Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-05
WOman's Christian Temperance Union OF
Vermont.

WOman,s Christian Temperance Union OF
Vermont.
The annual meeting of this body, held
at St. Johnsbury Thursday and Friday.
September 29th and SOth, was an occasion
of unusual interest. The delightful recep-
ton given the delegates on Wednesday
evening, in one of St. Johnsbury's beauti-
full homes, struck key-n with which
the generous Inequalities of the citizens
were perfectly attuned.
One hundred and seven delegates were
present at the meeting, representing sixty.
two local uniOns-an increase of twenty
nine over last year.
The address of welcome, chaste and
cordial. was an eloquent, intelligent state
ment of the present position Of the tenn
perance movement. The speaker. Mrs. j e.
l.. Perkins of St. Johnsbury, abiding to
the old story of Hercules, said that our
cause must also be lifted Heavenward.
that no earth stain may rest upon it.
" We have law enough but not conviction
enough. Temperance is the impending
issue of the day and the near future.
Other political issues are dead; may it not
be that God has brought us to thisP
Germany feels the stirring OF the same
impulse; England has not ceased to be
thrilled by it since Sir Wilfred Lawson,
decade ago. unfurled in the house of
commons the banner bearing the strange
legeni: For the suppression of the liquor
traffic Let history tell US what it is that
drives women from their homes to the
arenas of conflict. What impelled the
wild women of France to the gate of the
ruileriesP Not the love Of power-they
cared lit lie who governed the nation; not
the desire for bread-they were not starry
ing.
WIS there no room In their closets where
the pious women of Hillside, Ohio, might
pray, instead of in the saloons and streetsp
Desperation drove them forth. 1t was but
the old story of the Tuleries under
changed conditions. Love OF God and
love of nome are impeIling powers.
Are you timidP Take little child upon
your knee and whisper to him the story of
purity and temperance. Are you skilled
in scienceP Tell to the teachers around
you the facts concerning the effects of
alcohol on the human system.
During the blockade of u southern port
in the late war, an old negro, under cover
of the night, by means of rough raft of
planks and two bits OF board as paddles,
succeeded in reaching one of our ships.
Being taken on board, the captain said to
him: How dared you venture out to sea
with such crazy craft as thatp Didn't
you know the first breath of wind would
send you to the bottomP 'Capin',' said
he old man. God Almighty never brought
me to this hour and this flag to send me
to the bottom"
A fitting response was made by Mrs. J.
B. Reynolds of Rutland, who paid touch
ing tribute to the heroic life of Mrs.
Garfield.
The anthem which followed" o rest
in the Lord-Wat patiently for Him, and
He will give thee thy hearts desire."-
fell upon the audience like benediotion
and prophecy.
Miss Josie Gill, from the young ladies'
union at Montpelier, read bright essay
on Water"
The remainder of the day sessions were
largely devoted to reports of committees
and other business matters.
Over eight hundred dollars has been
raised and used under the auspices Of the
state union the past year. All the reports
showed gratifying progress. The young
aides are becoming in earnest in this
work, and have organized as a Union ."
at Montpelier. and white Ribbon Club
at johnson.
Thursday evening the annual address of
the retiring president Anna c. Park
Of Bennington-the report of the juvenile
work by Miss Nina Morgan of Benning
ton and the address of Mrs. R. J. Hyde,
vice president of franklin comfy, were
full of encouragement to all workers In
the cause.
Mrs. f. B, Lund of Burlington presented
the Sewall stomach plates in we'll chosen
words. These show to the eye more
graphically than any mere words could
portray it, the effect of alcohol upon the
human stoma b.
The convention passed resolutions of ap,
proval of temperance hotels and drug
stores, ETC., of sympathy with the earnest
efforts of the temperance women of Maine
and Illinois, of cooperation with the
national w. c. 7. u, of hope that the
privilege of voting for school officers
granted to women by the last legislature
were temperance men should be chosen to
purpose TO become more conversant with
temperance literature, and of thanks to
the citizens of st. Johnsbury who. by their
inequalities, music, ETC., had made SO
pleasant the days of sojourn in the beauti-
ul village.
The officers for the ensuing year are MS
follows: President, Mrs. +. Greene, ST.
Adams; secretary, E. A. Sturtevant. Mid.
debury; treasurer, S. c. Cole, Burlington
vice-presidents, one from each county.
The best of all, of course, was the ad-
dress en- Friday evening by Miss Frances
A. Willard, the honored and loved presi
dent of the w. N. G T. U. The spacious
aud elegant North church was filled with
an appreciative audience, who enjoyed to
the utmost Miss Willald's rapid sketch OF
her recent trip through the south in the
interests of the w. G. L. U. In company
with leading southern lady. she was
warmly welcomed by the large hearted,
courteous southerners, and found every.
II 4 A. 1.