A.—Certainly not.
CHAPTER IX.
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.