The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-15
THE BEST ALL
ROUND SOCIETY,
Mal;nda Clsavsr Favills.

Tho v,atened woman loves to or
e,uizo soc,.fi.s OF various kinds Some
women like to get into all sorts. IL -
hotter to say awakened woman. New
woman" has become naCkneycd phrase
IL savors of freshness. and has the door
and stiffness OF the shop ana the dunn
nv. The new woman has attracted
10 herself attention by doing uncommon
things, because they were uncommon.
The awakened woman has been arous-
ed TO 4 knowledge OF her own possible
tiles and duties. IN most cases II -
literally an awakening-after years of
studies and fads and fancies. dawning
consciousness OF her solemn duties to
herself and to others: a quickening OF
her ears to the harmonies of creation,
and the dlscords produced by ignorant
sinful humanity.
Believing that mo man liveth to HIM
self" the awakened woman looks around
her for other women TO awaken, or oth-
ers already awake. with whom she may
ioin her forces. The result is the or
eanization Of womens societies OF al
sorts. Il is said that one woman IN
thirty. and one man in thrty-nVe, nave
the organizing faculty. one OF Two
conclusions must be corollary TO this;
either it is woman's duty TO do the
major share of organizing work. or else
man is better ntted TO organize and con-
troi large bodies of his fellows
Probably the best alI-round society will
reach the most women and be OF the
greatest benefit TO its members. Being
essentially "of the people, by the peo-
pie" no society without faults has been
projected.
Womons missionary and church aid
societies are older than any other sort
OF organization of women. Their sole
objects arc the raising OF money. and
the building up of their church member
ship. They are of necessity dominated
by the pastor. who. when present, makes
the motions. because he's a man." and
appoints the committees. The pastor,
being the head Of the church, should
control ITS societies, and the women, be-
Ing members thereof. should do all they
can 10 add to It's power at home and
abroad. The need Of, the sisters help
has been felt IN every church, for the
brethren. who spend all the money, are
inclined to add an extra stained win
dow or twenty feet to the belfry tower.
and generously permit the women 10
discharge the added burden Of debt. II
is right for the women to help raise the
church money; IL is unjust not to give
those who do 50 a voice i'm the spending
OF IL. Not only do women suffer injus-
tice In church aid societies. but they
find there no intellectual life. We
why we pay our dues, and we-talk,"
said one In explanation of the pro-
sramme of her ald-society meeting
The women's ciubs which are now to
be found In almost every "enlightened'
village, quicken intellectual life-that is
all Sometimes their work causes only
ripple upon the surface. There is
always danger that they win bring 10
light that monstrosity of this century
the superior" woman.
Intellectual life is good. whether IL IS
quickened In the literary or political or
artists club. but intellectual gymnastics
are only a means of development, not an
end and aim of the highest type OF ex-
istence. Every intellect is out a spark
Of the Divine intelligence, intrusted TO
as for use in the service Of the Givor.
The discipline of the mind by study is
as the training Of the painters eye and
hand by drawing from the antique. Il
discipline FOR the real task of the indi-
vidual Womcns Clubs have tended
TO make many of their members swag-
ger with new-found Independence They.
too. have their limitations. fixed by the
unsymetrical development they encour-
age.
\ better all-rOund society than either
the missionary or ~ intellectual. hay
ing many of the WRITES Of both as well
as some Of its own-and no doubt some
Of the faults of both. for its members
arc humans growing strong in Vir-
einia. II is the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. We claim for il
purity of motive intelligence. ana mod
A. IL in 10. f-4.
being Of the people and for the people.
/ perfection cannot be expected Of IT, Be
ing composed Of women who only within
the score of years just past. have es-
sayod independent organization. II has
much 10 learn. No doubt they are learn
ing IL. for il was said Of our recent con-
veniion. that the hall. with its litter OF
leaflets and programmes looked as IL
political convention had just been held
there. II must be said. however. that
The big fireplace was the only smoker
ir the room.
We work avowodly FOR total abstinence.
orr pledge requires US 10 use all law
fni means 20 close he open saloon.
We arc essentially a Christian body. fol-
loving The Bible as the best rule of
I'lth ana practice. ~cre ia no meeting
or ours whore Il BE- not read and PRAYER
/ we WI n EIlllNl INC Saloon DIV
soliciting total abstinence pledges. by Sc
curing the teaching Of total abstinence
in Sunday ana public schools. by local
option petitions. hv The distribution OF
literature by Rihle-roadings and lee
lures using an the means at our com
mand 70 educate ourselves and others.
There's no doubt but one great good ac-
complishod hv the W. e. r. T. has been
the intellectual and spiritual develop
ment Of the women within its ranks.
They have learned through teaching 9th
ers. lessons Of Christian charity. as wei
as Of the machinery Of Governments. and
the working Of parliamentary Jaw. They
are too busy teaching and helnirg Others
Jess fortunate. 10 think much about
whether they want more civil lihsrt Y
FOR Themselves WITH ia unselfsh aims
indorerderce If orVa riv4tion. and many
cie'eront lines Of Worl- the Woman s
Christian Taron4~ance Union annros "hes
more roarlv thar anv other the ideal
/ o. an all-round society for women.
Lost Light.