The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-13

Immediately after the wal she con
ceived the idea that the vast amount of
feminine talent and energy that had
been brought into activity by the phil
anthropy of war, ought to be utilized
in Christian work in the different de-
and churches, and under
the advice and with the CO operation of
Bishop Simpson, the Methodist Church
established a Home Missionary Society
of women, for the purpose of minister
ing to the temporal and spiritual needs
of strangers and the poor. 1t was
made a National Or General Conference
Society and Mrs. Wittenmeyer elected
its secretary. The commencement of
this new work took Mrs. Wittenmeyer
from Keokuk, Iowa to Philadelphia in
which and neal which she has since re-
S ded. She lived in Keokuk nearly all
OF her married life, going there in 1850
and opening the first public school in
her own home, before public schools
were established. She was a widow
with one child, living with her mother
and sister at the breaking out of the
Rebellion, and as the boy was tenderiy
cared for in this family she was quite at
liberty to devote her time, means and
talents in the direction her patriotic
impulses directed. In later years this
son has been her companion in much OF
her public work aud together they have
lived an ideal happy life at their home
in Saratoga.
In this work alone she visited and ad
dressed in its Interests nearly every
general Methodist conference from
Maine to California A little later
came the Temperance crusade, and
when the leaders of that movement
met in their first National Conventions,
she was chosen it's National President
serving in that capacity for five years
without salary. One year she attended
As State Conventions. She was the
first publisher of the Wonen's TEN
perance Union'' which has since evolv-
ed into the Union Signal.'' During
these years of wonderful activity she
gave much time and thought to intel
lectual persuits. She is the author of
several books, one of which is consider
ed d standard historical work, (The
Women of the Reformatlon,) and in
later years she has written and publish
ed Under the Gurs'' which describes
much of her experience during the Civil
War. For eleven years she published a
monthly journal in Philadelphia, called
the "Christlan Woman, aud all during
her life she has been recognized as an
advanced thinker and writer for pub
LEGATIONS. She was also a poet OF no
mean order. Many of her hymns have
been translated into every language in
which Christian Missionaries labor, ard
are sung around the world.
In 1889 at Milwaukee she was elected
National President of the Women's
Relief Corps, she had been amember of
the order from the trstyear OF its work,
Served two years as National Chaplain.
By unanimous vote was made a Life
Member of the National Council and
served for nearly two years as Depart.
ment President of Pennsylvania ard
did valiant service in the establish
ment of Pennsylvania's Memorial Home
to which are admitted not only veterans
of the Civil War but their wives also.
She presided over the convention at
Boston at which time | was elected to
that honorableloffice, and expected to
take up and carry forward the work so
carefully planned by her. Do you
wonder that my heart failed me when l
realized whose mantle it was that [ was
expected to wear? Thus far l loved
her for what l knew she had done 1ol
others. At this ime it was my privilege
to select an advisor or counselor fol
the work of my administration and ]
chose Mrs. Wittenmeyer. Whatever
mistakes l may have made in my OWL
life work, of this l am very sure l made
no mistake in this selection and ap'
pointment of my counselor. From the
moment of my election to the end OF
ller life she was my friend in word aud
deed, at all times and under all circum'
stances. Not that we always agreed
upon all our plans and occasions. but
her advice and counsel was safe and
unselfish-at all times DESTROYS to have
done just what she thought best for the
order, not what we would most like tt
have. Many of you know Of her com
ing to my home and the weeks, yes
months of work, in which she helped te
carry to successful completion the two
prominent objects of nay administration
One OF of which was the finishing
furnishing and placing the family anc
bringing the nurses into it OF our Army
Nurse Home in Madison, Ohio (twenty
were admitted that Year, This wss
theloutgroWtb Of her patent, faithful
determined personal efforts in that di
rection, both before and during heI
own administration. The other, thu
Il