First Meeting of the Year of the W.C.T.U.

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 10

First Meeting of the Year of the W.C.T.U.

LIFE AND WORK OF FRANCES WILLARD On Friday last tho first meeting of the .year of tho Palmerston North Women’s Christian Temperanco Union was held, Mrs J. F. Clausen, a vicepresident, being in the chair. Mrs Clausen conducted devotional exercises, and Miss Sutherland gave tho scientific fact. The appointment of Mrs and Miss Stuart as superintendents of the cradle roll was confirmed, also that of Miss M. Mooro as vice-president, and delegato to the Dominion Convention to bo held in Christchurch in March. Mrs Rush was appointed pianisto in place of Mis 3 Z. King. Mrs Scott read over the remits which had been sent forward to bo discussed at the convention. Mrs Birclsall Honoured A pleasing part of the programme was the presentation to Mrs Birdsall of a long-service badge. In making the presentation, Mrs Collins said that Mrs Birdsall had been an active member for over thirty years; she had been treasurer for two years, and secretarytreasurer of the Willard Home Board for many years, and well deserved the honour thus shown her. Mrs Hodder endorsed Mrs Collins’ remarks, saying that she was very pleased that Mrs Birdsall was getting the badge as she had always been a faithful and efficient worker. Miss Moore announced that Miss MoLay would be in Palmerston North soon, and would address a meeting of tho “Y,” or youth branch. The adult union members were invited to be present and to provide supper. Mrs Watson was initiated as a new members, Mrs Collins reading the initiatory service. Paper on Frances Willard A paper on Frances Willard, sent forward by headquarters, was read by Miss Jamieson. The writer stated that Frances Willard’s parents had both been school teachers and were determined that their children should have every possible advantage. The children were educated at home, but at the age of seventeen Frances Willard had two years at a private school, and another year at a ladies’ seminary, having attended school altogether for only three years. Of course, tho next question was, ‘'What shall I do?" and in her readiness for work, sho taught school in a little red hovel. From that she went on and up until she was principal of the Wesleyan Collego at Seneca, New York. Next came two years in Europe with a friend, studying and observing as she travelled, writing home her experiences for various papers. During her stay abroad, her attention was called to the distressing condition of women in the East, and indeed in the greater part of Europe, and she was led to ask, “What can be done to make this world a wider place for women?" On her return, she was appointed dean of the Women’s College at Evanston, where she laboured faithfully, and with marked success for three years. Miss Gordon (formerly world president of tho W.C.T.U.) had said: “Were one to ask the salient features of her work as a teacher, tho reply would be the development of individual character, and the revelation to her pupils of their special powers and vocation as workers, her constantly recurring question being not only “What are you going to be in the world?" but also “What are you going to do?" So that after six months under her tuition, each of her scholars had a definite idea of a life work. She had wonderful power over tho girls under her charge, and the system of self-government which she instituted at Evanston, in order to develop womanly self-respect and dignity of character, was a great success. While she presided over her household her personal influence was a stronger forco for good than any amount of strict regulations. Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, was her ideal teacher, and she was as grand in her place as ho was in his. Fully two thousand pupils passed under her influence and instruction, and there was not one of all that number that was not led at least to think of the nobility of a steadfast Christian life. The New Chivalry About this time, Frances Willard addressed a Women’s missionary meeting in Chicago and a gentleman who was present was so much struck by her fitness for a public speaker that he called on her next day, and urged that she develop this gift, adding: “If you will prepare, within three weeks, a lecture on any subject you choose, I will present you with as fine an audienco as can bo got together in Chicago.” With ihis, he gave her fifty dollars as prepayment. Miss Willard said: “The proposition quite took my breath away, b-t I went home and laid it before my mother, who replied 'By all means, my child, accept; enter every open door.’ So I sat down and wrote a lecture on ‘The New Chivalry,’ the substance of which was that the chivalry of tho present century was not that of knights and troudadours, but tho plain, practical chivalry of justice, which gave to woman a fair chance to be all that God gave her power to be. This maiden effort was a protest against the hindrances in the way of women’s advancement. Tho lecture was ready at the expiration of three weeks, and with no manuscript visible I appeared before tho elegant audience in Centenary Church. Tho manuscript was with me in portfolio ready for reference in case of failure, but I didn’t fail.” The lecture produced such a genuine sensation that within two weeks, she had nearly one hundred engagements to speak and , her career as a public orator was fairly begun.

Up to the time of tho ‘‘Women’s Crusade" in Ohio, the attention of Frances Willard had never been particularly called to the temperanco question, but with that important event, there came to her what sho called an

“arrest of thought," and as a result, sho felt called upon to give up all her other interests, and devote herself to tho work when the summons came to go. Under a steady fire of opposition from friendly ranks she enlisted in the temperance work. Her steady push

might be understood from these words of hers: “We mean to go straight on. We mean to be as good-natured as sunshine, but as persistent as fate.” As world president of the W.C.T.U. Miss Willard showed an amount of tact, energy and organising ability that was extraordinary. Of rare natural endowment, of superior education, and high purpose, sho had a great soul, and swiftly recognised greatness in others. A clergyman who went to one of her lectures said:, “I expected to find a cropped-naired, niasiuline-looking individual, with hands in pocket, and voice keyed up to a high pitch, aud could scarcely believe my eyes when I saw a graceful, beautiful woman, simply, yet tastefully dressed, standing modestly in of the platform, and in soft, sweet tones, pleading for those who could not plead for themselves. I had not listened for two minutes before l surrendered and I could then no more doubt her call to her work than I could question my own call to the ministry." Of her it could be said: “Sho was called ot God. A noble woman, true and pure, who, in tho little while she stayed, wrought work that shall endure."