secession among earnest
women engaged solely in temperance work
save that like man, when things don't go to
suit them in a church, or congress, or con-
vention, they split off into factions that do
so much to injure the cause they are en-
deavoring to serve.
The rule of the majority is supposed to
prevail in all such bodies, but yet the mi
nority in this great congress of women, who
cultivate the Christian graces and are
thought to be superior to such childishness,
would not submit to it. After an amend
ment to cover the disputed point had been
largely voted down in the National Convex
tion twice, the party which met here last
week hocked by itself, put into its constitu-
tion the anti-partisan plank, and adopted
the long and awkward name which really
makes it as much partisan to its own ways
and views and politics as before.
OF course what they mean is that they
want to keep their union out of politics.
But how they can expect prohibition to be
established in this country without polit-
icaI party behind it, it is pretty hard to see.
There is no occasion. say some, for hostile
feelings between the rival societies, but the
fact Is such feelings do exist. Just as
much human nature is exhibited by women
in these affairs as by men. However, let US
hope that they will show more common
sense than do the brethren, and refrain from
the mud throwing for which the latter are
SO disgracefully famous in political cam
paigns.
We felt quite proud of the Pittsburg
delegation. Mrs. Campbell was over
whelmed with honors and Mrs. Weeks was
made superintendent of educational work,
while two OF the leading offices went to
Cleveland. But while awarding due praise
to all there is considerable room for criti-
cism. On the occasion of my visit the
music was away below par. A man had to
be asked to lead, but as he and few on the
platform were singing one time while those
below were engaged upon another, the
effect was thrilling and very amusing.
Most OF the members have reached the age
when their voices are neither fresh nor
beautiful. Women should recognize this
public-and leave the singing to the
younger set.
woRDY DISPLAYS OF PIETY.
There is one thing of all others that
women should studiously avoid in all public
meetings, and that is cant. Some of them
are as really good in this pious twanging
and whining, supposed to be devotional, al
some of the country preachers or the
Dr. ,uhn 1loy fa1l ~
was esteemed sin to hang garlands on a
may pole, to drink friends health, to play
chess, to wear love locks (bangs), to put
starch in ruff, to touch the virginals or to
read the Fairy Queen-when half of the
fine paintings were idolatrous and the other
half indecent when a Puritan was known
by his garb, his. lank hair and the sour
solemnitv of his face and the nasal twang
with which he prayed and dIscoursed gen.
orally.
Now some OF the sisters would not 10
seen with bang, but they have no hesiJ-
fancy about the twang. They tell the Lord
that he knows what weak, feeble worms
they are, and how incapable they are to do
any good thing. Then they pray for the
strength without which they can do moth
ing, and go over the same old "taradiddles'
SO often rehearsed before, as indicative of
superior piety.
Robert Hall, one of the most famous of
preachers. on this subject OF cant, says:
The superabundance OF phrases appropri-
ated by some pious people to the subject oil
religion and never applied to any other
purpose, has not only the effect OF disgust
Ing persons OF taste, but of obscuring re-
ligion itself. As they are seldom defined
ard never exchanged for equivalent words,
they pass current without being understood.
They are not the vehicle, they are the sub
stitute, for thought.
IN BLACK AND WHITE.
There is much food for reflection in these
remarks of the great writer. When a
woman is given to praying in public instead
OF st her home in her closet she should write
it down, and then see how much sense there
is in it anyhow, or if it is merely a multi
plication of cant words and expressions
dinned into her ears every Sunday until she
could spin them off any time "by heart" as
the children call it.
Ii all praying iu public were put into
cold print, and if the twang could be ex-
pressed in type, some of it would be funny
indeed. This is all an imitation, and a bad
one at that. 1t is not to be believed that
the Lord would be more 10th to listen if
those who pray would use their own natural
voices and without SO much vain repetition.
Another thing women should aim at, now
that they are learning to speak in public, is
to make their speeches short pithy and to
the point. A rambling speaker-too fond
of digressions-is always wearisome. It has
ALWAYS been held asa fault of women that
they are too much gifted with the CAB.
Addison says. in his elegant way of putting
things, that he has often been puzzled to
assign a cause why women should have this
talent OF ready utterance in so much greater
perfection than men, and has often fancied
they had not the faculty of suppressing
their thoughts, as have men. But it Addi-
sou could hear nowadays how women can
speak I'm public on the STAGE" he would be
infinitely more puzzled and surprised. But
having this talent for ready utterance, it
should be so cultivated and exercised as not