The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-05
W. c. T. U. COLUMN
Bertha Kelly. Press Supt

The press i- live wire for all
 nations. The press has never been
 weakened. has never thought of
 dying since it frs. came into eN-
 istence-indeed. ]. has proven its
 everlasting strength by reaching
 out and taking into i., embrace eV-
 cry feature reauus to life here
 and life cverlastiu@ What is its
 meaning, that makes 1t such a great
 active agent? t means to urge
 with force or weight IL is the ap- plication of power. Liberty of the
 press in civic policy is the free
 right of publishing books, pamph-
 lets and papers without previous
 restraint, or the unrestrained right
 which every citizen enjoys of pub
 fishing his Thought and opinions.
 subject only to punishment for pub
 fishing what is pernicious to morals
 or the peace ot the state. A free press is a great blessing to a free people. A licentI0us press is curse
 to society. God knew that the sos- Del must be gwen through the press. He wrote the laws on tablets
 of stone with His own finger. Each individual can now get a free copy of the old Mosaic law, as well as
 the law of Christ, by just making
 the request. The power of the press for good i, the power of God.
 The tables of stone were broken
 because of material but the new
 law is a continued application of
 force upon the heart for good, which presses u, into the kingdom
 of God. This law changes hearts of
 stone. Like the laws on stone changed, they are hearts of love and laws of love. The power of
 legislation, when taken from strong
 tablets. are not strong like those taken from the teachings of Jesus spiritual blessings for right doing
 instead of corporal pain for wrong
 doing. There is no longer in
 tluence than that of the press. Some insist that sermons. lectures and speeches have greater influence. They should remember that the best of these reaches the world at large through the press. We can, by good literature. change the worlds social conditions. The trouble is getting this literature read and understood. It is much harder to get persons of loose morals to hear the glad tidings of perfection in Christ through
 preaching. What.has our own pa per done toward educating its readers? Why, much more than many will give it credit for. There lis not a single topic useful to a civilized world it does not touch from the oldest resident to the newborn babe. We have formed an acquaintance and know the character and the moral. social and financial standing. We do not like to allude to weath, but must admit it is something laid by for a rainy day. and if one has enough for many rainy days they can help those that are more unfortunate. and the press generally can arouse those from far and near If money given to the just or taken by the unjust. We should never fail to give due honor | to our editors. our ministers and | our teachers. They are characfar- builders. assistants of our parents. | The reading matter furnished by | editors and teachers instructs us tO | understand thoughts expressed in | type. and the minister should be | able tO thoroughly criticize an ar ticle if it is icentiOus. Complaint i should be made. If we have an op- portuniiY to push a good cause why | should we mo. use if. So many good | articles are published in the White | Ribboner and Union Signal. that if | We would only get them into the | columns of our city papers they | would reach those perhaps that | might with greater zeal fight the | liquor traffic. white slave traffic. | child labor question. juvenile courts and every question touching moral ity and christianity. Every reform must pass through three stages first, ridicula and score: second. say lt Is contrary 10 Bible teach Ing; third, will say I knew it all the tune. If that IS what it means. the temperance reform has passed through the first two, and today the various phases of the temper ance question is discussed intelli- gently. Persons of bread minds and unSeltish interests are aroused by the crying need of humanity The press is the power to all nations. It's echoes of truth jar the nerves or those in contact like the touch of ones finger tip to a sensitive rose plant. If the editor must be criticized, We should be sure thai We are capable of handling inc various questions with greater abil- ny before We assume to be a critic.
 The meeting at Mrs. Dr. MaxwelTS was very pleasant. The program was in the hands of the superin- tendent of literature and president. Mrs. Shields and Mrs. Kelly. Rev. MT. Brewer opened the meeting with the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus" After prayer the president read from the lth chap ter Of Mary P verses. Mesdames Shields and Wilson agreed to at tend to the filling of our boxes with