The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-05-04
q Temperance Goluma.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST
REPORT OF MRs. JOHN l.. YOUNG,
COSuUGrED BY THE W. G.. I. u.

REPORT OF MRs. JOHN H. YOUNG,
Prtsid"ntcrhe ", c. r. U.cf Union, s. c.. at Tie
first annicersary, on III! 12M Of AprR 1888
Just one year year ago it was announced that
Mrs Chaplin would deliver lecture in Union
on the subject of Temperance. woman lecture
in Union ! The thought was distasteful to oil
and to somc it was rcpulsve. All felt that tn e
new departure was anything bat congenal.
But when she came, our people, true to their
noble nature, gave her hearing some promp.
ted by the desire TO show justice to good woman, 4,
but many from curiosity. Few indeed were lei
there simply from an interest in the subject 70
mt that time Temperance was u most unpopular
theme in Union,
As the modest woman stepped upon the plat
form, clad in,hc deepest mourning, her Grape
veil almost sweeping the floor, she at once excl.
tel sympathy, all feeling. at least, ,ha, she had
suffered and that she was modest and sincere
AS hcr tones fell upon the listening ear and
she depicted scene after Of the su fcrug aud
misery of delicate women and children in her
sunny home III Charleston, an interest was
arouse that decpcued rs she continued until at
the close of her lecture, all were convinced that
woman had right to plead for her sutfern 2
sex, and lose none Of her molcsiy in loing
To her call toorganizc Womaus Christian Tenn
perance Union thirty women responded and there
soemnly resolved, by tho help Of Col to work for
the sacred cause against all opposition 1t is use
less to speak Of the result of that resolution
The change in orr community speaks, more clo-
quently than words Of this wonJrous work But
do not think for moment we boast of what has
been accomplished We rejoice in the work
and in thanksgiving we raise our voices nhd
acknowledge the Gland that did it is is,livinc."
Many temperance societies in the last fifty
years have been formed have aourished and
fallen bat all were established and depended
on the work Of their own hands. The Woman.
Christian Temperance Union Is founded on
prayer each member on being initiated plcIg
ing herself "by the help OF God" Our meetings
are opened by devotional exercises; hunbly con.
Tossing our weakness AMI gaining strength in
The belief that 1t is not all poetry that prayer
moves the hani that moves the universe"
We all remember well, in our greatest trials,
when we were often told that owrs was the
"tcc"k SHE, and that We could never clc:t u
dry ticket how each in her humble petition
sought horc in the precious promise that "whcrc
two or three are gathered together in my namo
there am III tho midst Of thcm' And when
we were advised to go to the polls during
The voting, as the only way of securing
tho clcction-alvseI by honorary mem
bers of our Union, by well wiShers anI by men
not identified with our causc-nstcad of taking
their advice. we called meeting Of prayer, and
around this altar little band Of women, weak
humble and almost dcspairing, raised our voices
in supplicatlon TO Him from whom comcth help
As long rs live will | believe the result WAS
direct answer to prayer, What else put it
into the minds of the saloon keepers to withdraw
their ticket ? and what prompted some OF them
TO vote for "no license -
We were told it would be better for the town,
not 20 have n dry ticket ; and it was argued
there was more drunkenness in n town with n
dry than wet ticket. In some places itmay be
So but that depends upon the men who com. d.
poses the council, rs has been proved 10y the
present town council of Union a.,
Theirs has been no easy task and yet they have
shrunk not from the performance of their duty,
ard we now enjoy the happy quiet they have
given us. To them, VIC again we return our
sincere thanks
To you, my sisters. let me express my graft
tude for your assistance and the confidence YOU
have ever shown in your presiding officer
'o"r belief in my ability to fill the responsible
position gave me courage to attempt what my
judgment prompted me to decline, while your
generous confidence and affection have cncour-
aged me lay by day. Poor, indeed, would have
been the officer who had failed, while being borne