Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-06
Is a Y. W. C. 7. U. a Nscess;ty7

ems branch to the w. c. r. L. is being
discussed quite seriously. Miss Ida G..
Glothier. national organizer of the VS.
sends the following appeal to the unions
we answer most emphaticallv. Yes, We
as young people. stand today between the
generation that is passing-our fathers
ana mothers-and the generation that is
coming up around us.-the children.
Lhefe are times when we feel that a
heavier burden rests upon this stand
'ng-in-petween generation than has ever
rested, or ever may rest upon any other:
ior ere We have passed on. great battles
VIII nave been fought between the home
ana the saloon,-aye, the greatest bat
ties that any age has ever known. What
the result will be depends upon the
trained forces guarding these homes.
me children are being taught the prin-
clples OF this great reform: but will not
large part of this work need to be.done
AGAIN If the children of tomorrow have
Tor parents the Indifferent young men
and women of today? There is no time
IN the home life When q girl receives so
much thought and care. when a mother S
love and a fathers arm are so ready to
shleld and protect. as when she enters
the portals of young womanhood and
stands with all life centered in the hap
py present and the ever-changing future
| Ii this young woman is aroused to take
some part in temperance work. letting
| from humanity thoroughly permeate her
own life. she will influence the very
heart of that quiet home. Many a moth
| er has been brought into the work by a
consecrated young life in her own house
| hold.
We need this work of the Y w. C. T.
| Y. for our own development and growth
We have so long been content to live in
the little groove" We call ''our set" that
| we need to know more of the work of the
n 10
encd. have more public spirit be more
| patriotic.
But you say. Let the girls come in
with us If they We're willing to do So
the responsibility would still rest upon
the women. and the girls ought to carry
the burden themselves. in order to feel
that this work is theirs and that the
success or failure to arouse and bring
within the ranks all the young people of
their town or city rests with them. For
| the young men are to be reached and
brought into active service through the
| influence and companionship of the young
women. We meet these young men in
our young peoples meetings. our literary
| circles. our social lives: then should we
| not meet them on this platform of prin-
| ciple? But no; right here we part COM
pany unless we have a society where we
| can both feel perfectly at home. and
| hand to hand. shoulder to shoulder fight
| under the same banner. We have tried
u
| don't they?' and while the fact remains
| that they do not we must make every
| effort to reach them. These Us are not
another organization" but the younger
| sisters-the future W's-and a vital part
of the great w. c. T. L. movement, and
the two--W.'s and Y.'s-hold exactly the
| same position to the work in state and
| nation.
I'VE have five or six bright young
| women in the w. &. T. L. and we cannot
spare them Think a moment. Are
there not six times as many young wom-
en- outside. who are exerting just as pow
erful neutral influence? Are not these
to be reached? Each life touches life,
and that life another and this truth ap-
plies to the girls who have not taken a
definite stand in temperance work, as
well as those who have.
"Our union is Just now taking UP so
| many departments of work, that we do
! not feel that we can do anything more. "
| We ask you not to carry an additional
! burden. but to assist these young wom-
| en- to organize. and to take up their own
| special lines of work. Hundreds of local
| Y. W. G. r. Us are doing this, besides
| helping in all other departments. Work
ers in the Loyal Legion realize that boys
| from fourteen up are the hardest to in
terest. They think they are too old for a
! temperance society: but if a working ''Y
| bring in the young men as honorary
members, utilizing their strength and
ability. the boys will do their part tow
ard making their work success. for
| they have the example before them, that
! it is not only the manly thing to do. but
when they are older they will be wei
| coined to the Y. w. c. T. L.
| I'VE are willing to have a y but the
girls are not interested" We cannot
| think this is true. Our young women are
| just as ready and willing to take hold OF
this work as any other. when once their
| eyes have been opened to the necessity
| They have been taught these many years
that the most II young lady could do was
to be ornamental and now in this latter
part Of the nineteenth century they nave
lust begun to realize that the ornament
that is of some use is of the greatest
value. They have been taught. too, by
actions that speak much louder than
words that church work. and certain
amount of missionary work. is mice.
pretty work for girls to do; but tenn
perance work.-reform work.-why, 1t is
not to be thought of for an instant. NOW
The greatest obstacle in the way OF our
young ladies doing just this work Is
feeling of prejudice. conscious or uncoh-
sc;ous. that enters into our estimate OF
temperance work and temperance work
ers; and more than any other reason WI!
We need Y. w. c. 7. L. is to take OH
he disagreeable edge from an uili'op u'.t
subject and to prove that the very pest
class of young ladies and gentlemen, So
cially and intellectually. are in TINS WORK.
to make the principle OF totai apsliislos
:, fashionable one, TO raise tiie st.iii"'i"
of this principle to as high Il social plane
as our own lives: to draw others toward
this high moral plane. and to teacn tnal
il is only when we stand together !ouils
men and young women. that we arg
striving toward the highest IDEAL OF pure
and true manhood and womanhood.
1.-THE Young ladies are all so ousy' ana
have so many things to do. that they 40
not have time for this work. is IL moi
that they have allowed so many otner ~
terests to absorb their Thoughts; lS WIS
work not fully as important? Iheh WY
teach them. by "omission, TO ara" thc
line here? - Ill, Won NOT
do oil in your power to help THESE Houl ii,
wo,-.en. believing that as the nation W.,
demand so much of the womahnoou ~
tor;orro,v. YOU can in no way better aau
the cause YOU love? And wheh you 90
houne from that W. c. T. 7. meetlls'
with only four or five faithful one pre- -.
out do not say that you doii h,i ni,", a .,n
If does any good>to hold on; OF iln ne az
unkind criticism. or comment ui.a'8 a.
ably on the work you have had TO 90 -
for that bright daughter is n tsrr go nros 70
"fa,I in love- with what You term r o. sl
d;sayreeabie work. But let the sinis ~
the beautiful side of our VOTE. Wolh the
- ,,,tb1x-aN the EtIliIlS tiiS