The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-02
PEOPLES FORUM
The w. G. r. II.

sr,-May we have space in your valuable
paper to tell the public what the womans
Christian Temperance union is and the work it
Is trying to do? The w G. r. u. is an or
ganzation of Christian women. banded together
Tor the protection Of the home, the abolition
OF the liquor traffic and the triumph of Christs
golden rule in custom and in law.
we believe in the coming OF his Kingdom.
whose service is perfect freedom. because his
laws, written in members as we'll al in ma
ture and in grace, are perfect, converting the
soul
We believe in the gospel OF the golden rule
and that each mans habits of life should be
an example safe and beneficent for every other
to follow
We believe that God created both man and
woman in his own image. and therefore we be-
Heve in one standard of purity for both men
and women and in equal right of all to hold
opinions and to express the same with equal
We believe in living wage. in courts OF con-
Citation and arbitration, in justice as opposed
TO greed OF gain, in peace on earth and good
will to men.
We therefore formulate and for ourselves
adopt the following pledge asking sisters
and brothers of common danger and a COM
mon hope to make common cause with US In
working Its reasonable and helpful precepts into
the practice of everyday life:
i hereby solemnly promise. God helping me.
to abstain from all distilled. fermented and malt
liquors, including beer. wine and cider and to
employ all proper means to discourage the use
of and traffic in the same.
To confirm and enforce the rationale of this
pledge we declare our purpose to educate the
young; to form better public sentiment TO
reform so far as possible by religious. ethical
ana scientific means the drinking classes. to
seek the Transforming power of divine grace
for ourselves and all for whom we work. that
they and we may wilfully transcend no law of
purity and wholesome living; and. finally we
pledge ourselves to labor and to pray that all
these principles, founded upon the gospel of
Christ, may he worked out into the customs of
society and the laws of the land.
The Worlds Woman's Christian Temperance
union was incorporated In 1888. and is organ
ICED in every State. Territory and dependency
In the Union, including the District of Columbia,
Alaska. Hawaii. Canal Zone and the Philip
There are also number of separate State
unions among the coiored people 1t is the
largest society composed exclusively of women
and conducted entirely by them.
The national motto is: For God, home and
native land" The badge is bow OF whfte>
ribbon. The white ribbon Is symbolic not only
of purity and peace but It. includes all the cor
related reforms that~gsanter in tbs protection
OF the home.
The lines OF work are as follows:
Organization, preventive, educational, evan
gelistic. social. legal.
Some of the principal results the organiza-
ton has been instrumental in securing are the
following:
State campaigns for statutory prohibition and
constitutional amendments and for securing the
enactment of other reform laws. especially those
for the protection OF women and girls. 1t be-
gan the movement for scientific temperance
education in the public schools, having been
instrumental in securing laws 10 that end In
all the States, and, besides this. II has secured
congressional legislation, by means Of which
All the Territories dependencies and the District
IF Columbia are brough under the same bencfi4a
cent statutes. Its evangelistic work for nom
churchgoers, railway employs soldiers. inln-
ing men OF all classes, have proven its compre-
hensiveness and the tirelessness OF its energy.
Its forts to reach the pauper and prisoner.
TO. establish reformatories and homes for the
wretched victims Of inebriety and their sufferinga
children and It's Temperance Flower mission,
must appeal to every heart 1t also strives to
redeem outcast women from slavery worse
than death OF chains, and by better LAWS TO re-
cure protection to women and girls from the
outrages OF brutal and designing men, Its in
fuence too, Is felt In the publication OF curl
literature and art
It Ia organized in over fifty nations with
total membership of half million.
Frances r. willard Its founder
The pressing need of this great organization
liz money to carry forward the work along all
It's varied lines and consecrated hearts to Join
it's ranks.
The Richmond auxiliary has opened head
quarters at No. III West Broad street, third
floor of Steff Piano company.
All and women who Interested In
educating the young. forming a better public
sentiment. Transforming by the power OF divine
grace those enslaved by alcohol and securing