Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-08
The Life OF a High Exponent
OF Christian Intelligence

, Mrs. Stevens came intimately in
touch with members Of the local I'M
ions and their personal acquaintance
with her and the reciprocated feeling
of friendship on her part formed a
bond of friendship which has existed
all the years since she first assumed the
trea surership and subsequently the
presidency of the Maine Union. To
attend a convention and watch Mrs.
stevens preside was only to be i'm
pressed with her mastery handling
of the business of the convention and
at the same time her consideration
of every individual in the convention.
When one arose and addressed the
chair. Mrs. stevens quickly recogniz-
ed the party and that by name. If two
or more were on their feet at the same
time and il seemed a question as to
whom the right of debate belonged,
she was quick in her decision and
would briefly and tactfully make
known her decision in such way that
no one took offense, while the person
recognized could not but be impress
ed that the privilege she was given
was to be shared Immediately after
wards by those who had gotten to
their feet at the same time
It may be said that this personal
consideration of each Individual Won
to her a host of friends throughout
the State and was one of the big
contributing forces in making the
Maine State w. G. r. Il. the harmo-
NOUS and cooperating body which it
truly is today In this connection
mention may we'll be made of Mrs.
Stevens policy to present visitors TO
the convention, thus varying the pro-
cedure of a convention session and
breaking or rather avoiding, a monot-
ony which sometimes characterizes
parts of conventional gatherings.
Selected by Miss Willard.
The evidence of efficient leadership
which Mrs. Stevens gave in her di-
rection of the work of the Maine or
ganiZation, naturally brought her ia
vorably to the attention of the presi-
dent of the National w. c. T. T., Miss
Willard. This leadership, only q. small
part of which may be said to have
been in the convention, the greater
part Of such work being in the field,
in organizing county and local work
and bringing it under logical co-Or-
dination with the State organization
was recognized as the explanation of
her being chosen by Miss Willard az
an associate and assistant in the man
agement of the National w. c. 7. L.
1t was in 1894 that Mrs. Stevens was
chosen vice president Of the National
organization. She Immediately enter
1t. f.,I
sociation with the National president
and her associates. 1t was in this
more direct contact that Mrs. Stevens
first came to know Miss Anna A. Cor
don and in which a close and vital
friendship and devotion has existed
with increasing tenderness on the part
of each. Miss Gordon was then pri-
waite secretary to Miss Willard and
she, too, was greatly enjoying the
rich life of her chief, an association
which only those who knew Miss Viii
lard intimately can appreciate.
For four years Mrs. Stevens con-
tinued as vice president of the Nation
al organization, her suggestions and
plans for the organization which was
dear to her heart being shared by
the president, while the latter showed
a corresponding disposition to share
with her vice president her own plans
and views respecting the work. This
mutual relationship, which was also
enjoyed by Miss Gordon, resulted in
an intimacy Of comradeship which was
delightful to each and which contrib
uted much 10 the advancement of the
cause in which they We're one at heart.
suddenly brought to q close in the
death Of Miss Willard, which occurred
early in the year 1893. Upon the
slender shoulders of the Maine woman
fell the burden of directing the many
sided work of the National w. G. It.
L. 1t was a task which would have
staggered a less efilcient person, for
under Miss Willard the National move
ment had developed with wonderful
strides and the departments Of the
work, each Of which received from
the fallen leader during her lifetime a
personal direction and shaping. had
grown to 4 degree that had made the
0rganZa ton one of the great forces
for righteousness TO be reckoned with
by all organized forces of wrong. This
was true TO an extent that is not al
ways understood until one recalls that
/ Miss Willard had extended the organ
4 i2ation Of the w. c. T. u, into every
state and territory and even beyond
until the first slogan echoed for 50
many years, For God and Home and
/ Native Land, was not sufficiently in
elusive and it had become necessary
| to change it to For God, and Home
and Every Land
Becomes Head of National w. c. r. U.
Mrs. Stevens. although deeply de-
pressed by the bereavement which be-
fell the organization in the death Of
Miss Willard, assumed, BY virtue Of