The Portland daily press., 1880-09-21
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
The following are the reports of the officers
carried over until to-day:

Lie IouoWlnS are tne reports OF the officers
carried over until to-day:
The Secretary Mrs. M. A. Buzelle, states:
AT the annual meeting of 1879 a proposition
was submitted to make our society WON ans
Christian Temperance Union. At an ad-
Journed meeting, after due time for consider
alton, 1t was acted upon affirmatiyely and the
society become the Portland Woman's Christ
ian Temperance Union, auxiliary to the State
and National Unions.
This change of base made no essential
change IN the aims of our society. 1t has at
present three main directions of work: The
Friendly Inn, the Flower Mission and the
Police Mission.
The Friendly Inn, opened Jan. l, 1873, has
not been for any considerable length of time
self-sustaining, and at times the outlay has
been so great that desire has grown up to
try II we could not make the same amount
OF money do more good in some other direc-
ton. With this in mind, the Inn is at present
conducted on the plan of providing only lodg-
ings and home, food to be obtained else
where, mainly at eating houses close by which
have grown up on the coffee house plan, Cot
fee and bread are still to be had at the Inn: in
cases OF necessity. On this plain it is self
sustaining. While the receipts of money at
the Inn have not been equal to it's expendi-
lures, 1t may be safely reckoned as mission
which has accomplished much good. Letters
are constantly received from men who consid-
er themselves permanently benefited by its
influence; and IN many instances the pro-
gress has been plain for any observer to see,
from common drunkards, with frequent ar
rests, varied by occasional tarryngs at the Jail,
TO w-abiding citizens, working regularly and
caring for their families.
Last winter the case of family in great
need was brought to the notice of this society
with the remark that it might not come with
in the limits of our work as the misery was
not occasioned by drink.
The mnthar w. dupc o,,J
were in the room, one blind and another an
infant of only a few days, in the utmost desti
tuition OF everything that could make life de-
sirable. After the death of the mother, in
day or two after they had begun to be taken
care of by our society, the father, by the dead
body of his wife, confessed that it was ssmod-
crate drinking" which made all their misery.
lie had spent all his money for drink, but new
er was drunk. He then resolved to abstain
entirely from all strong drink. Now his child
rem are in school and Sabbath school, comfort
ably fed and clothed, and the father, hy his
regular work, supports his family, paving ali
his expenses and slowly paying the debt of
hundreds of dollars accumulated to keen
his family from starvation and himself sup
piled with poison.
ly due to the fathfulness of the young
ladies of that committee, and especially to
their chairman, Miss Paine. Many more flow
ers, already many more than double those of
any former year, have been contributed, and
consequently many more persons have been
reached by their helping influence. The flow
ers have been sent to the hospitals the Jail
and the Old Ladies' Home, to invalids at their
homes and to others who needed them We
believe the thought Of God, expressed to us in
the flowers, is coming, in these later years, to
be partly appreciated, and it is often the case
that those persons who most nearly understand
this thought, are those who cannot ever see
the face OF flowers unless they are given in
some such way as this. Those who have been
shut away from outdoor life, even in
pleasant homes, do not need to be reminded of
the hope and cheer which comes in with a few
bright flowers, and how much more this is
true in homes not so cheerful, the young
ladies OF this mission can bear witness. A
fuller report Of this mission will be made later
In the season; also conveying thanks to those
who have aided in the work.
The mission at the police station has WIDEN
ed in extent and our appreciation of its impor-
lance has steadily increased. For little more
than three years our society has had the SER
vice of a woman who has given her whole
time to the work of caring for those. women
and children who have been brought to the
station in such condition as to need personal
attention Chose who live in clean, well-order-
ed homes can hardly understand the urgency
OF this need; and for those who need moral
help in developing and Strengthening feeble
desires or purposes toward a right life. If the
"a 10 o'oiy VI Hany VINO nave oeen reached Oy
this mission could be told, it would be easy to
show the need of the mission and the good
which mas been accomplished by it. But the
story cannot be told except by invading the
self-respect which it is largely our work to
build up. Yet, while we cannot do this, the
officers OF the society will gladly give all suita-
BILE particulars to anyone seeking information.
Since our Police Mission was established. the
cities of New York and Providence have en-
dorsed our plan by adopting it, and with them
it is considered OF so much importance that
the salary of the woman at the police station
is paid by the city.
During every previous year the society has
had some one large source of income. suoh as
the Coffee House, the Carnival of Authors