p. 13 | A Work for Our Sisters by Mrs. Iza E. Clement

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 2, 1911

A Work for Our Sisters

By Mrs. Iza E. Clement

MRS. IZA E. CLEMENT

It is said that “man's extremity is God's opportunity,” and those whose eyes are “anointed with the heavenly eye-salve” can see that the world's extremity is the opportunity of God's people; and the men and women who are seizing and improving these opportunities have most favorable and interesting reports to render.

The great temperance wave which is just now sweeping over the land affords a wonderful, and it may be the last, great chance for the enlightenment of many on the mighty truths of God's Word, and especially on the principles of religious liberty, a work of the utmost importance just at this crisis.

While the principles of total abstinence should be and are being defended and heralded from the desk by our leading brethren, still it is to our sisters that present-day opportunities direct their most heart-searching appeal, and vouchsafe their most brilliant promises. “Women may take their places in the work at this crisis, and the Lord will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Spirit of God, they will have just the self-possession required for this time. The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of his countenance, and this will give them a power which will exceed that of men. . . . They can come close to the hearts of those whom men can not reach. Their labor is needed!” —“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, pages 117, 118.

The W. C. T. U., that mighty host of reformers and leaders in temperance work, the cream of all the popular churches, but unfortunately an ally of the National Reform Party, invites the cooperation of our sisters in suppressing that deadly evil, the rum traffic; and it is here that they may do a great work for God in presenting to these women the truths of the last message, and in making clear to them the true relation of Sunday laws to the principles of liberty as taught by the Word of God, enjoined by the Saviour, and enunciated by the Declaration of Independence.

Our brethren have contended nobly on the floors of legislative and assembly halls against the passage of Sunday laws; but the movement grows apace, and now the call comes from within and without our ranks for the assistance of our sisters. “Their labor is needed.”

Mrs. E. M. Stevens, temperance secretary of the College View church, has met with good success by undertaking a small work along this line.

April 29, 1911, she gave a temperance program which lasted about one and one-half hours, in the college chapel at College View. It consisted of readings, speeches, quartets, and solos, besides the leading feature, which was a most impressive discussion between twelve boys from fourteen to sixteen years of age, in which Uncle Sam gave the decision, sweeping the liquor traffic from the land.

This discussion was compiled from the utterances of the foremost orators and temperance workers in the world, and was so cleverly arranged as to appear like one great whole, and to make a most impressive appeal to all who heard it.

It was reported in the papers, and so interested the W. C. T. U. women of Lincoln that they requested that it be reproduced at Havelock, a suburb of Lincoln where temperance work was sadly needed.

This request was complied with, and on June 6 it was repeated there with the same success, and with complimentary notice from both College View and Lincoln papers.

Later, Mrs. Stevens was called upon to present the program at another church in Lincoln, which she did. The W. C. T. U. women of Lincoln and its vicinity were delighted with the work, and attended the next temperance program which Mrs. Stevens gave in the College View church, and they expressed great surprise when they learned that six hundred thirty-five persons signed the pledge that evening before the program was finished. Through this work, the way was opened for Bible readings with some of the leading workers of the organization.

Not only has Mrs. Stevens been requested to repeat her programs in Lincoln and surrounding suburbs, but requests for them have come from other States, attesting to their merits as temperance educators, and as potent factors in the development of character and talent in the youth who take part in their presentation. Thus they fulfil a threefold purpose,—strengthening the hearts and hands of the temperance workers; bringing them in contact with the third angel's message; and encouraging our youth and instructing them in these mighty principles of righteousness and truth.

This experience made youthful orators of no mean ability of the boys, some of whom had never before appeared in public. President Garfield used to say, “I always feel like taking off my hat to the possibilities in every boy I meet.” There are possibilities in every normal boy and girl in the world. All they need is development.

“Will our sisters arise to the emergency? Will they work for the Master?”

Any one desiring an outline of the discussion will be supplied with it by addressing, with stamp, Mrs. E. M. Stevens, College View, Neb.

College View, Neb.