Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-06-10

al rights for their sex, there was
nigh h-souled young woman in the mid
die who quietly gained for herself
never could convey In wise womanly
ways she SO exercised her abilities in
the service of her fellows that Frances
willard was acclaimed by myriads as
the uncrowned queen of America
They are greatest who most serve.
Frances Willard poured out her life in
self forgetting ministry; and in its
century and quarter of history the
American republic has produced no
greater woman than she.
When man loses his manliness. or
woman her womanliness, all real
power departs from it. sweet and
gracious womanliness was a charm of
Frances Willard to the end.
a*
Great as an individual life may be-
come, cause is always greater. Fran
ces Willard believed profoundly in the
wisdom of attaching her life to an un-
popular and altruistic propaganda. She
identified herself heartily with the
temperance crusade; for it she lived
and in it she exercised every last
ounce of her power. Her contribution
to the cause of temperance was great;
put lIe temperance cause s cOntrlDu-
ton to her was greater. She got more
than she gave 1t was In womens 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 Willard.
often reiterated, is still good advice
for the. young people Of today-namely,
| to discover the most deserving of the
unpopular causes of the day and to
| throw ones self into 1t with complete
abandon.
| Nothing ever requires the sacrifice
of ones manhood and womanhood
even at the sacrifice of life, if need
arise. Miss Willard conspicuously
demonstrated that 1t is possible to pre-
serve the sweetest and most lovable
traits Of womanly character while en-
gagged in public work. Frances Will
lard the woman always overtopped
Frances Willard the reformer and ed
ucator
Pettiness is the peril of these ma
terial times. How many young wom-
en- there are who have today not had a
thought above dress and beaux! Triv-
ial 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 all such comes a
full orbed life like Frances Wizards.
bidding women to live for great goals
worthy of them; and in manner that
is truest to woman's highest nature.
There is great career waiting for
every young woman willing to pay
the price of achievement.
HsS
Ten years ago Frances Willard quit
ted the life beautiful below for the life
more beautiful above. Yet she still
lives in the extraordinary victories
which the cause of temperance Is
achieving all over the land. She would
be the first to say,
What matter, | or they;
! Mine or another's day;
! SO the right word be said
! And life the sweeter made?"
Professionalism is a danger ever
! lurking about the feet of the person
who works in the public eye. When one
must be ever presenting the same
truths to new audiences it is not al
ways easy to feel them with the vivid
ness and freshness which accompanied
their first experience. Politicians,
| preachers, reformers, lecturers and
| teachers all feel the insidous tempta-
tion to say more than they actually
| feel at the time. From this defect
Frances Willard was singularly free.
She felt profoundly the burden of her
message. I was reminded of the Proph-
ct who went over Jerusalem when
| last heard her speak. 1t was before
a great Christian Endeavor conven-
ton. and those nearest Miss Willard
could see the glstening tears chasing
each other down her beautiful face, as
she pleaded eloquently with the young
people, Those tears We're the seal of
genuineness to her message.
1t was as Gods servant that Frances
| Willard became one of the worlds
mistresses.
Religion and reform, so frequently
endangered by unlettered ZEAL blind
bigotry and cheap charlantry, ever
reed the service of the highest talents
most carefully cultivated. Miss VIII
lard welded the weapons of a well
furnished intellectual armory. And she
herself was adorned with. the graces OF
thorough culture. Her winsomeness
was in itself a weapon. AS a multi
tude of young persons dwell on he1
/ work and character, in uncountec
Christian Endeavor prayer meetings, il
is to be hoped that many of the most
talented of them will hear the sum
mons to serve their time and theil
Lord with the best powers they pos
sesS or can develop
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.