The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-03-25
MEMORIAL SERVICES,
BY the L. U. p. NJ, In Honor of Francis
Il. willard.

by the l.. u Z. NJ, In Honor OF FRANCIS
Il. willard.
The Ladies Union Prayer Meeting
held a memorial service in honor of
the late Francis K. Willard, at the
residence of Mrs. Annie White last
Friday afternoon. A lengthy sketch
of the life of Miss Willard was writ
ten by Mrs. r.. P. Adkisson, and
read before the meeting by Mrs.
White. We take the following eX-
tracts from the paper:
"God, in His all-wise providence, has
seen fit to take from us one of Americas
noblest women one in whom the ut
and sincere love we cherish in our |
memory to-day. In the death of Fran
els E. Willard many hearts have been
made to mourn, but in her life many
lives have been led to higher aspirations
and to noble purposes.
"Francis f. Willard was born Sept.
18th, l-39, in an humble home on the
principal street of Churchville, Monroe
County, N. Y. AS little girl, she was
very Ontiding and fond of her childish
friends, even beyond what one expects
to see at that period. She was in
ventive and original in her amuse-
ments. She early manifested fond
ness for books. In early childhood she
believed in herself and strongly re-
PEELED occupations not suitable to her
| taste; but was eager to grapple with
principles, philosophers, and was I'M
wearyingly Industrious along her
favorite lines.
"Until she had arrived at the age of
eighteen years she was somewhat skep-
tical in her views. About this time she
entered college at Evanston, Ill. There
she was constantly under the influence
of Christian teachers, and as her in
| tellectual lineaments had grown
stronger and shone brighter, the unrest
of doubt and skepticism seemed to be
disappearing.
an the year 1861 she united with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with this
resolve, never to be absent from Sab
bath services, communion, sunday
school or prayer-m eeting, save when 1T
was unavoidable; and that neither pub
lie opinion nor narrow minded pride,
nor any other creature, should prevent
her from showing, whenever she could,
kindness as delicate and respect as
genuine as she knew how to those
whom the community as rule treats
slighungly. "If | do thus" she said, 81
will be of some value to the world
whether the world knows it or not "
Oh, that we could aspire to such noble
aspirations AS filled the heart of this
noble woman, that we might be able to
b ing happiness to troubled and wound
ed hearts, which would be a sweet
memory and comfort to us.
after several years spent as teacher
i'm famous schools of learning, training
le minds of the young to higher life,
uoth intellectually and spiritually, we
find her preparing for voyage to
Europe. While there she visited many
places of renOwn, some of which are
sacred to us till this cay.
After two years of travel and sight
seeing, Miss Willard returned to her ma
tive home, with tirmer resolution, a
, more determined will to defend the
rig hit and to elevate humanity.
In 1893 came that wonderful gift to
, the world, the Woman's Temperance
! crusade, beginning in Hillsboro, Ohio
, and led by royal Methodist woman
Mrs. Judge Thomson. 1t was during
: that winter that Francis Il. willard, af
2 ter Ieading everything she could ge
, bearing upon this movement of tenn
perance, became aroused to the fac
. that she ought to work for the gooC
{ cause. 1t was at this time that sht
!, earnestly began this great work o
J.. temperance, being fully assured of tn,
, this laud could be freed from the drink
4; habit and the liquor traffic. Her frs
= address publicly was in Clark Stree
4 Church, Chicago. Her enthusiasm in
creased from day to day, as she wa
{ often called upon to address the people
@ after several weeks of earnest wOrl
e in the city of Chicago she visited
D Maine, stopping in Portland hotel
" She was without money, having. he
S mothers expenses and her own to beal
and wondering where the money was +
= come from, she opened her Bible an
her eyes lighted on this memorial
verse; "Trust in the Lord and do good
=. so shalt thou dwell in the land, an
verify thou shalt be fed" Many an
l. varied offers came to her from the edU
cational field tempting in respect {
N their wide outlook and large prOmis
/, of financial relief.
n "In June, 1874, Miss willard receive
letter from Chicago, urging her [
come to that place, as they wished her
o. be made president of the w. c. Il. |
Id 1t is said that she greeted this al
er nouncement with delight. Here WI
her open door, place prepared for ht
Of to work for the cause that had becon
I; so dear to her. She soon started (,
ne Chicago. When she arrived there 81
" was invited by a crusade of tempe
" ance workers to visit saloon, the fir
in she had ever entered, to hold a gosp
meeting. After entering this place,
tn is said she bore a sad expression, al
n, her heart seemed as il it had be,
Is crushed. But she raised her voice al
sang, "Jesus the Water of Life w
be Give" Then kneeling upon a sawdu
nd floor, with group Of earnest hear
around her, and a crowd of unwashC
hard-lOOkinu drinking men, she "
. conscious that never in her life had 1