The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-05-29
THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE
w. q. II. u.
Paper read By airs. 4. X. Ware before
the Scmf.Annual Convention of the
gloucester COunty w. C.T.U L.. Har.
rfsonYIIle. NAY 1911. 1891.

the convention Oh me
gloucester County w. t.. Har-
rfsonyIIle, May 18Th, 1891.
In these DAYS when SO few of our homes
are untouched by the evils of intemper-
anee, social impurity and the tobacco
habit, it is not necessary to urge the need
of practical work. The question of i'm
portance to us is, What can we do as
members of this organization, the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union?
First, let US use our personal influence
at home, in the church, ia society, inevery
possible way against every form Of in
temperance. Do not forget TO wear your
white ribbon; this is one important use of
personal influence; pin one on every dress,
even your house dresses. You cannot tell
what thoughts it may bring to the mind Of
the discouraged peddler or tramp you
meet at your door; it may open the way
for many a little temperance sermon to
such men, these wandering Jews of
humanity.
OF course no faithful temperance oma
will use wine or brandy in cooking, but
are we as strict as We should be about
using alcoho. as a household remedy?
How many of US are still clinging to the
false notion that we must keep traudy in
the house for a stimulaut in emergencies,
that wine may sometimes be used as a
tonic, and that jamaica ginger and essence
of peppermint are perfectly harmless sum-
mer remedies. Are they harmless? Listen
to a true story:
In a Christian home dear to me a boy,
the first born son, in some way inherited a
strong liking for anything with alcohol in
it. Many times a pain was a welcome
visitor to him because he could then get
jamaica ginger, which was a standard
remedy in that temperance home; his
mother never dreamed what that desire
meant for the future, never dreamed of the
misery in that appetite which begged for
s.justa little more of the good medicine.
AS the boy grew older with christian in
f~1uences around him, in the home and
society, a member of church and Sunday
school, the world thought him safe; only
his mother knew that she must now hide
the brandy bottle which she still consider
ed a household necessity, instead of a
household damnation. lie is still a young
man with a great future before him. but
it is already Swallowed by conflicts with
this appetite, in which the appetite has
many times gained the battle. His chris
| fla n nfnthpr had ttot tho ltrht va bova
to day, did not know Of the many suosti-
tutes for alcohol science has given us. Let
us use all the light We have to keep our
own homes pure and bright.
We should take our Temperance work
into the church more than we do. Don't
you think some of our dull weekly prayer
meetings, where sometimes the prayers
do not seem to come from the heart, would
be mere earnest and helpful if one OF us
with a heart full of longing for some
blessing on our york would just tell the
story of difficulty, and ask every ons
present to help, not only by their prayers,
but their Influence? Tell them of the great
harvest waiting for the workers who are
so few; tell them our plans, the great plans
Of the W. c. T. U. Don't be afraid oil
being called a 'scrankf; it is Christ'S work
just the work be would be doing If he came
to this earth again today. We must take
the temperance work into the church.
Christians must get acquainted with it.
Nothing is more practical than this.
When you g away for your summer
outing take your temperance principles
with you. in addition to a whole piece of
white ribbon, take lots OF oar literature.
| know one white ribboner who took with
hertz the sea shore last great pile
of Union Signals and literature for mothers,
and somehow these papers were always to
be found lying around at her boarding
place, on the parlor table for rainy days, OF
the piazza for sunny days, and frequently
opportunity was given for a wedge to entel
f in the form of a little talk about our work
So many people are ignorant Of our grand
accomplishments, and some are found
GLAD to learn about this branch of GU,
Christian work.
- &' - cAt WI 80 - VIZ j
What can we do to get people interested,
First, be intensely interested yourself
How many Unions are failing because of a
lack of interest in their members. Thil
interest must be cultivated. Read atou
the work. The Union Signal is one o
the greatest Inspirations to a discouraged
worker. We are so apt to think the whoit
cause is going dow when we look only on
our own little band fighting againt al
sorts of odds. Read the 'Notes from the
Field, " the reports of work from all owe
: the nation, and you will brace up with re-
newed energy. Keep posed on the work
Of our State and county. Read the State
minutes; they are indispensable to al
earnest worker. | wish conld tell you o
the help the address of our State Presi-
dent, printed in the minutes, has been to
me in trying hours. When | think of her
~indomitable courage it strengthens me fol
every hard battle. The reports from al
the Unions in all departments. give us an
insight into the breadth Of our work which
we would gain from 10 other source.
Wa uaeJ tho Whit pUTo1 He,,yd ton