The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

Unfortunately, it does not stop in Cedarville. We will have to stop off at Xenia, and some of the dear ones from home will meet us there. Now farewell. Farewell to all of the good folks of Lyons. On these pages I will write the words I spoke at Mrs. (Moosures) and her daughter Mrs. (Mullanes) on yesterday afternoon, as follows: When we look at the fewness of the White Ribbon Workers we often feel discouraged, and well we might did we not know that God was the leader of this army at the very out set. God does not depend upon members to do this work, for he can help with many or with few. While God can accomplish this work with a few yet it would be infinitely better for all the women of Indiana and of the world as well to be enlisted in this work for in so doing they vowed not only[to] honor God, but they would receive this blessing and be so workers with Him. It has been said by a military expert that forty well trained soldiers can successfully resist ten thousands who do not have any training. Now if this is true can we not expect great things of the forty departments of the W. C.T.U. organization well drilled and equipped going out to attack men and women long steeped in ignorance and sin who have been left to struggle on in darkness without much thought or help from the masses of church going people. Now what might they not accomplish! This is sadly true that these have been neglected by the church. Miss Willard was faithful in all church work yet she saw the lack and it was for this she gave up everything that she might lend a helping hand and God helped to organize women for the accomplishing of this work. She felt that they would be a mighty host a solid (philany?) against the powers of evil. While “a reformer is one who sits at the prow and sees only God” yet God works by means and often uses “the weak things of this world to confound the mighty.” This is our comfort, let us trust and not be afraid. While in our ranks there are bright heights and leaders, but in speaking of these now so grand, so bright and so lovely as Miss Frances E. Willard. How sadly we all felt when she died- each one felt she was my friend, she belonged to me. Each felt how can we move along without her. It was not only the white ribbon women that felt this, but men and women all over the land felt that her death to them was a personal loss. But now that she has gone, one who has done so much to help and emancipate every one of us ought we not try to be faithful and go steadily on and make everything she began a success. Now can we not do this? When we look at our leaders today we fall so far below them that we often ask ourselves what can we do? We know we can not be round the world missionaries (?) can we go to distant lands to plant out banner. For indeed most of us find it difficult to leave our homes long enough to attend one of our meetings in a neighboring town yet it was this very class of women that enlisted in the white ribbon army when Miss Willard issued her first call. Indeed Miss Willard also recognized this fact and so do our leaders today that if it were not for these very women the work could not be carried on. In the army of the nation there are Generals and Brigadier Generals, but it is the rank and file of the army that carry the sword and bayonet and led out to 159