The Press., 1895-11-07
w. C. T. U. DEPARTMENT .
The Awakening Needed.

Cl8G a sense or ACS alEuOSG 1L1AHAG0 u6CuF0 takes such possession as nearly to para lyze energy. For time we can scarcely bring ourselves to take up such loose ends of the tangle as may be found here and there. These are times to pray that we be given faithful persistence, for though it be weary work, may God preserve us from the souls death sleep of indiffer- ence!
 Such feeling arises when studying the great mass of women outside those organ izations which suggest a purpose in life above self and realizing the enlighten- ment they need. Even their religion is such an amiably selfish thing. It some times almost seems that one must be rough-say hard things that would make gentle souls regard us with pained sur prise-to startle them into the knowledge that there is fresh revelation from God to womanhood; that new power is given and new duty required. Oh, we want women to open their hearts and minds to something besides details of material liv- ing, to let their souls grow; give them something to grow on, and that some thing must be the germ of an unselfish purpose.
 A poet has said that nothing makes us so great as a great sorrow, but young thinker of our day says: ''I hold that stronger still is the power over us of 8 great cause, because it takes us vastly more out of ourselves, and whatever does this lifts us up and allies us to the high est forces of the universe" Herein lies the antidote of selfhood.
 The power of the great cause which en- gages us has transformed and elevated the lives of thousands of women. ''There has come into them the realization of the duty we owe to every human being, weak CT, wickeder, more tempted than our selves.
 Into thousands of lives this realization has come, but greater thousands are sell fishly at ease in Zion. They would be much hurt if charged with selfishness. It seems harsh term to apply to those whose life is one long self effacement for the welfare and happiness of those God has given them, but their devotion is so confined to their own-~''me and my wife, my son John and his wife, these four. " Even the Pharisees do the same.
 And how they overreach themselves This neglected duty relates to the very elements which come in and despoil the home, and we cannot help ourselves!
 It may not be we'll to appeal to a selfish motive to impel to 8 more philanthropiC course, but it is to be found in the reflex action from the outer world whose bitter waters reach one and all of us. Here anC there the woman is found who Is only there the finder awaits the spark of en- thusiasm, and, with touch, whole sci of new influences are set at work; the silver medal OratOry, the Loyal Temper ance Legion, scientific temperance instruc tiOn in the school-who can estimate what may be included in that spreading circle We must not neglect to follow our clues wherever we find them-it will lessen tho tangle, We can remember the time wher we did not give much thought to these things, and when the awakening came tC us; yes, and the sources of fresh inspira tion along our course.
 Il The awakening Is sometimes painful with it comes weight of responsibility ours before, but not before accepted Sometimes there Is an almost entire re cast of companiOnships those neares and dearest do not come with us, anC there is cause for prayers and tears anC heaviness of spirit. We must expect t be the victims of aggressive misinforma , tion," and, to be guilty of Hibernicism expect it from unexpected sources.
 Even ignominy Is often our portion we may confidently expect something o 1. this sort in those ministrations whic , Christ says are the same as unto Him but there is honor somewhere for thos . who fearlessly do the right thing. Doubt less cultivated, exclusive women in Jeru 9 salem expressed much horror and COT 3 tempt for those bold, dreadful creature who mingled with the blasphemous crowd and even iostled among the soldiers t
 get near the Master at the crucifxio1
 Grant, Lord, that we shrink not from an
 reviling or persecution for Thy sake!
 Could we choose we would not retur
 to the old selfish ease. Winged life is O
 ten stormbeaten and torn, yet it nevt
 seeks again the chrysalis shell. Oh, w
 men who withhold your hands, could yo
 but realize the awful weight of things nC
 done because of your faithlessness! Coul
 you but gain some faint conception
 what Is prevented from coming to pa
 by your indolence and folly! Could yc
 but understand and be appalled, by yO'
 crime in the death of souls which migl
 have lived had you helped to hasten tl
 dawn! In a national convention Frances Wi
 lard quoted words like these: "Sacrif' .. to the mob! Sacrifice to the unfortunat