The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-09-18
W. c. T. U.
Annual Meeting Of the Society and Off
GERS Elected.

The annual meeting of this society was held
in the Fraternity rooms on Free street, last
Saturday afternoon, The devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. f. e. Clark.
From the report of the treasurer we learn
that the society has been enabled this year to
cancel its old debts and meet its current ex-
penses, so that the ladies are encouraged to 20
on with their good works.
The following oascers were elected:
President-Mrs Geo s. Hunt.
Vice Presdents--Mrs Margaret Merrill,
Mrs. y I. Donnsll, Mrs. J. Hutchinson.
Treasurer-Mrs L. NJ. N. Stevens
Recording and Corresponding Secretary
Miss q. M. Dow.
Directors-One lady from each of the relig-
ious societies in town.
The annual report of the Corresponding Sec
rotary ID as follows:
Mrs. President and ladies' Of the w. G. T.
U.-What can we do to change criminal mess
and women to upright keepers of the law? ano
what can we do 20 save boys and girls from be-
coming criminals? are the questions to which
this society has been seeking practical answers
during the six years of its existence. In the
endeavor to solve them, our work has been
done, and in many ways, dear friends, am
sure we can feel that we have been directed by
the God we serve to successful methods and
that mach, very much more has been accom-
plished than the most sanguine of us weuld
have dared to anticipate.
AT the Friendly Inn, between three and four
hundred different men have been lodged dur
ng the year, and it 10 the intention of the
ladies to have personal conversation with all
the dodgers, trying to persuade them to be-
come temperate men, or encouraging them to
remain so. Work has been procured for those
who had fallen into drunkenness, because they
were idle and discouraged.
Two weekly meetings have bea n held at the
Inn during the year. The one on Sabbath
evenings is in charge of the several directors
from the different churches represented in our
Union, and is especially religious one This
meeting has been attended by larger numbers
than in any p, evious year, from fifty to seventy
tive usually being present.
About year ago meeting was begun on
Thursday evenings for the instruction of chill
dren in temperance PRINCIPLES, and large num-
oers OF boys, and fewer grls came in, almost
all being children who had little idea of godli-
ness or that which lies next to it. After the
meetings had been continued few weeks
older boys and men, including many sailors,
Came in, and they still continue to come
They usually listen attentively to the instruc-
ton, and many both of old and young have
decided TO try life of total abstinence
The Union has ais held occasional meetings
at the Jail, from which good is known to have
resulted. A meeting Tor women, especially
mothers, is among the plans for the coming
year.
The Flower Mission has continued to carry
its hope and cheer nto sick rooms, both in pri-
vate houses aud the several hospitals Be-
tween six and seven hundred bouquets have
been distributed.
In the Police Mission, too, the work itself
and the hopefuness of il have been constantly
increasing The wisdom of employing DO
lice matron is no longer an open question, but
IS proved here, as well as in larger Cities which
have followed our example. The question is
often asked, Just what does the police matron
do, and OF what value is her work TO the city''
partial answer to this question can be Civ
en- but her work is SO interviewer with that Of
other members of the MON that they must be
reported together. Tue matron visits the no.
ice station every morning and evening, and
holds herself ready to 90 there at any time
during the day or night, ii she is wanted In
these daily visits she has found this year one
hundred and eighty-three women under arrest
and has given them ali such Care as seemed iu-
dicous. For some the only thing she could do
was TO give them suitable food or to make
them sufficiently decent in dress to appear in
the court room; but often she has found a
woman sick of her sin and ready TO try differ
ent way OF living, II she only had a chance,
away from the low lodging house or the evil
companions who Walt for her In the only place
she knows as home. Then the matron has
called in the aid of the station committee con-
ssting of three ladies of the Union who are al
ways ready TO help, with the many expedients
lea ned by hearty devotion to the work, and
long experience in it.
We are sincerely grateful for the help given
in this part of the work by the Temporary
Home, which has kindly welcomed the twelve
women whom the station committee have COM
m.tted TO its care during this year Some la
dies of the Union too have opened their own
houses to receive these erring Ones and homes
IN the country have been provided for tours
teen women and girls. Women with familie-
who have been at the station are visited at
thelI own homes every month by the matron,
and at other times by the station committee
employment procured for them and encourage.
ment given in the direction OF morality, clean
illness, and good order. Scores of women and
children, and n some instances whole famiI-
les, who have, In this way, come under the no.
tice OF the society, are now under its guarding
care. Since March four girls from these fainils
les, between ten and sixteen years of age who
were in danger of falling into vice from evil
surroundings, have been sentenced to the In
dustrial School for Girls at Halowell, and
we're naa ly and comfortably clothed by the
matron before going. The matron of the school
recently reported them as among the most
promising girls there.
Ii is the aim of the society never to lose sight
OF any who have come under its care, whether
they are in the Temporary Home, in the coun.
try, or in their own homes.
By all these means, we believe that very
many have been changed from habitual FREE
quenterS of the station, the House of Correc-
ton I'd the Jail, to industrious, Imoral women,
caring for their homes and their children; aud
that many children have been saved from fol-
lowing the example of vicioas parents. So,
being encouraged by our success, made more
persevering by our disappointments, aud rec
oguizing our inability to accomplish any good
work without the help of our Heavenly Father,
let us set our faces steadfsstly forward.
Respectfully submitted
SUSAN M. BUBBLE.
Cor. Sec. w. G. T, q.