The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-06-16

question have been informed that the
Union favors the political prohibition
OF the saloon, and also favors the ex-
tension of the ballot to women. But
was further informed that the securing
OF political franchise, and the legal pro-
hibition of the alcoholic traffic were not
the whole of the work of the Union.
Indeed, it appears that there are some
thirty-nine other departments of work
which the Union is actively carrying on,
put which the opponents of these t'c0
departments seem wholly to have over
looked. By the testimony of one
of the noblest women in America, it is
shown. that 'In totality, work has
steadily increased on Gospel lines, as
understood by the broadly, rather than
narrowly, orthodox Fpeople of the
churches" Among the systematic la
bors of the Union, the following have
been enumerated: For Social Purity,
Sabbath Observance, Scientific Tenn
perance instruction in the public
schools, already secured in most states
and now being enforced under the
watchcare of the Unions, Flower Mis-
sion, Direct Temperance Instruction,
Club Rooms for Girls, Industrial Train
ing; Work among Foreigners, Sailors
and Lumbermen, Education of church
es up to the standard of Unfermented
Communion Wines; Agitation and Legis-
lation against the Narcotic Habits,
Weekly Gospel Temperance meetings;
Juvenile Temperance work, Sunday
School Temperance lessons, Rescue
Work among the fallen of both sexes,
Study of the relation of Temperance to
heredity, labor and capital, and the
home-all this, and more, the Union is
doing with system and unflagging zeal,
by means of platform and press and
evangelist and teacher. One of the
practical accomplishments of the Union
in Michigan has been, the abolition of
liquors from all fair grounds, result
obtained only after four years of
watching and working and prayer.
This Union no longer kneels feeble
group of women on the sloppy floor of
an Ohio grogshop. 1t has become a
host Its membership is twelve thou
sand in Michigan alone. With ma
jestic tramp, tramp, it has swept on
ward from the point of the crusade,
until it has tied ribbon of white
around the globe. And whatever our
differences may be, with unbiased
judgment we must say that if ever a
work was Christian, measured by its
sublime philanthropy and faith, its
courage under heavens that were blank,
its patience under persecution, its mag
nificent conquests in the name of our
King, and its serene and hopeful con-
temptation of worlds yet to be won for
righteousness, that work is carried on
by the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union of America and the World.
Fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners!'
Thus, from plain recital of facts the
conclusion is reached that the Young
Mems Christian Association is not
club, nor the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union a political machine, but
both are mightyoChristian agencies, i'll
many cases doing work which the
churches have not touched with the
tips of extended fingers. These organi-
cations stand on the highways, where
the thick of temptation is upon the ris-
ing generation, there with holy, Christ
like zeal making it hard to do the
wrong, and easy to do the right.
Given these facts the question arises
''Why is not this work done within the
church," There is dual answer
First-Because of poverty. Here is q
practical obstacle. What single church
is there in my city that could do the
work of our magnificent Association?
What if the churches were to attempt
it? 1t would be wicked waste of
money to build such parish houses as
adjuncts to each church, and itwould be
simply trifling to divide the cost of the
Association, pro rata, among the
churches. The field would not be COW
cred, and the money would be thrown
away. Moreover, money that is now
derived for the Young Mems Christian
Association would never be secured
for UNCONVENTIONAL purposes, and would
therefore be lost to Christian work.
In Kalamazoo forty per cent.
of the income is from sources apart
from the churches. In the state of
Michigan, three-fifths of the income is
from individual subscriptions. The
churches very rarely take collections.
The revenues are raised as mentioned,
together with membership fees, and
rentals. And SO, for the same general
reasons, the Unions get along with far
less expense, outside the church than
they could within. These agencies are
really doing institutional work, along
side the churches. Mr.. Scudder, of
Jersey City fame, and others have sim
ply set Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton and Union methods into operation