The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-21
Famous Temperance Worker nn
Scholar EulogiEed BY Rev.
James II. Green.
KNOWN AS UNCRowNED QUEEN
Untiring and Unfailing Efforts Caused
Marvellous Advancement of the
Woman's Temperance Union of
America.

! IL was u lieIiOI ldl SCiIHOii, tdhLuE LOT
| his theme, The Uncrowned Queen of
, America" by which title Miss willard
was known. He said in part:
"Seventy-six years ago, in an OBJ
scure home in the little town OF
Churchville, N. Y. was born a child.
whose influential career became one
of the most far-reaching of the nine
teenth century This precocious child
grew up to be noble. brave, patient
gentle woman, the strongest woman in
the world and the most intenstvely
/ loved woman In her native land. The
achievements of her strenuous life
/ have contributed more TO the progress
and success of temperance than any
other woman living or dead.
From the humble home where her
cradle rocked to the tomb where her
casket rests. her path glowed with I'M
selfish devotion to God. and home, and
native land. and all the while she
walked that path with the tread and
grace of a queen.
Our Uncrowned Queen.
ut was her intimate friend, Isabel,
Lady Henry Somerset. who gave her
that most worthy and appropriate
title-The Uncrowned Queen Of
America In this expression Lady
Somerset crystallized something of the
truth concerning the affectionate re-
lation existing between Frances Eliza
beth Willard and the people of her
beloved country. She reigned,' says
Maiden. by Divine appointment, her
scepter was the word of Christ: her
authority the law of love
Endowed with regal qualifications,
she was born to reign. Vigorous in
intellect and courageous in heart. and
magniiicently equipped, she was des-
tined to lead
She was very fortunate in regard
TO heredity Her ancestors for gem
erations were men and women Of
strong character ana high asperatlons.
Her father was man Of culture and
unusual intellectual strength. He rep
resented his district in the Legislature
and became one OF the leaders and
shapers OF the destiny OF his adopted
State. Wisconsin. Her mother was
remarkable woman. She was strong
and brave and good-and fervently
pious. She discovered that most valu-
able secret of drawing energy from
the infinite store OF Divine energy. Ii
was under circumstances of the most
favorable environment and heredity
that this delicate girl grew and de-
veloped into royal womanhood After
she had become great and famous she
, Mothers mind was always occupied
with great thoughts.
What a splendid suggestion is
found here for mothers who would
have their children rise up and cali
them blessed The hand that rocks
the cradle still rules the world. Hers
can be the gospel of love made mani
fest.
Snnartest Girl In School.
gence as a student. and was often re-
ferred TO as the smartest girl in school
| When she was about. twenty she
graduated with high honors from
Northwestern College. For more than
ten years she taught in school and
college with distinguished success. but
eager to travel. she gave up the school
room and went abroad. where for sew
eral months she observed and studied
! in various capitals Europe,
While touring the Continent and
/ studying its governments and peoples
| she was unconsciously preparing for
! the greatest task ever undertaken by
an American woman, That great work
was ready for her. and only waiting
| her homecoming, Would she be
| equal to II?
Whenever God lays a burden on
anyone He never fails TO supply suf-
, ficient strength and power TO bear It.
| TO her fixed mora earnestness He
added q liberal education. and broad
culture the experience OF travel. the
discipline of teaching and the study
| OF art and life.
| At the Parting of the Ways.
| Shortly after her return from
| Europe she received two letters. One
! of her Biographies declared: Those
! letters were messengers of fate And
/ Portia need not have waited Bossa-
| nious' choice OF the caskets with
keener interest than that which sym
! pathetic friend looking on would have
watched Frances Willard choose be-
tween the two courses of life repre-
/ senterd by those two letters 1t was a
moment big with destiny. though she
| knew 1t not. From the point where
she stood. two paths opened and each
entreated her to enter. The one was
! adorned with honors and emoluments,
! the other was bare and forbidding.
| The one apparently led through flow
, ers and sunshine; the other but stony
ground for bleeding feet to climb up
ward One Of those letters offered
| her a high salaried educational posi-
ton in q leading college, where con-
genial atmosphere of scholarship and
! literature allured her. The other let
/ ter offered her the presidency OF the
J recently formed Woman's Christian
/ Temperance Union of Chicago. an or
/ ganization then poor and obscure, tle
/ position unsalaried and unattended by
I honors or rewards. The one offertd
| her a life which to some extent would
| be ministered to: the other offered
| her only a place to minister"
/ THE attraction OF the high salaried
position Of honor and great usefulness
was difficult for her to escape Her
father had died and her mother. whom
she all but idolized. was almost en-
tirely dependent upon her for support.
1t was a great crisis with her. Why
should she decline the one offering a
! life OF cougenielity and abundant
means for making her mothers last
! DAYS care-freo ard hsrpy or why
should she ACCEPT a life az infinite
hareshlpa one that held no premise
or pyopNec.- az earthly reward-only
g9rvce.
An Hour OF Dcstiny.
"Wllien ~u,,id she choose? Many
centuries aen :: man OF destiny had
stood in . very similar position. Two
courses were calling him. The one,
the powerful throne and luxurious
palace OF Egypt; the other to fellow
ship with the suffering and broken