Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-10
GREETING TO THE w. C. It. U.
Letter of President Bickers, of the
Richmond Prohibition Club.

The following is the full text Of the let
| ter of greeting from Mr.. w. NJ Bickers
| president OF the Richmond Prohibition
| Club TO the Woman's Christian Tempe
rance Unions State convention in Dam
ville which was referred to in our tele-
graphic columns on Thursday. The let
| ter was read to the convention, and was
so well received that rising vote Of
thanks was extended the writer, and the
secretary instructed to inform Mr.. Bick-
ers by letter of such act:
Richmond, Va, October 4, 1897.
To the Officers and Members of the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union and
AuXiliaries:
| beg the honor to salute the noble Old
Dominion Division of the Grand White
Ribbon Army, and TO impart a WORD Of
good cheer
You have come hither from the various
sections of a Commonwealth whose his
torIc page is respondent with heroic
deeds of noble women and chiyalric men,
TO gain fresh courage and greater wis
dom in the prosecution OF a sacred war
fare in defence of the highest interests
of society and the home circle. Your
pure and gentle armys great mission
should inspire the active sympathy OF
all people who desire the purity of So
ciety and the sanctity of home, and your
splendid courage as eXemplitied by your
brilliant record commands universal adj
miration. The black flag Of RUNS
Ruinous Rein" is floating from the cita-
del of our society. The demon Intempe-
rance is entrenched behind the powerful
bulwarks OF legal sanction OF the saloon
and social drinking code of perverted
ethics. In your battle 10 dislodge this
arch enemy of our peace, purity, and hap
piness. and thus remove the prime cause
of society's and the home circles woes
you have not only TO battle against the
open enemy, but also 10 contend with
the passive temperance theorists, who
either oppose all practical efforts to re.
move the curse or refuse TO identify them
serves with any organized effort in such
behalf.
Permit me to say that. logically and
argunentativeiy, the battle has already
been won, and one need Of the hour is
10 press this victory until The line of
deIaarcation is made clear and distinct
between the real temperance people ana
the enemies Of the cause In this con-
nection, | beg TO heartily commend your
educational plan. Thousands OF persons
Will enlist under your beautiful banner
when they have just conception OF your
aims and methods. And, Notwithstanding
II is popular to refer TO the Temperance
question as trtte and threadbare issue,
there is lamentable lack of intelligent
appreciation OF the causes and effects OF
intemperance and OF the methods sought
to remedy 1t. Agitate!, Agitate.ll Edu-
cate!Mi Let voice and pen herald the
truth until there shall be created such
powerful public sentiment as Will result
in a mighty tidal wave Of victory tina,
will redeem and disenthrall this fairest
OF lands under Heavens canopyi "Cry
aloud and spare mott" And do this In love,
convincing the judgment and reaching
the hearts OF people with cool precision,
combining a true aggressiveness with
that conservatism which evinces a holy
desire To speed the truth and Is born
of good will towards men" And be We
not discounted II the final and complete
victory you seek seems yet many weary
days marches away. You are winning
every day. Public sentiment is surely be-
coming more and better crystal
liked as result Of your warfare Yon
are ever sowing precious seeds and there
is daily reaping of the harvest The
Heaven Is leavenlng the whole lump"
Every individual tear you wipe from !
Sorrows cheeks: every load OF n burden
bearer on LIES highway you Tighten or |
lift; every CLEAN OF sunshine you flash |
into the abodes OF misery and homes or
sadness; every youth you save from the
snare; every "sornebodv's dar
ling" you lift up and stimulate Ia fresh |
courage and hope will be a blessing 10 the |
world. and Will add bright Jewels TO yoir
crown or rejoicing in that day." And |
above all, implicitly trust for wisdom ana
guidance In Him who is the ''caotain ~ |
our salvation" whose approval Won seek |
and In whose name and for whose glory
you do most surely battle Knowing fuli |
well your labor is not In vain IN the
AS you meet to-day under your pure /
banner. emplazoned with the letters OF !