Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-09
House. To- House Visitation.

uuuSC- U.UCuSC utSttuiUH.
In a recent sermon a minister said:
The best definition ] can give of the
w. c. T. T.. is, that it is christianity
in notion" 1T is practical religion
has been the verdict of o~D-Iookers.
Why? Like the Master, it goes about
doing good. It's members are not con-
tent merely to sit together in heavenly
places, but with the blessing Of a
Mary hay the restless spirit of a
Martha, too, and seek opportunities to
help humanity. doing that first which
is needed most.
Strong drink is the greatest hin
drance to right living. and to the hope
of heaven hereafter, and We make
total abstinence the foundation of our
work. Consistent Christians, we would
remove the saloon-pitfails-the head
| quarters OF this anu every other vice
but in the meantime try to rescue, to
uplift. to establish in right ways the
individual.
People may appear to be moved by
masses, but it is the individual that
must be reached, after all. And it is
| possible that one whom a long line of
| the best of m or lectures have
| ItNtl itttlltt, VIII ne loutlitt by tilt.
personal plea OF a pastor or neighbour;
that a heart-to-heart talk will effect in
| decisive action what the prayers and
public work of the most sanity AVE
failed to do. We must hay the great
meetings; but the general appeal will
be appropriated by a comparative few.
while the personal one can lot so easily
| be evaded.
With all hat has been done in this
line, we ave neglected too much the
| opportunity of house-to-house vista
ticn. AS women, we a ready access
to homes. The objection most apt to
he made, is to the time it will take: yet
1t will take no more time than fashion
able women spend in aimless social
| calls, or busy women on work less
| really useful.
Our aims in this work may be to en-
list new members, to increase the in
| terest of those who have lately joined,
and to counsel with tried workers. to
persuade drinking men to sign the
| pledge. to win the children. to nurse
enthusiasm in the temperance cause.
Local conditions vary the best
methods. But one union has worked
| something after this fashion: At each
meeting there vas appointed a COM
inittee of two to do What they could in
the way of visiting between thai time
and the next meeting, and to report at
that meeting. 1t was understood. how
ever, that no n of the members was
to be by this prevented from doing
anything that lay in her power in the
same direction. Only, to those APP
pointed it was given for the time as a
speciality: and something definite being
expected, detini work was more likely
to be done. The instructions given were
simply that, as they a opportunity.
they We're to call on those to whom
they felt prompted they might do good.
making our work n principles the
subject of conversation; or to visit any
who We're sick, in the name of the
union. BY this mode4the duty was not
made too difficult. while the frequent
change Of committees made the burden
less and was also the means of finding
out the persons who were most sue
cessful in this work The reports
justified the trouble. New members
were brought in; invitations to meetings
we're given and accepted; more interest
was manifested by some inactive.
though professed temperance people
1t was reward enough to hear a
who had much to contend with in the
way of drink, say. at the close of such
Il visit. We'll. | know your visit has
done me good. l am encouraged to go
on" Or, in a meeting. when its merits
were under consideration, to have this
testimony: Il think it is a good plan.
| would not have become a member if !
had not been visited"
One worker, on her way to an eve
ming meeting. stopped at the home ofone
with whom she was but slightly ac-
| quainted but who. without our
ing surroundings. had lately shown
some interest in our work. Il thought
| would tell you about the temperance
prayer-meeting we are to have next
week. the caller said, and the talk
thus plunged Immediately into went
on until the person visited promised to
attend the meeting if possible, com
mitted herself to try to induce husband
and son to vote right at the coming vii
lage election, alluded to the misery
that intemperance made in homes. and
followed her visitor tothe door express
ing gladness that she had come.
House-to-house visitation after this
manner is within the reach of all, and
needs no set dates. 1t may seem slow.
but there is no way so sure of good re-
suits. If we could but set on fire more
mother-hearts the glad day would
sooner come when we will take the
world for Chrfst's own kingdom"
And it is easy in friendly talk, after
mention of the late meeting or one
that is to be, to drift into deeper chan
nels. To say in no idactic way.
things like these: wv only do our duty
when we do all we can; nd when we
work for others we are working fol-
our own" Or, Il do not know what
my boy may do with such dangers