Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-18
The Temperance Cause.

!
l o'clock, Friday morning, June II, in the
l Congregational church at Milton, Mrs F. A
: Kent, of Burlington acting vice-presidenl
of the county in the chair
: Prayer was offered by Mrs Mary F. Per
kins of Burlington. Mrs. Emily Herrick ol
Milton gave an impressive and cordial ad-
dress of welcome TO the convention, to which
1 an appropriate response was made by Miss
, Anna c. Park, president OF the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union of Vermont
The report of the convention held in Bur
lington last year was then read by the secre-
tary.
Reports of local unions being called for,
Mrs. L. W. Landon for Milton reported a
membership of fifty. Little active work
was done, but public sentiment had been
greatly influenced by the W. c. 7. T.; had
sustained scmi-monthly meetings through
the year.
Mrs. Parsons for Essex Junction reported
a membership of fifty; had become auxiliary
to the State Union
then read a very interesting and ingenious
essay, comparing the Temperance work to a
harp of thousand strings. In juvenile lit
eraturc we have the story of the old woman
who attempted to sweep the cob-webs from
the sky. The Temperance sky is thickly
hung with cob-webs which the women are
| endcavoring by various methods to clear
away. There are many obstacles in the way
of any reform. The law might be enforced
If used with determination. Part of the
Nation was in bondage by slavery-now more
than part is in bondage to strong drink.
An evil exists which will not cure itself.
| We wonder ii there is not some work to do
which shall be lasting, and we think of the
| children Let an influence come from tenn
perance homes, and, finally, intemperance
shall be swept from the land.
The president called for reports OF Unions
from other counties. Mrs. E. \. Sturtevant,
State organizer. reported for Middlebury,
Addison county, increased activity in the
work. She stated that she could not present
better plan of the work than by giving
list of committees Juvenile, Sabbath school,
literature, prosecution, town agency mission
ary, relation of intemperance to crime, and
committee on jail work. extensive circu-
la;ion of temperance literature. As an
officer OF the State union il gave her pleasure
t. report a new union formed in Isle La
Note, Grand Isle county, and requested the
prayers Of the convention for the eight earn
est faithful women Of that union there
is wo;k for everyone to do, as Christian
women let Us banish cider, as well as wines
from orr de-baards The children must be
educated to take cider in the pledge
Miss Parl. reported for Bennington. The
first crusade in this country, upon intemper-
ancc, was made in Bennington more than q
hundred years ago, upon band of HessiaEs
who came around with whiskey barrels and
other murderous weapons The first
union was formed five years ago,
with fifty members many had left, but they
had no intention Of being driven from the
field by whiskey; meetings mostly devotion
al-a!ways good. The past year have cir
culated temperance literature intend to
work in this direction. Three unions in Ben
nington county, juvenile unions, of twenty
five members, were recently organized
Mrs Cole reported verbally for Burlington :
Do not see results which we should be glad
to hut "-a doing sum- wo.l.. During
the past eight months have had several tenn
peIancc lectures from Professor Foster
and the Rev. Mr.. Nibbert. Within the
year have distributed seven thousand tracts.
Adjourned 10 meet at O'Clock p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting opened at . o'clock, president in
the chair. After singing prayers were o1er- |
ed hy Miss Park and Mrs. Green.
The number of delegates was then called for.
Milton reported five, Underhill three, Bur
lington five, lIinesburgh four. Reports OF
local unions being called for Mrs. Peck for |
llinosburgh in behalf of the union said Have |
obtained forty-three subscribers for our |
IhjOn Felt that we needed no town |
agent. circulated petition TO do away with |
the office Of town agent, and were successful.
Had secured lectures from Mrs. L. a. Stur-
tcvant and Mrs. :. NJ. Perkins. Last, but
not least, had done some personal work.
MIS- BrOoks reported Tor J.NtHiic Nuihi
Us, Miss Julia Colen.an's manual.
Mrs. SWEET, Tor ST. Albans, reported
membership Of sixty s,iin much encourage
mrnt from the change in public sentiment
monthly tca-meetings well attended had
done little outside work.
Mrs Glcad, for Morrisyillc, reported
union formed one year ago juvenile society
of eighty members organized in September
following.
Miss Mary \. Miles of IIincshursh then
read an ESSAY entitled: woman and Her
Sphere of Labor" 1t WAS an able and well
read paper showing that woman has
Il work TO do in public as well as
private life. Woman was given t. man as a
h, lpmeet. not hindranco,-a part OF man
taken not from his head or feet but from hi
side. nearest his heart. God has given her
this place and shall man deprive her of this
God-givcn right:
The convention then listened TO an address
by Mrs. E. G.. Green of St. Adams, cores
ponding secretary of the W. c. I. L.. of
Vermont Subject Our relation to the State
nnd National work" Speaking OF law, she
said the prohibitory law does not express the
sentiment of the people. for the reason that
they do not enforce it. The address was re
ple;e in thought and rich in suggestions 10
the unions.
Rev. Mr. ViLbert of Boston was then in
troduced and made strong plea for woman
suffrage, logically proved. Have You
thought If it in this light, women: The
Legislature every year sanctions the liquor
tratllc and the Temperance men Of the Nation
can not protect our homes; 81 we ask You to
come and help US by voting.
The following resolution was presented by
Mrs. Cole and adopted by the convention:
WHEREAS, The temperance women Of Chitcudcn
county have witnessed with modification and shame
the Indifference and apathy Of our law-o'iiig ani
Clristiau men 10 the constant violation Of our pro-
hibtory low violations which bring wretchr'liicss
AMI misery To our homes, aud death. b"th temporal
.nu eternal. 10 our sous, hujband, h:uthefs ahh
fathers, therefore
Rcsolrei, That call upon them To rouse them
selves 10 Il sense Of this responsibility and see 10 II
that those holding ofcal positions, from the nigh
TO the lowest do not violate their official oaihs
by defending lquorsclicrs, OF IN any way counten-
ancins the ifanc IN intoxicating drinks anu, that
convictions be invariably followed by the severest
penalty Of the law. instead Of the enIency which IN
most cases sactual!y support 10 the trai'lc anu
curse To- our BONES.
The secretary then read letter from Mrs
Clinton Smith of Midaebury, chairman of
the State literature committee.
Mrs. Green then presented the claims OF
Ogr JHi0R, rs Il paper f.'r which all ladies'
should subscribe The subject of distributing
Miss Coemans leaflets, especially those on
cider and beer, was presented by Mrs. NJ. +.
Perkins and Miss Park.
Mis- Ken, called for nomination OF sec
retary, and Mrs. Hammond of Milton was
elected 10 that office for the year.
Meeting closed with the doxology. Ad-
jouruch To O'Clock p. M.
EyENING SESSION.
Mass meeting was called To order at
o'clock. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.
Wc,rcworth Mr. l. l. Durant of Mont
pclicr invited the W. G. r. Unions of the
State 10 Join with other temperance orsan-
2ations in mass meeting to lie held at Queen
City Park the b. 4ih and 9th of August.
Mrs. L. \. Sturtevant OF Middlehury,
State organizer. was then introduced and de
hvtrcd an address of rare strength, giving
startling statistics, calculated to rouse
thoughtful minds 10 the terrible condition OF
nIlr hnmcs -lhc Church tho Press and the