YOUNG WOMEN'S WORK.
It is very important that the interest and sympathy and active help
of our young ladies be secured in this work.
There is in the heart of every human being a yearning for something
higher and better. Coupled with this yearning in the heart of woman
is the desire to do for others. Ever since the days when a woman
washed the feet of the Holy One with her tears, when the fever healed
patient arose and "ministered to them," when the Marys prepared sweet
spices and ointment for Him they loved, ever since that time have
women delighted in service for others, and thus, in the highest,
broadest forms of Christian philanthroxphy, they may come to be more
like the loving Christ who went about doing good. We covet for
humanity the influence of our young ladies, for in the home and in
society this influence is needed on the side of all that is good and
pure. Then, we would for their own sakes, enlist them in temperance
work, because, engaged in this or similar service they gain for
themselves a breadth, an expansion of views, and a truer thought of
life. Many have not given the subject a serious thought: they
graduate from our seminaries and colleges where every hour has
brought its work and every power has been in action, they come back
into quiet homes, and "What shall I do now?" is the question
presented to their minds. Society soon fills in their time with
imperious but frivolous demands, and while the mothers enter into
this Christian work, young ladies soon come to think it is not for
them. In time they drift into wifehood and into positions of
responsibility of training bodies and souls, with no decided
principles in relation to this question, and no intelligence as to
the evil effects of this great scourge of intemperance. How sad it is
to hear such an expression as this, "Oh, I rather like a man when he
has had just enough liquor to be jolly." Yet, that was the remark of
a fashionable young lady not long ago. Her listener was a young man
who took strong drink, and for whom his friends were anxious, but in
his heart there was no respect for this foolish, thoughtless speech,
and his dry "Ah, do you?" savored just a little of contempt for her,
and pity for himself.
Take a different scene. Recently, I spent a day with a few Christian
women, most of whom were young ladies, members of the Y.W.C.T.U. It
was delightful afterwards to remember that on that occasion no word
of faultfinding or of gossip was spoken, no frivolous or
_fashionable_ talk, but the hours sped by on wings as they
talked of earnest work done, narrated incidents and planned for the
future. These were young ladies _in society,_ bright and happy
in their experience, not those to whom disappointment has come in
some form or other, and to whom the world offers no attractions. I
recall the words of one who was talking earnestly of a scheme to
raise money for their work. "But the best of all is," said she, "in
this way we can get Mr. ---- to work with us, and if he will only
sign the pledge it will be worth more than all the money we make" Is
not this a lesson to us older workers, who are disappointed sometimes
when what we call large results do not follow our undertakings?
A young lady in the city of ---- joined the Y.W.C.T.U. during the
winter of 1881. At a sleighing party shortly after wine was offered
her. "I cannot take it," she said. "I am a member of the Y.W.C.T.U."
Many were the exclamations, for she was a favorite and an
acknowledged leader among her companions, but she had thought it all
over, and had her reasons ready. "If you won't take wine _we_
won't," said one. "If the ladies don't take it, we won t," said one
of the gentleman, so coffee and hot lemonade were served instead, and
to-day most of that company are taking the safe path, and the
gentlemen are honorary members of the W.C.T.U. When young men come to
see that young ladies expect them to be total abstainers, they will
lift themselves up to a higher plane and to a purer manhood.
Dear, young ladies, will you not give to the temperance cause a
little of the time which sometimes hangs heavily on your hands? Will
you not consecrate to its service a portion of the talent with which
God has endowed you? Will you not join the band of sister-workers,
who are endeavoring to bless and uplift humanity, and by voice, pen,
and influence help to make earth a little more like heaven?
There are, at present, three Y.W.C.T. Unions in the Province of
Ontario, and one in Quebec Province. Hamilton Y.W.C.T.U., the first
organized, is now two years old, and has 50 members besides 65
honorary members. Their work is, first, night schools for boys
employed during the day time; second, sewing schools for poor girls;
third, band of hope; fourth, flower mission. These branches of work
with _occasional_ social entertainments keep them very busy. To
these socials, honorary members and others are invited, papers on the
temperance question are read and discussed, the pledge album
presented, refreshments served, and the result is an increase in
numbers and in interest.
Ottawa Y.W.C.T.U. was organised in October 1884, has 50 members and
30 honorary members. The work of this Union is similar to that of the
Hamilton Union, in addition to that, however, the members of this
Union meet twice in the month in a reading circle for the purpose of
gaining information on the many phases of the temperance question.
Essex Centre Y.W.C.T.U. has been in existence only a few months, but
is doing a fine work among the children.
Point St. Charles Y.W.C.T.U. is in connection with a Young Ladies'
Mission Band of that place. This united society is engaged in active
work, and will be found to be a social power whose weight and
influence for good cannot well be estimated.
These Unions report that boys under 12 years of age attending the
Night Schools and Bands of Hope in connection with these Unions in
some instances have come to the meetings under the influence of
liquor, and nine out of ten attending the Night School, smoke their
cigarettes or chew their tobacco up to the last moment before
entering the room. Our young ladies, however, seem to have had a
magnetism over these boys, their obedience and affection have been
secured, and an interest also in better things, a result which older
hands have tried in vain to accomplish. This is shown in the marked
improvement in manner, cleanliness of person, and the giving up of
tobacco and signing the pledge. The Flower Mission has brought a glow
of pleasure to many a sick face as the little bouquet has been
offered by the young ladies in the hospital wards, in the sick room
of many homes, and sometimes in the jails. Into all these places the
beautiful gifts of God have been taken, each cluster of flowers
bearing with it a floral text of scripture, and the earnest prayer of
glad young hearts, that God would speak through their offering, to
forgive, to comfort, and to save.
Miss Scott, 26 Albert street, Ottawa, is Superintendent of this
Department.