Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-04-15

FIRST ANNIvERsARY OF THE woMEN's TEMPERANCE
UNION OF wILMINGToN-oNE YEARS WORK.
large audience assembled Thursday night in
st. Paul's NJ. Church upon tho occasion Of tho
first anniversary of tho Womon's Temperance
Union of Wilmington. Mrs. Elizabeth W. Smith,
the President of tho Union, presided, W. d.
Pickes led the singing, and Miss Anna Pickcls
presided at tho organ. Mrs. Amelia Swanson,
OF Brooklyn, made very feryent opening prayer,
and Mrs. Smith then read the annual address Of
the Union. She referred to the beginning of
the Unions labors, ono year ago, when num-
ber Of women met IN this church, and after pray
or, resolved to form permanent organization
to be called tie Women's Temperance Union. A
week later, constitution was adopted, an ex-
ecutive committee appointed, and also large
committee of vigience. Petitions to Congress
and to tho Legislature, asking for more stringent
laws against tho sale of liquor, and remonstrances
to the court against prOlnlscuous licenses, were
prepared and signatures procured to them.
Pledges for individuals, for real estate owners,
(who signed freely for grocers, druggists, ply
sicians, aud the clergy were also circulated, the
last named signing almost without exception.
Pledges for children were circulated in the Sab
bath Schools. Temperance literature in the form
of leaflets has been freely distributed through
out the city.
Mrs. Smith seated that many saloons had bess
privately visited. "Did we succeed in closing
seed and gather the fruit tho same day2 The
Holly-Tree Inn enterprise early claimed tho at
tcntion OF the Union, but tho work was crippled
for want of money. lthas now, however been
successfully established. Daily prayer meetings
of ono hour each were held at st. Andrews
church for some time. On June goth, DR.. Die
Lewis, by invitation OF the Union, addressed a
mass meeting in Hanover Church, and q series
OF open-air meetings. addressed by ministers OF
different denominatons, was held during the
summer, with good results. Another large pub
lie mecting in tho West st. Friends meeting
house, was addressed by Dr. Ball, Thomas Ladd,
and others. In November an earnest appeal in
regard to licensing places to sell liquor, was
handed to the Court, and as a result, while 70
were licensed 40 were rejected.
Considering the Importance OF interesting
youth and children, the Union offered four pri-
zes to tho pupils of Public School No. for es-
SAYS on the "Eyils of lntemperance," and the
prizes were this day awarded. Tho visits Of the
two delegations to tho Legislature in February
was further referred to, and also the sending Of
petitions signed by 10000 names, asking the
passage of u Local Option law. "You NIL know
the result; the only attention paid those effor tt
was to leave the law just as it was"
The Union now has in consideration tho pro-
priety OF establishing State organization aux,
iliary to the "Women's Temperance Union.
In conclusion, Mrs. Smith said " we have, in the
past year, obtained broader outlook and have
learned much by experience. Our strong re.
lance, under God, must be in the enactment OF
proper and just laws and the election Of officers
who will conscentiously have them enforced.
We must bring Temperance principles into po-
litlcal platforms, and see to it that our future
municipal authorities are not degraded with
rum and so dshonor their office. Tho police
should be strictly temperate men. "We car
show that we are undifcouraged, and that we
mean neither to pout, to falter, nor TO fail.
Mrs. L. Israel was then introduced and said
we have great cause for congratulatlon, consid-
\ ering that woman was deprived OF her natural
right. She has persevered under adverse inilu
ences against she giant evil of intemperance.
She thought that every woman should array her
solf against is monstrou3 evil, and although
she may not have votes, she has influence and
perseverance left.
Mrs. Swanson, in her mild, calm, persuasive
MANNER though laboring under severe physica
disability, made very strong and pathetic ad
dress. She devoted considerable time to review
| ing the work in Brooklyn where it was perhaps
more marked than in any other Eastern city. ant
where more good has resulted from tho recen
| Temperance movement The work was still 60
| ing on, and had spread to Fort Hamilton and OIL
board OF the ships in the harbor. She believed
| it to be Gods work. and one for which woman
was capaeitated, and ono to which God hat
| called her. ls .s-. -lp7ltet
l.. Raw, l.
| special appeal to the audience to aid the lasiie
in their good work, which was responded to by
| substantial collection of funds.