The Washington herald., 1909-06-05
One Woman's S Rights.

I LdlLl-
One Woman's Rights.
Terss Comments upon the Christian Endeavoz
Topic for June & The Noble Life Of Frances
Willard" Prov. xExil 10. l7-2o s. D. 29-3L
Rights come 10 those who exercise
them. Real power is not conferred by
law: 1t Is personal, and inheres IN char
acter. IN the ages and lands where
woman's sphere IS most restricted some
women have risen 10 places OF leadership
and world influence. The royalty Of
which the essence Is great personality
may not be affected by considerations
Of sex, age, or social conditions Cleo
patra and Joan OF Arc welded their
power in spite OF their environment
While some American women were clam
oring for full political rights for their
sex, there was a high-souled young wom-
an IN the middle who quietly gained for
herself such an influence as the ballot
box never could convey In wise woman
ly ways she so exercised her abilities IN
the service OF her fellows that Frances
Willard was acclaimed by Ayriads as
the uncrowned queen OF America"
They are greatest who most serve.
Frances Willard poured out her life IA
self-forgetting ministry; and in its cen
tury and a quarter OF history the Amer
lean republic has produced no greater
woman than she.
When a man loses HIS manIiness or a
woman her womanIiness all real power
departs with It. Sweet and gracious
womanliness was a charm Of Frances
Willard TO the end.
Great as an individual life may become.
a cause is always greater. Frances VIII
lard believed profoundly In the wisdom
Of attaching her life 10 an unpopular
and altruistic propaganda. She identified
herself heartily with the temperance cru
sade: for il she lived and in it she
exercised every last ounce OF her power.
Her contribution 10 the cause Of temper
ance was great; but the temperance
causes contribution to her was greater. /
She got more than she gave Il was m
women's work for the promotion OF total
abstinence. and for the abolition OF the /
saloon, that she found herself and her
life work. The advice of Frances VIII /
lard, often reiterated, IS stiI good advice /
ar the young people Of tO-day-namely, 1
to discover the most deserving Of the 1
unpopular causes Of the day and 10 4
throw ones self into it with complete /
abandon
Nothing ever requires the sacrifice OF 1
ones manhood and womanhood. That
must be preserved at all costs. even at
the sacrifice Of life, IL need arise. Miss
Willard conspicUously demonstrated that I
IL is possible TO preserve the sweetest (
and most lovable traits Of wOmanly char 4
acter while engaged in public work I
Frances Willard the woman always over
topped Frances Willard the reformer and /
educator.
Pettiness is the peril Of these material
times. How many young women there
are who have to-day not had a thought
above dress and beaux, Trivial gossip. \
stereotyped phrases. and the inanities Of.
barren lives have been all that have
fallen from their lips They have neither
greatly dreamed nor greatly done To A
all such comes full-OTbed life like Fran
ces Wizards, bidding women to live for
great goals worthy Of them: and In a
manner that is truest to womans highest
nature. There is a great career waiting
for every young woman willing 10 paw
the price Of achievement.
Ten years ago Frances Willard Quilted
the life beautiful below for the life more
Beautiful above. Yet she still lives in the
victories which the cause
of temperance Is achieving all over the
and She would be the first 10 say,
What matter. OF they;
Mine OF anothers day:
So the right word be said
And life the sweeter madeg"
1t was as Gods servant that Frances
Willard became one Of the worlds mis-
-resses.
Professionalism is a danger ever lurking
about the feet CT the person who works
n the public eye. When one must be
sver presenting the same truths 10 new
audiences it is not always easy 10 feel
hem with the vividness and freshness
which accompanied their first experience
politicians, preachers. reformers, lectur-
RS. and teachers, all feel the insidfors
emptation 10 say more than they actll-
llly fee! at the time. From this defect
frances Willard was singularly free. She
eli profoundly the burden Of her mes
age ] was reminded Of the prophet who
vept over Jerusalem when I last heard
Ter speak. 1t was before a great Chris
ian EndeavOr convention. and those
iearest Miss Willard could see the
'listening tears chasing each other down