Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
Mrs. Henderson and the Rechabite.

Mrs. Henderson and the Rechabites.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In q recent communication to your paper
relative to the destruction Of wine at her
residence, Mrs. Mary Foote Henderson re-
fers to our organization Of Rechabites as
composed OF working people. We are proud
Of the working people connected with 1t
(only wish they were more), but we are
also proud OF the fact that there are sew
enteen members of parliament connected
with the order, as well as Lady Henry
Somerset, Lady Elizabeth Riddulph. Con-
gresham Nathan w. Hale and Mrs. Hen
derson herself. We wish there were more
of the latter class, too, for 1t is society"
that lays the foundation for the destruo-
ton of many young men, and when so
ciety' becomes awakened to the fact and
shakes off prejudice and throws to the
winds their regard for what people say.
regardless of sneers and vituperation, it
will be the beginning Of the end Of serving
wines at public functions.
Mrs. Henderson shudders at so much no.
toriety over a righteous act, because of
the fact, I presume. that the gentle. pure
and noble traits she possesses revolted at
the newspaper excitement the example she
set to the society Of the world caused.
received with appreciation, showing
healthy sentiment of the country.
From Rechabite viewpoint, Mrs. Hen
derson is mistaken when she says that we
do not sufficiently study to eliminate the
cause of the drink evil. 1t Is true that our
order is strictly a moral suasion organi-
zation. 1t Is true that we do not believe
In spending our time in fighting the saloon
or the saloon keeper. Some Of our MEM
bers believe In prohibition. Some believe
in the principles of the republican and DEM
ocratic parties, and some are CATHOLIC and
others Protestant We are only united on
one thing, and that is to abstain from all
Intoxicating liquors. We believe that IL we
can unite under one banner all the men,
bers of the several parties and church de-
nominations that believe in total absti-
nence and they will persuade two men each
year to give up their cups that more sa-
looms would be forced to close, that more
counties would adopt local option and more
states prohibition, twice over than by
spending hundreds of thousands of dollars
every year in supporting prohibition con-
ventionS.
We, In fact. are the only society in the
United States that is going to the founda-
forced on an unwilling majority. Prohibi-
ton will not prohibit in communities where
a majority of the people are opposed to
prohibition. Saloon keepers are not the
meanest people in the world. Many of them
have kind hearts and are sorry they are not
in some other business. They would not
continue their business If 1t did not pay
They are no worse than men who fight
them openly for notoriety and never per-
suade a fellow to quit drinking; and not
half as bad as a man who abuses them
publicly and privately drinks liquors. Dur
ing the early part of this year our agita-
ton committee inaugurated temperance
meetings, and jointly with several churches
and societies later participated in meetings
ostensibly for the adoption Of the Weber
bill for prohibition. Our purpose was to
increase our membership, but not one of
our tents, to my knowledge, Endorsed the
measure for the reasons I have already
stated-that that Is out of our line.
1t has been heralded over the country
that our organization influenced Mrs Hem
derson In destroying her wine cellar and
that she acted on an impulse The state
ment is at variance with the facts. for she
contemplated the act before inviting her
fellow Rechabftes to the bottle-breaking
party, and she committed the wine to the
gutter of her own accord. / also desire to
commend The Star reporter for his accu-
rate account of the happening
WAYNE w. CORDELL
High Chief Ruler.
Independent Order of Rechabites.