The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-26
From the General officers of Nationa
W. @. T. U.

DEAR SISTER Your General Off
GERS have taken counsel of those most
competent to advise regarding suit
able memorial to the memory of our
great leader, Frances Z. Willard. 1t
seems to be the best judgment Of all
whom we have consulted that, mas
much as the Temple has already been
erected, and is so closely connected
with her name and that of the w. c.
T. U., we cannot Go better than to
unite in supreme effort to raise, by
subscriptions firm people of wealth,
the sum necessary for Its purchase.
We are encouraged TO make this en-
deavor because OF letters which have
come to us from all parts of the coun-
try urging the plan. Newspapers have
also expressed an interest in the pro-
ject, and prominent individuals have
visited us with the same suggestion.
1t surely seems as if the signs indicate
that the time is ripe for such action.
We purpose to carry out Miss Will
lard's original plan, and to enlarge
upon it so far as possible. To this
end committee of representative
citizens, both mon and women, is to
be appointed in Chicago, whose pur-
pose it will be to secure subscriptions
for Miss Wizards memorial. The
sums raised will be placed in the
hands of some one designated by the
committee, to be held until the aggre-
gate local sum shall be placed in the
hands of Miss Dow, the custodian
designated by Miss Willard herself.
The money can be drawn out OF the
bank, where it will be placed by Miss
Dow Immediately upon receipt, only
on The order of the General Officers
of the w. C. T. u, and is to be sub
scribed with the distinct understand
ing that if, by the next National Con-
vention, it is clearly seen that the
plan of owning the Temple is not
feasible one, the money shall be used
for another suitable memorial, the ma
ture of which will be hereafter decid-
ed.
We are very desirous that such
committees shall be appointed in
every city, and that, in smaller towns,
committee for house to house vista
ton may be organized for the same
purpose. We call upon you, there
fore, as State Presidents, to aid us in
this endeavor, and, if possible, to
| place the matter at once in the hands
of men and women of position and
influence throughout your entire terri
tory. By this method great sums
have been raised to erect many costly
monuments to the honored dead of
our nation, and surely none was ever
more deserving of the honor than
Frances Willard. But her memorial
should be something other than a
mere monument of marble or bronze.
1t should be symbolic of her life of
ceaseless activity, and should express,
in visible, practical form, her thought
and work for humanity.
1t may be we'll at this point to call
your attention to the fact that Miss
Willard distinctly stated that her work
for the Temple should not extend be-
yond the National Convention of
1898, and that she felt that if the
money should not be raised by that
time further of fort would be futile.
If this was her thought, how much
more is it ours under the present
changed conditions. If the hearts of
the people are ever to be inclined
towards this enterprise it must be now
when they are tender from sense of
our infinite loss. Immediate action
is important. The days and even the
hours are precious. We should have
sent this letter Immediately upon Miss
Wizards death, but have been obliged
to wait for advice.
| We earnestly hope that, whatever
may have been your previous point of
vision, you will unite with us now in
an heroic effort to raise the sum ne
cessary for suitable memorial for
our beloved leader.
| We hold ourselves in readiness to
answer questions concerning any
lpoints in this letter which may not be