Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-23
Clara Montgomery Parrish.

Life must be interpreted. chiefly; it
has a large meaning; it is REJECTION, an
In August 1896, Clara Montgomery Par
IRISH set out on worldwide mission of
faith. hope and love. the greatest OF
which was faith, as she declined any
stated provision for her welfare. Held
back by tender hearts which could not
let one young and frail go unattended
TO strange countries and customs, with a
task great enough to try a warriors soul,
she hesitated only until she received the
divine benediction.
Disappointment greeted her in the gate
way of her journey. At San Francisco
the friend who was to accompany her fell
i'll and could not go on. Having reached
the Hawaiian Islands. Miss Parrish was
carried from the boat and lay sick in a
kind white ribboner's home for many
weeks. Undaunted in spirit, she pressed
on and reached Japan in October.
Because of the many natural diff1cui-
ties in the way, the work could not be
quickly and systematically started. and
yet when she had been in Japan only
seven months she had written two thou
sand letters toften without desk or ia :
blel. over forty newspaper articles ana
had published and distributed 5000 leaf
lets, beside almost continuous travelling,
speaking and organizing
So constant has been the Application. so
devoted the life, so blest of God. that a
single sketch of reasonable limitations
cannot contain resume, even. of these
four years labors. Miss Parrish's own re-
L. =
gives onlr the headlines. each one of
which could be amplifed. however, into
a thrilling story of whte-ribboned ro-
nance.
The tributes to her work and worth
come from all classes in the Orient Mr..
Topping, of the Japan Evangelist says.
THE japanese believe in and follow Miss
Parrish as no other foreigner | know
Hon. Tardo Ando. president of the Ma
tional Temperance League declares, me
secret of her success has not been in her
eloquent addresses, nor in her exceptional
executive a.Iity. nor in her untiring yea
but it is by her humble spirit that all
hearts have been won" Mrs. kagi IaJi-
ma president japanese w. c. T. L., testi-
Sho Nemoto affirms. NO one else has
done so much and no other has denied
herself so willingly" Mrs. Roach, editor
Burma Life Line, says. She possesses
lust the qualifications necessary Tor work
in this country. where conditions are
such that only the best can hope to sue
coed"
The story of Clara's early life is soon
told. Born and brought up on farm near
Paris, Illinois. she lett the country school
at the age of 10 to make her own way In
the world. Deprived of a college edsca :
ton. she set herself faithfully to the
task of self-improvement and soon secur-
ed good high school position.
In 1sSS her thought was arrested py
temperance lecture and she speedily join
ed the local w. c. T. L.. soon afterward
organizing young woman's union. In
1889 She was made organizer of the dis
trict in which she lived, and resigning her
school with it's comfortable salary, she
threw her energies into the work and had
the happiness of seeing it the banner
district of her state. From this time her
field broadened, and in 1892 she was mace
a National organizer, and in one year
had lectured and organized in q states
Just before Christmas time of 1888 Miss
Willard asked Miss Parrish to go u 10
Japan as a successor to Miss Mary Allen
West fifth round-the-world missionary.
Miss Willard reminded Miss Parrish at
she would be the seventh missionary, ana
added Remember. dear, that seven Is
lucky number" I'm those very last Gays
before sanlng" Miss Parrish confesseS,
II tried to persuade myself that had
been unduly influenced by this fact and
therefore | would not go. but it was all 20
no avail. The very ange,s seemed to
bear me away on their snowy wings
and | could not have refused If would
Then followed the four years OF mis-
sionary work. He who can inject into
them the life-blood of hardship ana her
oism of Christ-lke sacrifice and conse-
Grafton will have the unique story of a
little Illinois prairie girl giving, almost
entirely through interpreters. the cheer,
the courage, the zeal and the knowledge
which have more than quadruped the
number of white ribboners in Japan and
India unified the leaders of the men $
temperance societies and aroused the pup
lie sentiment into practical effort for per-
sonal purity it has never been aroused
before.
For two successive years, Miss Parrish
has been elected national secretary Of the
Y Branch. her return having been earlier
Anticipated. If any one can marshal the
young women of this country into solid
rhalanx of total abstinence against the
social citadel of alcoholic beverages.
Clara NJ Parrish is the one. She has not
vet definitely accepted the trust because
her long absence has prevented her from
informing herself of the actual conditions.
There is no doubt. however, that If Miss
Parrish hears again the call of duty, this
time to remain in the home land and rally
the girls of her own country. she Will
obey and "sure will the harvest be
II Is rare for one so young as Clara
Parrish to interpret life. Youth com
monty sows and reaps, experiments and
regrets or at best gains through dear
experience the lessons which age is 50
willing to teach.
When she has written of her great hap
piress in the midst of fierce obstacles. ig-
nored her privations and rejoiced over
victories spiritual and sacrifices material,
what but an expression of the indwellinp
life could explain it all She has reflected
not only her own gentle spirit of trust
and love. but has so expressed the Christ
that regardless of difficulties and dis
couragements hearts have been touched,
prejudice has melted. ind ference has CIV
en- way to zeal. and record has been
made that is incredible to human strength
alone. Except the Lord build the house,