Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-10-06
state Convention Of the w. C.r.U.

AAAN'NA'' NSAN''sAN NAAh az NAA' tiboDAAA tAlAANs
state Convention Of the w. &. H. u.
The eighth annual convention of the Yer
mont Womens Christian Temperance Union
was held at North Bennington last week
Wednesday aud Thursday. Over a. delegates
were present. We quote from the Rutland
Daily Herald:
The reception of delegates at the house of
Mrs. i, ID. Willing on Tuesday evening was
a very pleasant affair. About 80 ladies from
abroad were present, besides large number
from Bennington. Some very fine music
was furnished by Mrs Hague and Mrs. Shay
of North Bennington. Wednesday morning
Mrs Kidder of Craftsbury Mrs. Fuller OF
Montpelier and Others spoke Of the work in
their counties and of various features in the
general cause An essay by Mrs. Walker of
Mddlebury upon "Ihe Relation of Iutem-
perauce to Labor and Capital" was full Of in
terest, rs was also one by Miss Guernsey up
on "Ihe Future of the Temperance Cause in
this Country
In the afternoon the report of the secre-
tary and organizer, Mrs Z. A. Sturtevant,
was made showing excellent work in the state
for the year. County institutes have been held
in several countless The number of unions
is 90 new this year, %. Unions, she said,
must not only be organized, but made hv-
ing and working power IN this grand work.
This can be done only by the untring devo-
ton of officers and members The evangeis-
tic work has been pushed this year with I'M
usual success three-fourths of the churches
reporting the use of unfermented wine at
communions. deeper spirituality is motto
ed in the churches as a result of temperance
work. The educational work of the union
puts temperance books into many schools.
| There has been a superintendent of scientific
instruction, whose work has been helpful.
Literature has been put into depots, stores
markets, etc. Several unions maintain a
temperance column in the local papers. The
| work has been favoraby introduced in So
| cials, reading rooms, concerts, and in work
| among the poor. The legal work is most
| hopeful. A large number of prosecutions
| have been made-nearly all successful pc
| titons have been circulated urging proper
| legislation and constitutional amendments,
| etc The treasurer report showed that prop
| er earnestness can find money to do its work
| Quite large sums Were pledged for the com
| ing year Scientific temperance was ably
presented by Miss Guernsey and Mrs. Niles,
| who maintained that the ablest medical col
| leges and medical authors agreed in pro
| nouncing intoxicants poisonous. They urged
the importance of guarding most strongly
| against the use of alcohol in any form or
manner upon tine human system. Mrs. A.
| b. Engrem of Rutland read an interesting re-
| port upon the temperance work among the
| children and youth of the state, showing that
this department is doing excellent service in
| educating the coming men and women of
| Vermont.
Wednesday evening the house was packed
A choir of boys in the lower orchestra sang a
| song Beware Of the bottle; beware of the
| - The r l. -tr WINS Gl1aI tvith
the combined choirs OF the three churches,
| and the music was fine The address of wei
come was delivered by Miss Mary II. Henry
of North Bennington. 1t was poem Of
force, beauty, thought and feeling and called
| forth the applause of the audience Mrs
DIR. Lund of Burlington responded on the
| part of the convention in a clear, strong
earnest paper, broad enough to embrace the
fundamental elements of civilization and rich
| enough to gladden. every home interested in
| this grand struggle for temperance. The an
nual address of the president, Mrs. Greene of
| ST. Adams, was full of noble thought, COM
| prehensive and condensed, skillfully survey
| ing the whole field, state and national and
indicating the various ways of carrying on
| the work in our own state.
Thursday morning a praise meeting was
| conducted by Mrs. Judge Harmon of Ben
| nington. Several ladies spoke upon temper
ance work in Sunday schools. On motion it
was voted to petition the legislature to make
| temperance education compulsory in the
| public schools The subject of the pro posed
amendment to the constitution 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, embracing all possible
| forms of alcohol.
Miss Josie ellis report on young Wo-
mems Work" proved that many young ladies
| of the state are fully aroused and doing much
| for temperance The report of Mrs. Cole of
| Burlington, upon Prison and Jail Work, -
| laid before the convention many facts of in
terest about meetings held in prisons, jails
etc. of literature given to the inmates and
their glad reception of all such helps leading
| them to better life. An essay upon I'm
| termented Wine" by Mrs. Stewart Of Bakers
| field, ably set forth the necessity of using on
| iy sweet wine in communion services.
On Thursday afternoon at o'clock prayer
meeting was led by Mrs Fuller of Montpelier
It was voted to circulate the following petit
ton throughout the state and present it to
| the Legislature
''Your petitioners, citizens of the state Of vermont
| voters, women over twenty-oue and minors over l6
years of age, do respectfully set FORTH that whereas
intemperance wastes the material Resources of the
state, ruins It's homes and dehases its cizens and
whereas the trathc in alcoholic liquors beverage
is the fruitful and universal ally OF in! emper-
ance; and whereas, through insufficient enforcement
Of statutes, the traffic is caudestiney carried on
| Therefore, we respectfully pray your honorable
body to PROPOSE according to article 20 the consti-
tuition, an amendment which shall forever prohibit
the manufacture and sale Of all alcoholic beverages in
| this state"
Appointments were made of superintend-
ents of the various departments of temper
ance work in the state.
The following officers were elected for the
coming year President, Mrs. e. G. Greene
| Of st. Adams secretary Miss Laura Moore
Of Barnet assistant secretary, Mrs. W. P.
| Smith of St. Johnsbury treasurer, Mrs. j..
II, Seaver of Montpelier; auditor Mrs. S.
| @. Cole of Burlington. Vice presidents were
| elected, one from each county.
Resolutions were passed as follows
l. To go forward in this work till a temperance
plank is In every platform, and good men shall defeat
| political opposition.
| 2. Rejoicing in the Iowa victories.
3. OF work for constitutional amendment in YER
mont prohibiting the sale and manufacture Of all in
| tOXicants.
4. To consider the subject of franchise for women
| for future action.
8. In support Of the temperance periodical "Our
Union"
8. Pledging earnest work for children in all wise
| ways,
Mrs. Hunt of Boston spoke Thursday night
and other interesting exercises were held
"A workman, while repairing an electric