The old home, which has been for a century in the Stevens family, resounds constantly to the music of children's voices, for, although Mrs. Stevens has been prominently connected with the child-saving institution of her State, she believes most ardently that an institution can never be a substitute for a home; and, while she urges her Maine women to open their doors to God's homeless little ones, she herself sets them a practical example.
Mrs. Stevens has been one of the prime movers in woman's temperance work ever since the historic crusade of 1873 in Hillsboro, Ohio. In 1874 she assisted in the organization of the W. C. T. U. in her native State. For three years she acted as treasurer, and she has since been continuously its president, unanimously chosen. For thirteen years she was assistant recording secretary of the National W. C. T. U., for one year its secretary, and at the Cleveland convention in 1894 she was, on nomination of Miss Willard, elected vice-president-at-large of the National Union, succeeding to the presidency in 1898.
Besides filling these offices and leading the women of Maine as president of the constantly growing State W. C. T. U., working and speaking for it untiringly, Mrs. Stevens has carried on a great amount of work connected with the charities of Maine, having been officially connected with several homes for the dependent classes. For years she has been the Maine representative in the National Conference of Charities and Correction. She was one of the lady managers of the World's Columbian Exposition.
No woman in the organization which she leads is more loyal to its fundamental principles. None possesses in a greater degree the confidence of its friends and the good will of its opponents than Mrs. Stevens, of Maine. Only those who best know her realize the depth of her religious nature. Her creed is truly the creed of love, her life one of peace and good will. Her Bible always lies close at hand vipon her desk, and .shows much reading. From the well-worn New Testament lying upon her couch we copied these words: "Tell our white ribboners to study the New Testament. I love the New Testament. No human being has ever conceived as he should what the New-Testament means by 'loyalty to Christ.' Among the last words spoken bv Miss Willard, February 13, 1898." "Loyalty to Christ " may well be calleil the keynote to Lillian Stevens's life, and more clearly than do most people she finds Christ always among "his brethren" in poor, sin-stained, sorely burdened humanity. Mrs. Stevens has said that any written account of her would have little meaning could there not be combineil with it a sketch of the organization which has meant so much to her in her life work. In fact, it was with this understaniling that Mrs. Stevens consented to have a sketch of her' life prepared for this volume.
Perhaps no question is asked more frequently than "What has the Woman's Christian Temperance Union done?" and few questions are more difficult to answer with any degree of satisfaction. This is not for lack of material, but rather becau.se of an over-abundance thereof. A few of the more general facts of its history may here be presented.
The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union is the crystallized effort of the Women's Crusade of 1873-74. It was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18-20, 1874. Its characteristics are simplicity and unity, with emphasis upon individual responsibility. It is organized by State, district, county, and local unions. Every State and Territory in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, has a State or Territorial union, and there is a beginning in the Philippine Islands. Ten thousand towns and cities have local unions.
Twenty-five national organizers, fourteen national lecturers, and twenty-one national evangelists are constantly in the field, besides those of the several States and Territories. One thousand new unions were organized in 1900. One-fifth of all the States gained more than five hundred members over and above all losses in the year 1900.
Organization among the young women has grown into a branch, with its own general secretary and field workers. It is an integral part of the W. T. C. U., and is known as the Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union, or the Y. W. C. T. U.
