Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-02-21
w. C. T. U. TRIBUTE.
To Mrs. P. W. Harding Who, in Life,
Was One Among Its Most
Worthy Members.

The funeral services of Mrs. Nj. j.
Harding were conducted by Rev. Mr..
Shouse, of the Christian church, and
the w. c. T. U. Mrs. d. NJ. Hill, pres
ident of the Mexico W. C. r. T., read
the 23rd Psalm, which was a favorite
psalm of the deceased sister. This
reading was followed by a scripture
lesson from the special memorial ser
vice of the w. G. T. U. A tender
tribute TO the deceased was read by
Mrs. Mamie Craig of the Mexico I'm
ion. Mrs. Maggie Orear, of the Pleas
ant Valley Union, could not be present
but her trfelite of love was read by
Mrs. Mamie Householder.
The Mexico W. c.. 3. L. mourns, as
a family, to-day. the loss of an elder
sister.
Sister NJ. J. Harding was one of the
charter members of this Union, and
her efforts in this Christian temper
ance work are especially worthy of
recognition. The pioneers of any re-
form battle fiercely with prejudice and
public opinion, and surely has sister
Harding, with a few others of our I'm
ion, realized what it vas to stand for
their conviction OF right, though OPP
posed by a great majority. Hers was
a fearless nature, and when convinced
of the right she was brave enough to
| speak her conviction.
To sister Harding five sons were
given, and as she nursed them through
babyhood and cared for them in boy
hood the mother love prompted her to
shield them from every temptation,
and as the older boys grew to youth
and manhood~and she watched them
go from their childhood home out into
the big, untried world, to seek for
themselves positions and honors, her
great mother love grew stronger, and
as she prayed for her W dear boys
she yearned to reach out and help
| other boys. She realized that the wine
| cup, the beer mug and the bottle of
rum, wherever found, whether in the
social circle or in the saloon, were the
great enemies of the boys. Her efforts
to do away with these evils were UNI
firing. Her time, her money and her
influence were given in behalf of tenn
| perance. To her the Christian who
| did not engage in practical temper
ance work was proclaiming only a
was she, always brave enough, not on
" to stand for the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union but to press for
| ward in the line of duty, holding aloft
| it's banner inscribed, "For God, Home
and Humanity" Her independence
of thought and action is a precious
legacy left to us. We will miss her out
spoken words of counsel, but to-day
we would hide our sorrow and seek to
comfort the husband who has lost a
noble wife-a true helpmeet. And to
those dear children vino have lost a
loving mother, / al give no grander
motto for your life work than the
motto of the w. C. T. U.-"For God,
Home and Humanity" This motto
your mother loved and honored. Let
the badge of white ribbon, the badge
your mother wore, ever be dear to
your hearts. 1t is an emblem o purity
and peace. Let these reign in your
hearts and be manifest in your lives.
Sisters of the w. c. T. u, ''let us
close up the broken place in our ranks
with tender love for each other and
more earnest service for a lost world
And for comfort in u sorrow let us
turn to s"The Book" which is rich with
promise, even for a time like this
Jesus said to his disciples, ''The Com
forter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name. He
shall teach you all things" "Peace ]
leave with you; my peace | give unto
you.u s'Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. God is love-
Mrs. MAMIE CRAIG.