The Portland daily press., 1881-09-19
w. @. II. q.
The Annual Meeting of the Society.

The annual Meeting of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union was held on Saturday
at the Y. M. g. A. rooms, and the following
officers elected:
| President, Mrs Geo. S. Hunt.
| Vice President-Mrs. W.. Merrill, Mrs. D.
| Hutchinson Mrs Prentiss Lorning, SMrs. DR.
| Devoll.
Corresponding secretary--Miss S. M. Buzz
| zelle.
Recording Socretary-Miss G. NJ. Dow.
Treasurer-M L. NJ n Stevens,
| Auditor-Mrs v. G. Osborne.
Directors-Mrs. Joseph Brooks, Mrs Thomp-
| son, End Universalist Mrs. George Goodwin,
| Miss Eta Stanwood. Congress Square; Mrs.
| g. d. Gates, Mrs. Davis Coolidge. Williston;
| Mrs. l. M. Stevens Congress Street Methodist;
| Miss o. M. Beckett, LIST Baptist, Mrs. u Way
Miss Scales, High street.
The following report was given by the Sec
Rotary:
The work of the year in this society has been
in three main departments, viz: The Flower
Mission established May, 1877; The Police
Mission established June IS, 1877: The Friend
ly Inn. established January l, 1878. The re-
port of these is in the order of their establish
ment.
The Fgoaser Mission. Flowers have been
sent to The Maine General Hospital, Greedy
Hospital, Bethel and Friendly Inn, and also TO
twenty-five individuals. The distribution has
been on Saturdays, twenty young ladies assist
ing. Flowers have beeen contributed by thlr-
ty individuals, and by two schools, to all OF
whom thanks are due, and also to those VINO
have sent carriages to be used in the WORK.
OF those who have contributed flowers, we es-
pecially remember those who have sent from
Deering, and whom we are glad to have iden-
titled with us in the work
When we say that about seven hundred hou-
quets have been distributed by the Flower Mis-
sion it is an almost meaningless statement,
but if we should follow one of these to the bed
side of one invalid who has for weary years
looked at the same blank wall and the same
staring window, with only the outward change
of daylight or darkness, storm or sunshine; II
we could see the tired fingers tenderly touch
them, and the face light up, while the fra
GRANGE partly overcame the morbid odors OF the
room, We shouldbegin to realize how much
good these many flowers have done.
The Police Mission. In this Mission we see
more and more the utter impossibility of sum
marizing our work in such a way that those
who are not in it, can have any adequate idea
of what is oeing done or even what is attempt
ed There are many from this Mission. OF
whom we have good hope that their reforma-
ton is radical, some of whom have months and
some have years of upright living to show IN
proof of their change. Some have died. going
from we'll ordered Christian homes, made SO
by their own daily life For all these, we would
be devoutly thankful, and from them take heart
Of grace while we remember those who have be-
gun apparently as we'll, but have, in spite OF
loving hearts and strong hands, gone back to
drunkenness and vice. The estimate has been
made that of ali those women who are carried
to the station, one-eighth have been evidently
benefited by the influences brought to bear uD
on them by this Mission; and, when we re-
member that their downward course has been
gradual, may we not hope that, even yet some
Of xuh haya moi ee0nad Weld all
good impressions may have received good when
will some day be manifested.
From the beginning of this Mission the ur-
gent need has been felt of a temporary homo
for those who desire to begin anew IN an up
right life; a home where the shattered physi-
cal nature might be built up and the weak will
strengthened in place free from evil associa-
ton and away from the old temptations. a
place, too, where those who need might pc
taught to do useful work, such as sewing, cook
ing Sc. BY the earnest zeal of one member
of this society such home has been estab-
lished, and another member Of the society de-
votes her whole time to the work of making 1t
a true ''home." 1t has been generously helped
and will still be, ike all our missions, depend
emit upon the contributions of the public. In
the nature of the case, none of them can be
self-sustaining for any length OF time.
The Friendly Ina.--The Inn has continued
this year on the basis begun somewhat more
than year ago. of furnishing lodgings only,
except in cases of need, when simple food has
been provided Some who were not regular
dodgers have been attracted by its cheerful
open fire. and sailors who came for an evening
have, on returning from another voyage, come
to stay. In various ways hold has been kept
upon those who had begun better life, and
its special reformatory work has gone forward
Meetings on Sabbath evenings, under the
charge of the different churches, have been
sustained, with varying numbers, but with
good influence.
General WorE.-An effort has been made to
secure the introduction of temperance text
books into the public schools, which has so far
been unsucces lful; although such books have
been placed by individuals, in every school
room as books of reference. 1t is the wish of
the society that at no distant day our city may
recognize the importance of temperance teach
ing, as so many other cities have already done.
Much general charitable work has grown
out of each mission, which cannot be classified
as belonging to either. Many families can by
a little iudicous help be enabled 70 get INTO a
more comfortable house, or put children into
school, or the sick can be better cared for.
These cases of necessity come to the knowledge
of the society through some one OF its missions
and it seems impossible to neglect them. This
wear, as in each previous year of the society's
existence, the only limit we find to the work
is in the over-taxed strength of the workers,
or lack Of sufficient money.
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN M. BUzELLE,
Cor. Sec w. O. I. q.