Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-08-16
ADDRESS TO The VIC. TU.
By PRBsiDnNr FR4NoIs b.
WILLARD,
On her Return From a Visit to the
British Isles Words of Counsel
and Encouragement.

1uht oOehi AOofs
BELOVED CoMRADE:
"nome again. home again, from a foreign
shore,
And OF II ills my soul with JOY to greet my
friends once more"
These words from dear old
song | used to sing in girlhood,
when / had happy home and bad
not seen foreign shore, recur to
my mind as begin this letter Of
affection and grateful thanks. The
tokens Of loyal remembrance and
good will that have come to me in
the two weeks since | landed in
New York have deeply stirred my
spirit.
1t puts a heavy mortgage on
ones future to be so trusted and
loved by a great band Of mother
hearted women and as | have often
said, these words come TO me over
and over again: "Who is sufficient
for these things2 Behold what care
fulness it wrought in you, what
clearing Of yourselves" 1t now
looks as if the polyglot petition trip
would be postponed year, and |
need not say with what rejoicing |
contemplate putting in as good n
years work by pen and voice as
may be possible to me in my own
dear native land.
While l haven't the "staying
qualities" of ten years ago, | am
wonderfully renewed in vigor, aud
hence in the enthusiasm and faith
that must inspire those upon whom
rest the burdens of leadership.
whether it be in the world or ma
tional work, or in that local union
which is the unit of power, and
without the steadfast cooperation
of whose members our work is but
"a fable, phantom, "a show" The
return of my true and trusted friend
and companion, (now engaged for
more than seventeen years in work
for the society, y Anna A. Gordon,
superintendent of our Juvenile
work in the worlds w. G. T. IT,,
and the associate of our capable
Mrs. Helen G Rice in the national
departmenO, will give a fresh i'm
petus | feel sure to the cadet army,
which is our sole dependence for the
future, and whose steady growth is
doubtless the most cheering feature
of our many-sided work.
1t would be strange if any of us
could forget the loving kindness of
Lady Henry Somerset, our White
Ribbon leader across the sea, who
has made home for US during the
extended absence that impaired
health rendered desirable. No
words can be too warm or generous
to match the rge-hearted welcome
that she gave us and the delight
full hospitality of her heart and
home. Nor can | fail to acknowl-
edge the unnumbered tokens of
sisterly affection that came to Us
from her eo-adjutors and from the
wider circle Of reformers and phil
anthropists with which we became
acquainted during our visit to
Great Britain; that you may have
some idea of what this meant, |
will mention that in leaving | sent
out six hundred letters of thanks
and goodbye, each of which went
to some one who had shown US
personal kindness.
Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson,
my good physician" forbade my
taking any such number of autumn
conventions as | was wont to do in
other years, but / am looking the
field over with care and shall con
suit with our leaders as to strate-
gic points where / might be of ser
vice. All that | can do | shall
gladly undertake, trusting to my
sisters to believe that / am not
Indifferent to the call OF any, and
that if | do not respond favorably
to all it is simply because "though
the spirit is willing the flesh is
weak"
1t ia a source of continual rel
ing TO hear, as | did, from our tire
less corresponding secretary, Mrs.
Woodbridge, that thanks to the
thoughtful responses of the local
unions and the gifts of few gen
erous friends, we have no debt,
either IL the Worlds or Nation al
w. c. T. U. To be able to say
this in the face of such financial
stress as now embarasses even our
ablest business men, should be a
reason for earnest thanksgiving to
God. This one fact is sufficient
indication of the vigor and sol
idarity Of the White Ribbon move
ment.
Our treasurer, Mrs. Helen NJ
Baker, is "wide-awake," aud we
all appreciate the devotion and
skill with which she has assumed
her new duties. | wish TO say the
same of Mrs. Woodbridge in her
difficult position of corresponding
secretary.
The Union Signal and our pub
fishing interests generally are in
excellent condition, a statement
which reflects great credit on our
editors, our business manager and
all who are associated with them.
/ need not say that hope we
shall each and every one do all in
our power tor the Woman's
Temple and the National Temper
ance Hospital enterprises that
have been so often brought to your
attention that it seems superhuous
to urge their claims.
There are three points that i
you'd strongly impress on your