Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

r ■■pin i » .-=== —. and sorrow because of the dear ones they had lost through the drink. If. said the speaker, such a procession were actually to pass before your sight •to-v.icrht there.is not a man who would raise a cheer. Mrs Barney then appealed in. eloquent yet touching 'language to her audience, that they would at once give up the drirk. During the collection. the choir sang "Raise your standard sisters," and then Mr Percy Thomas briefly addressed the audience, givinz incidents which had come uader his own notice in the town of Cardiff. The meeting terminated with the benediction. On Wednesday afternoon, a social gathering was held in the ball. for which about 300 invitations were Issued. The front part of the hall was re-arranged. Small fancy tables with vases of flowers were placed aboi)t, with seats around them. About 200 accepted the invitation. A few members of the Blue Ribbon Choir sat on the platform. Mrs T. Powel presided, and in her opening remarks paid a very high tribute to the president of the Penarth branch of the B.W.T.A., Miss Tregelles. The subject of Mrs Barney's address was "Christ's me.sage to women." The speaker said were I to ask anyof you if yon believe in the Word of God, you would all say, yes, of course we do. On a bit of ribbon in a Bible I once read these words, Dear Lord Jesus, let us read this book together." It struck me as being something very beautiful to read the Bible with the Lord Jesus, but how often when on my bended knees I have thus read it. have 1 had to give up my pre- conceived ideas. Mrs Barney spoke much upon the power of mother's prayers, and related several beau- tiful yet touching incidents, which went home to the hearts and consciences of liar audience, moving many to teflll. She blessed God for his Divine thought for women. Before closing her address she related instances showing the need for the women of the B.W.T.A-, to be thorough—to wear the badge of while ribbon, and not to wear it under a covering so that it could not be seen. To her the ribbon was a message. It ought to mean (1) purity in thought and deed; (2) It ought to mean consecration, not to the temperance cau: e only, but to the Lord Jesus; (3) It ought to mean helpfulness, so that those in trouble or sorrow, seeing the white badge upon us, would know that we were ready to help with loving words. and sympathy and council; (4) it ought to mean loyally. Christ himself has opened the way for women's work and we have nis promise, I the Lord will be thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." Ther, in praver, Mrs Barney pleaded for the women of Penarth, that they might be led to give themselves to Christ, and to devote their interests to the promo- I iion of Temperance work. A piece by the choir, and the meeting was con-j eluded with the benediction- All who chose to remain were invited to partake of tea, an abundant supply of provisions having been provided, On Wednesday evening the hall was again crowded, and even the platform was packed. On this occasion the chair was taken by Mrs Wheatley, who is a fluent and telling speaker, and who has had muoh experience in the various branches of the B. W. T. A. work in London. She was supported by Mrs Barney, Mrs Trow (Secretary), Mrs Inglis (Barry), Mrs Pike, Mrs Pickford, Mrs Loveridge, Mrs Kemp, Mrs Pyne, Miss Evans, the Misses Cruickshank, Miss Allen, Miss Bleby, and Messrs Loveridge, Shepherd, Hitchings, Hancock, Allen, Seagrave. &c. The musical part of the programme, with the object losson, was similar in character to that of the previous evening. Miss Coney and Miss Button beautifully rendered the duet, u Side by side to the better land." Miss Siderfin and Miss Jenkins marshalled the waifs on to the platform, and Miss Bleby very feelingly spoke of the depriva- tions which these children suffered in consequence of the drinking habits of their parents. Mrs. Whea ley, in introducing Mrs. Barney, said the idea that seemed to prevail among people to-day was that the B. W- T. A. was going to turn the world upside down. That was not exactly their in- tention, but it was to turn it right side up, to turn it toward God's face. When the Veto Bill was thrown out it was thought the temperance party would be discouraged, but it, was not, for they had the same promise that was given to Joshua, Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given you." She did not agree with all the Veto; Bill intended to do, for it proposed closing the publicJ houses. She would not have them closed, but would turn the drink out, and keep them open, for it was not the intention of the B. W. T. A. at any rate, to take away a single pleasure of the people, but to see that they were wholesome. Mrs. Barney, as she rose to speak, was presented with a choice bouquet by little Miss Florrie Hayter, with-these words, "We give you this with our love." Mrs, Barney said the words of the little one, we give you this with our love," meant a great deal to her, for she was far more familiar with the wails of life than with its brightness and its flowers, and urged upon her listeners the importance of taking care of the children. The subject chosen for the Evening was u From Jerusalem to Jericho," and those Inost familiar with the parable and its teaching could' not have but learnt something new from the wond3r- ful way in which the subject was treated by the ■S] e IkGr, nor could one have left the hall in doubt' after the brilliant exposition and dealing with the question of the rich young ruler, Who is my neighbour ?" by Mrs. Barney. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was infested with robbers who, not content with robbery, in many cases, beat, stripped, and left wounding and dying their victims. We are all travellers on life's great highway, and the robber institution is the liquor traffic. The people who pass before us, in the parable, are repre- sentative people; they represent the classes of to- day, and as they pass before us, it may be given to some of my audience to see where they stand to- night. The young man was a self-satisfied man, and though there was no accusation in the words of the Master, therejwas something in the Master's presence which made that man want to justify himself. In order to justify himself he asks that question. Who is my neighbour ?" Mrs. Barney described her in- terview, by request, with a lady who wrote her to visit her that she might learn something of the son of the family who for a long time had been lost sight of, and who, it was thought, had been traced to a prison where he was. undergoing a sentence for crime, and of her visit to him 1200 miles from his home, who though much broken by the changed appearance of his mother, for which he held himself responsible, could only say "It was her jewe'led hand that first gave me wine Mrs. Inglife (Barry) briefly addressed the audience, and the meeting terminated with the choir singing God be with you till we meet again," and the benediction. J3,Y ONE tF THE B. T. W. On Tuesday ard Wednesday evenings last, Andrews' hall was tested to its utmost capacity, in order that the large audiences which had gathered to hear Mrs. Barney, the eloquent temperance advocate and philanthropist of America, mightl be accommo- dated with seats. When the large crowd had each evening taken their places, and the Penarth Blue Ribbon Choir bad assembled, the ladies in pale blue blouses, the gentlemen wearing the white ribbon badge of the B. W. T. A., on the platform, which war. environed with choice flowers, beautiful palms aud ferns, it formed, with the prettily decoiated walls, bright with many coloured flags, soft drapings, pictures, and the glad faces of the eager expectant people, a beautiful picture of enthusiasm. Punctually at 7.30 Mrs. Barney ascended the platform. After the effective rendering of some selections of music by the choir, and prayer, the speaker was introduced by the ladies presiding. Mrs. Barney spoke for more than an hour at each meeting, carrying her audiences with her addresses, which for earnestness, pathcs and power, it would be difficult to surpass. As its lights and shadows were noted by the hearers, it was easy to see how deep an impression was made, their frequent and prolonged applause evincing the warm- est interest. Mrs. Barney is a most impressive speaker, has an extensive knowledge of lite's problems, and a heart brim full of intense sympathy for the suffering. Evidently a Divine voice has called her to her work. and to such women we can but wish them God speed, feeling assured by their effoits, faith and prayer, from the wreckage left by the waves of intemper- ance, they will be enabled to pilot thousands of sinking souls into the port of peace.