The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-08-28

iOhl HOdl0 oS aPt " fSpt go
two and i've do make four" The fact that
/ should belong 10 the w. c. T. Z. seems
almost as self. evident 10 one who, for six
teen years, has marched in the ranks of
the roblest amy that ever moved to the
beating of hearts; but we are epjoined to
be able to give a reason for the hope that
is in us, SO will attempt to give a few OF
the many reasons why l should belong to
| the w. G. T. L.
1t would be s%upelfiuous in this presence
to rehearse the oft told story Of the terrible
Cuisines whose positive, interchangeable
operation, is to fill the commonwealth with
brawls, riots, robberies and murders, and
its households with drunkenness, wrath,
poverty ard anguish" Ever since Cheever
wrote this bill against the liquor traffic
aye, long -before-woman, the greatest
sufferer from the curse, has cried, What
can ! do to rescue my fallen one and pro-
tect my innocents?" In the fullness of
time, about ten years after our government
adopted the liquor traffic as a source of
revenue the consecrated women OF Ohio
received the baptism which sealed them to
the Masters use in the overthrow of the
evil of evils. The echo of the call that
came to them sounded throughout our land
and throughout the world. In all ages as
ISOLATION has been a law of our nature
whether in relation to home, church or
Sta te. Then what more natural than that
these women should cry to each other,
"The work is great and large, and we are
separated upon the wall one far from an
the trumpet, resort ye thither unto
US, our God shall fight for us"
and that as a result organizations
should spring up everywhere, until now
in our own land about 200, 900 women
stand, staunch and true, pledged to
eeaseless warfare against the enemy of all
they hold sacred?
"Woman's Sphere has been a mooted
question since the days of the Greek phil
osphers. Plato would have given women
a part in the management of public affairs,
the conducting OF armies, and the govern
ment of states, making it necessary that
they receive the same training, mental and
ply sical, with men. Aristotle would ascribe
to her "a delicate constitution, natural
s~oftness and modest timidity, and consign
her to the precincts of the house, 'sto en-
ploy herself in prudent and useful econ
omy."
The historian tells us that Xenophon, in
order to set off the occupation of the wife,
who confines herself within the house,
agreeably compares her to the mother bee,
commonly called the queen bee, who alone
governs and superintends the whole hive;
who distributes all their employment, en-
courages their industries, presides over
the building of their little cells, takes care
of the nourishment and subsistence of
her numerous family, regulates the quantity
of honey appointed for that purpose, and
at a fixed and proper season sends abroad
the new swarms:" in brief, since we hold
his comparison good. as far as it goes, we
see that lie makes woman a most respon-
sible generalissimo, and who will say that
the old Athenian gave the wife and mother
too little to do. A commissary department,
board of trade, board of health and board
of education all in one. Because more
questions upon home-making and child
training have been considered by the many
cultivated, scientific, concentrated minds
who have given the w. c. T. T., the bene-
fit of their thought and experience than
have ever before been considered by any
other association, | need to belong to it
that | may be a better home maker and
mother. There, too, may find the advice
and sympathy of older experience that has
learned how to avoid dangerous shoals
with those line my circle who may not see
the sparkling cup as | see it. We have all
learned the truth of our National Presi-
dent's characteristic words, =" IT'S asier
taking hold OF hands" Then / need the
free discussions about the enemy that
turks in the foods. drinks, and medicines
that may contain alcohol, that | may intel
ligently guard my home against it. Because
a fearful gigantic evil is in our land |
should be identified as positively upon the
right side; besides, however loyal to right
and purity | may be, alone | cannot do
as much as by adding my strength to that
of others. Two men together are by far
more than twice one man alone. Their
united strength can perform what would
be impossible for any number acting sep
arstely.
like the word "organized," applied to
the w. IT. U.-'iarranged in parts, each
having a special function, act, Office or re.
l%ation." Hannah Whitall Smith calls the
w. G. t. L. organized motherhood"
Frances Willard said at Atlanta. mo
society ever organized by women has set
the keynote OF protection of the home as
clearly as has the w. C. T. T." Because
every woman has a special talent given by
God and because of the many departments
of work adopted by the w. c. T. L. I
should belong to it That | may devote nv
talent to the work which l can do best
and in comradeship with other women my
power may be added TO theirs in aggressive
warfare against the liouor traffic and in all