The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-10
AN ADMIRABLE ADDRESS.
Miss Kearney of Mississippi at Chestnut St.
Church,

Yesterday morning at Chestnut street
church, Miss Kearney of Mississippi, or
ganizsr for the Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union, delivered an admiral sd-
dress in behalf Of the work of the w. g.
L. U. She was introduced by Rev. DR..
Parsons, pastor OF the church, in a few
| well chosen words.
Miss Kearney, Is thoroughly Southern
in manner and in accent. She made one
of the most impassioned, argumentative,
and interesting speeches in the cause of
temperance that has ever been heard in
this city. She is intensely magnetic and
she possesses an earnesuness that impresses
itself most foroibly on her audience.
She has good, strong, excellently made
voice, and every word could be heard, so
distinct was her utteranoe, in the farthest
corners Of the church. Her address was
interspersed with graphic illustrations of
the evils of the liquor traffic and at it's
close she was thanked publicly by DIR.
Parsons who said such women shouldsbe
ordained to go out and preach the gospel
for the good they could do was in
calcuIable.
Miss Kearney spoke at the open air
meeting in ths afternoon, on Howard
street, and will be one of the speakers at
the great Old Orchard meeting.
Mins Kearney began by saying that the
Women's Christian Temperance Union
had declared woman the master work of
God. A great German writer called her
the crown of creation. Every one will
admit that woman is the essential figure
of Christian civilization Miriam, the
rank with Moses, and Aaron. Deborah
was COMMUNICATIVE chief of the Israelites
forces. When Christ came woman 8
position was immeasurably advanced.
She was the medium by which Christ
came into the world and by her was this
redemption made known. To the woman
of Samaria was announced the fact that
He was the Messiah. A Jesuit one of the
greatest o. his denomination has said
that so long as women attended the
church it was of little consequence about
the men and children, for through the
women tho men and children would be-
governed. Woman ia the great support Of
the Hindoo religion. In the United
States they pay TWO thirds of the church
dues and are tho strong pillar of Chris
tianity. Laurantine has said woman is
at the beginning of all great things
socially, politically, philosophically and
spiritually. Eli zabeth Frye revolution
iza1 rpinal G1aro
Barton at the head of the he'd Cross
penetrated into Turkey when all great
nations had been shut out. Susan B.
Anthony and others stood at the head of
the movement that emanoipated women.
And what have not Mary Lathrop, or
Frances Willard and Lady Somerset done
for temperance. Never has woman's in
fuenoe been so potent in the church,
law, politics and society as now. The
speaker referred to the great work of
Mrs. Mary MCGEE Smell of Mississippi
that caused the Bishop to declare that
only those who had received church or
dination could conduct meetings. These
women they said wanted tho earth and
the stars. Well we do want the earth and
staIs. and we want them for Christ.
People do not understand the great
change that has come over the position
Of women. Look at the condition of
women in China, India and Turkey to-
day and contrast it with that in the Eng
lish speaking nations, especially here,
where they fill pulpits, perform surgical
operations argue cases before the Su-
preme court, and in solne cases, exercise
the full right of suffrage. I think the
w. G. Il u. women the brainiest on
earth. No one knows what they have
gone through, but backed by the laws of
God they have been undaunt ed No one
but God can tell what it is SO go into
house where there is no sympathy and to
meet with q sneer covered by d SMILE
Standing there for principle, opposed by
conversation that means selfishness, no
one can tell what drain there Is on the
powers, but we can rejoice after all if we
bring soul from the shadow into the
| full sunshine Of Jesus Christ.
The true woman and Christian are SO
| much alike that she transition from one
to the other is not difficult. am glad
that in these days of skepticism the
| women are still found at the feet of
Jesus watering them with their tears.
| There religion is practical, not one of
| stained glass windows and operatic sing
ing. 1t is the religion of Jesus Of Naza.
reth. A young woman said one day,
what's the use Of doing good, you get no
definite return from it. In return the
speaker told of the girl on her in valid
bed, for years a. sufferer. who said.
"why are they so kind why do they do
SO many good things for me?' Obi to
save one soul is worth q thousand years
| of selfish living. We want to know the
nobility of Jesus. Not day goes by but
that some good can be done in II is name.
The great trouble is that too many per.
sons are ashamed to stand up for right
eousness; that's why so many women
and men fell to stand up for prohibition.
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