News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-10-12
~. c. r. u Convention.

The eighth annual convention of
the VeWnont Christian Temperance
Union was held at North Bennington
Sept. 27 and %.
The address of welcome was deliv-
cred by Miss Mary H. Henry of North
Bennington. 1t was a poem of force,
beauty, thought and feeling, and call
ed forth the applause of the audience.
Mrs. DR.. Lund of Burlington re-
sponded on the part Of the convention
in a clear, strong, earnest paper,
broad enough to embrace the funda-
mental elements of civilization and
rich enough to gladden. every home
interested in this grand struggle for
temperance.
The annual address of the president
Mrs. Greene OF St. Albans-was
full of noble thought, comprehensive
and condensed, skillfully surveying
the whole field, State and National,
and indicating the various ways of
carrying on the work in our own state.
The w. G. L. L. of New Hamp-
shire, in session at Baskerville, sent a
telegram of cheer: tSpeak unto the
children Of Israel, that they go for
ward" This response was made:
''We will, for we walk by faith, not
by sight,
A hearty message was received
from Miss Willard, president of the
| National union, who is at Washing
ton with the convention of the Dis
trict of Columbia also from Mrs. Z.
J. Foster of Iowa, who was prevented
from being present as was expected
she said: ''All hail, women of YER
mont; be strong in the Lord and fear
not"
In the afternoon the report of the
secretary and organizer-Mrs. E. A.
! Sturtevant-was made, showing eX-
ceIlent work in the state for the year.
County Institutes have been held in
several counties. The number of
unions is 90; new this year, 90.
Unions, she said, must not only be
organized, but made a living and
working power in this grand work.
This can be done only by the untiring
devotion of officers and members. The
evangelistic work has been pushed
this year with unusual success, three
fourths of the churches reporting the
use of unfermented wine at commun-
ions. A deeper spirituality is noticed
in the churches as result of temper
ance work. The educational work
of the union puts temperance
books into many schools. There has
been superintendent of scientific in
struction whose work has been help
ful. Literature has been put into
depots, stores, market, etc. Several
unions maintain a temperance column
in the local papers. The work has
been faYorabiy introduced in socials,
reading-rooms, concerts and in work
among the poor. The legal work is
most hopeful. A large number of
prosecutions have been made-nearlv
all successful; petitions have been
circulated urging proper legislation
and constitutional amendments, etc.
Scientific temperance was ably pre-
scented by Miss Guernsey and Mrs.
Niles, who maintained that the ablest
medical colleges and medical authors
agreed in pronouncing intoxicants
poisonous. They urged the impor-
lance of guarding most strongly
against the use of alcohol in any form
or manner upon the human system.
Mrs. A, B. Engrem ofRutland read
an interesting report upon the temper
ance work among the children and
youth of the state, showing that this |
department is doing excellent service
i'll educating the coming men and wo-
men Of Vermont,
On motion it was voted to petition |
the Legislature to make temperance
education compulsory in the public
schools.
The subject of the constitutional |
amendment was discussed. 1t Was
claimed that the present proposed
amendment was really license for |
wine and cider, and that there should
be one of more prohibiting force, en-
bracing all possible forms of alcohol.
1t was voted to circulate the follow
ing petition throughout the state and
present it to the next Legislature;
Your petitioners, citizens of the state
of Vermont, voters, women over twenty
one and minors over l6 years of age, do
respectfully set forth, that whereas, in
temperance wastes the material resources
of the state, ruins its homes and debases
its citizens: and whereas, the traffic in
alcoholic liquors as a beverage is the
fruitful source and universal ally of in
temperance; and whereas, through in-
sufficient enforcement of statutes, the
traffic is clandestinely carried on,
Therefore, we respectfully pray your
honorable body to propose, according to
article % of the constitution, an amend
ment which shall forever prohibit the
manufacture and sale of all alcoholic bey
erages in tits state.