Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-09-25
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Annual Address Of President. Mrs. Thera B.
True, to District W. c. T. u. Convention.

| True, to District W. c. 7. U. Convention.
Following is the annual address oil
President Mrs. Thera B. True OF
Edgewood to the recent district con.
vention of the W. @. T. U held in
this city, published by request:
This convention will fail of its mis-
sion il it have no practical instruc.
tiou, and in order tn help along this
line let us consider the following
questions. What should we do to rep
resent our organization or to carry
forward its work, in the family, in
society, in the church and in the or
ganization itself. And what are we
to do as an organization? The realm
OF activity thus opened out before us
is so vast and boundless that it be
comes at once almost a barrier TO any
attempt of our limited capabilities,
but when we remember that the long
journey may be made by one step at
| time, that the years are measured off
f, by seconds and that the Grain of
Sand and the Drop of Water" each
has It's mission we may take courage
and by even doing the next thing we
may help to live out the proper an
swers to the foregoing questions. Let
as remember, however, that steam
and electricity bring greater results
than pedestrianism, that some time
pieces lose time by tardy tick-tock,
that some grains of sand are in danger.
GUS shoals and that the drop of water
may be stagnant or be in destructive
floods. So, we want to make the
greatest and best use of our forces !;
and right. here ask each one to take
and remember this for your motto :
II will try to always be and do my
BEST -
The first need is conservation, or
proper appropriation and division of
time. People rush on in the whirl of
business or rounds OF pleasure with
no time for studying reform questions,
no time for rescuing the fallen or re-
moving the pitfalls and snares, no
time for saving heartaches or DESTROY
ing the poisoned arrows, no time even
to place the guide-board or danger
signal close to the pathway OF their
loved ones.
Do we as members of the Womans'
Christian Temperance Union give to
its work all the time we ought? The
second need is quickened conscience.
Too many consciences have been
scared, hardened, trified with. until
God Holy Day may be desecrated,
each commandment violated, evil
condoned, and appetite and lust
licensed for money; and these con-
sciences dictate no remonstrance, feel
no pang, acknowledge no responsible
ity.
Are our conscienoes clear. tender,
susceptible to Divine impulses and
leadings?
The third need is loving heart,
Christ-like spirit. manifesting itself
in genuine kindness to all, and in
seeking to feed the hungry, clothe the
destitute, visit the sick and the i'm
prisoned, administer to the wounded,
and as the destruction of a thistle may
prevent the scattering of thousands of
noxions weeds and as an "Ounce of
prevention is worth pound of cure, =
the wise loving heart will seek the
destruction OF that which causes the
most of the suffering and unhappy
conditions which it would alleviate.
Having then three requisites, con-
secrated time, quickened conscience
and loving heart, the Christian
woman is ready for action, ready for
that service which gave fragrance to
the ''Arabaster box of Ointment"
In order then to rightfully and
fruitfully represent our organization,
we must devote time to it, must have
its spirit. we must declare and work
for its principles.
In the family, education along the
different lines may be given so as not
to be monotonous or offensive, but
rather attractive and convincing, and
the members of the family may all be
taught high ideals of life and charac-
ter. loyalty to the government. respect
for purity. yes, purity itself. and re-
spect for the white Ribbon" and
the principles which it and the let
ters W. Q. I. U. represent.
In society a faithful "White Rib
bon' will soon have al influence, and
this should be held as sacred trust.
She may unobtrusively with q flower,
q picture, a magazine, a song. visit
or an at home welcome, win respect
aud love. not only for herself. but also
for ths society of which her tiny bow
of white ribbon is au emblem. So
ciety needs renovating because of the
terrible evils which threaten the
youth everywhere, not only the liquor
and tobacco habits which are so slyly
and fascinatingly. slowly but surely
fastened upon many a bright boy be-
fore his mother even dreams that his
lips are sullied and his breath con-
taminated, not only there. but also
the so-called social evil which Oft
times gets a start from the vulgar
joke. the impure reading, the vile as
sociate, the dance hall and the mid
night walk. From all these have
come many times, an influence 10
blacken the character and blight the
happiness of soms idolized child of
fond parents hearts.
If mothers cannot see the dangers,
shall not the one with trained eyes
who watches upon the tower, and
whose heart feels humanity's throbs
and sobs, shall not such a one be
thanked for timely warnings, and
shall she hold her peace who has been
enlightened regarding the tactics of
the evil one?
Next, what is our duty in the
church? Every church member who is
onk;vo a,,1 fasthful hoe ON ipAuapca