Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-09-25

encourage the pastor to present differ
ent phases of our work, can help se-
cure and arrange for special and per-
haps union services for Red letter
Days, can emphasize the value of
the Worlds Temperance Sunday. and
when in quarterly or annual gather
ings can embrace opportunities for
increasing and crystalizing reform
sentiment Then the Sunday School,
the nursery of the church. her oppor-
tunity is almost unlimited if an officer
or teacher. and is still great If she be
but scholar. The establishment and
maintenance of the quarterly temper
ance lesson brought about by the per-
sistent energy and influence of "The
Women's Christian Union" has given
us wonderful advantages and obliga-
| tions.
Again, what shall we as individuals
do in our organization? This may be
answered in two words, sBe faith
full" Be faithful in taking and read
ing the official papers. IN attending
the meetings, in doing the work as
signed for you, in helping plan
aggressive work, in meeting financial
obligations, and in spiritual heart
culture.
Be faithful and keep right on and
keep keeping on.
| Lastly. what are we to do as an
organization? 1t is well with our
small talents and limited ability, we
do not have to plan the organism of
this great body. We have the result
of many an anxious thought. many a
devout prayer, many midnightvigil,
many worn out life. 1t is here.
! it is ours. 1t has Gods sea. upon it
as OF his own planting, and any lack
| OF cooperation or even endorsement
on our part lessons its beneficient re-
suits and dwarfs our own hearts. The
watch words of our organization are
Agitate, Educate. Organize. J"
Agitation commands attention and
causes an arrest of thought. We must
not only think for ourselves. bur we
must make others think. and think so
seriously that they will do something.
That is why we have our literature.
our conventions and our speakers.
Education is closely allied to think
ing. is applied to thought if you
please. We must show the causes of
the evils If the land. the increasing
dangers and the remedies. also what
consecrated women moved may ac-
complish and what reform organiza-
tions are doing. This is why we have
our. literature and our conventions
and our speakers Then we must con-
tinue to organize, in union there is
strength, we must cooperate, we
must sacrifice, we must contribute.
Oh for the talent that is hidden
away in napkins. Oh! for the wealth
that is the miser e boarded treasure or
is recklessly squandered in foolishness
or debauchery, but whether we have
all the means we need or not we must
organize, it is the demand of the
times. and that is why we send out our
speakers, and give our time and
strength. 1t is that more and more
the entire world may receive benedic-
tions from the organization that is
pledged to the highest interests of the
great institutions of the world, the
home, the school, the church and the
state.
Some of us think that we do all we
can. that we sacrifice much. but we
know little of the martyrs spirit or
triumph, or what many are even now
enduring for the sake of humanity and
righteous principles. We remember
those delicate refined English sisters
who were recently thrown into prison
for daring to go in body to Parla-
ment and make demonstration in
favor of the Suffrage Bill, which ciI-
cumstance will serve the double pur-
pose of forwarding the cause of equal
suffrage and of securing more humane
treatment in the prisons.
Next Tuesday, Sept. 18th is the day
fix tor voting upon the constitution
of Oklahoma, the prohibition clause
being submitted as separate article.
Shall we not remember them and hear
them in our prayers.
1t is great cause for rejoicing that
Kansas is bringing honor to the prohi-
bitcry law that Maine has stood firm.
that Vermont repents of her license
law. that Maine has stood firm, that
Indiana has far famed influential,
righteous judges; that so many gov
ernors are examples of integrity, and
that the southern states. headed by
the almost puritanical Georgia are
making cooq1est over the liquor
traffic of such proportion that the
trade" is more and more alarmed. and
good people more and more resO.ce6-
So. we might go OH at length me :
tioning encouraging facts. but tie
work of 1.-The Woman's Christian
Union" is not done 1t must go o.
until liquor companies can no longer
boast with our nations flying colors
on their advertisements that "Uncle
Sam" is our Salesman. 1t must
go on until the Canteen question is
settled and to stay 1t must go on
until the Hepburn Dolliver Bill Tor
one similar) is passed, thereby pro-
tecting prohibition territory from
invaders. 1t must go on until the
people realizing the great destruction
of health. wealth. character and hap
piness caused by the Liquor Traffic
will rise in their dignity and place it
in the list of crimes removing all
protection, but giving severe enforced
penalties. 1t must go on until through
education and protection lust is oe-
prived of its victims, single
standard maintained and every child
inherits the right nj legacy of being
we'll born.
1t must go on until the Golden Rule
is the law of nations as we'll as of in
diyiduals avd uot;l ;c -,cha-ai inf.