National Republican., 1883-09-27
Closing Sessions Of the District WOmens Chris
tan Temperance Union.
More interesting Reports Read and Ad-
dresses Made by the Workers.
Large Number Of Superintendens Appointed 10 Look
After the Work for Next Year
They Adjourn Satisfied with Their Labors
and Hopeful Tor the Future.


session at o'clock yesterday morning, Mrs.
G. B. Buell., presiding The atmosphere of
the church was laden with the fragrant odors
of exotics when the delegates entered, and
very soon after Bible reading by Mrs. NJ. Il.
Hart the convention settled down to business
in a manner that would have done credit to
the most expert body of parliamentarans.
After minor routine business, Mrs. r.. Mof-
fatt submitted her report on the
use of unfermented wine in the
churches A circular letter was addressed
to the several pastors, asking them to dis
countenance tho use of alcoholic wine, and
the sresult Is that very many churches are
now using uniermented wine, but the ma
jority are not. At the conclusion OF the morn
ing session u handsome bouquet of flowers
were sent to Mrs. Clara L. Roach, accom-
panied by beautiful impromptu poem, writ
ten by Mrs. l.. II. Tilton. Mrs Roach an
swered in pathetic communication, express
ing thanks to the convention and God.
The afternoon session was opened with a
Bible reading, conducted by Mrs. Hannah
Whitall Smith. after which Mrs. Il. A. Beron
submitted her report of work among canal
boatmen, which showed that meetings had
been held every Sabbath during tho past
quarter Brothers Matchell and Moore, and
sister Il. A. Lewis rendered great assistance
and the pledge was freely circulated, and
always treated courteously by the towpath
boys and much good was accomplished.
The report of Mrs. Mary Il. Mcpherson on
hygienic and culinary efforts was quite inter-
esting After several efforts bureau was
finally organized. Frequent meetings were
held, and attention paid to many subjects.
Miss Belle Fitzgerald read an essay on Cook
ing" Miss Cora Thomas one on "Women's
Dress )" Miss Boone on tho "Public Baths Of
Ancient and Modern Countries" besides
others on adulterations of food, sleep, rest,
exercise, sc. A course of instruction in
Swedish gymnastics was organized under
Prof. Nissen, of Norway and forty public
school teachers and all the normal school
scholars became members. In the future at
lection will be paid to teaching the lost art
of old fashioned cooking" which will be in
troduced by Mrs. Ewing and Mrs. Baker with
appropriate lectures. Tho report concludes
with a call for aid from all interested in the
above matters.
The work among soldiers and sailors was
the next report. 1t was prepared and read
by Mrs. ]. w. Rowan. The work met with
resistance at first, but rampant after rampant
were carried until now the little temperance
band is strongly entrenched in the very
stronghold. The first soldiers temperance
society was organized under tho auspices of
the Women's Christian Temperance union at
the Washington barracks, March 1S, with q
membership of sixteen enlisted mon, which
bers. Many Of the members were infidelS
and drunkards. One of the number now
publishes temperance paper, and another
has signified his intention of studying for the
ministry. The work at the Soldiers homo is
also being successfully carried on, and over
fifty veterans have already signed the pledge
and Joined newly formed temperance Or
ganization, known as the Soldiers Temper
ance union, No. g" Work will soon be COM
menced among the sailors ut the navy yard,
and success is predicted.
Miss E. Lewis submitted an interesting re-
port ON railway work. Meetings have been
held every Sunday at the several depots.
Reading rooms have been established, and on
May band of hope was organized with
sixteen children. Papers, tracts, and leaflets
have been distributed to passengers amount
ing to about 800; conversations on the subject
of temperance and religion have been held to
the number of 900 and twenty sgners of
pledge have been obtained. Miss Lewis has
distributed in all since October, 1882, at differ
ent places, 1900 papers and leaflets; has taken
120 pledges, and has distributed reports of the
Woman's Christian Temperance union work
to different places There is great demand
for work among street car employees. Out on
the canal sixty-five pledges have been taken
by personal work. Attention is called to the
liquor traffic on the river steamers, and an ap-
peal made to the ladies of this city to roll up
their sleeves and help the good work along
Mrs. L. L. Deane then read her report on
unfortunate women. 1t says the work is not
only a difficult task to pursue, but it is u sub
ject that must be handled with great tender
ness and care. Mrs. Deane feels certain that
she has done good to as many as ten women
Some who were dissipated promised reform,
but returned to their cups, In one instance
woman with large family of children has
reformed, and Mrs. Dean feels sure the
reformation is genuine. In conclusion, she
says: Money is the basis of every operation
civil, religious, and political. If the tenn
perance work could command the money
needed daily to work with we could accom-
pish great deal. We pray earnestly, but
our faith is not strong enough, else God would
give us all the money we need"
Mrs G. b. Buell. stated at this point that
the report on influencing the press" fol
some reason, had not been presented. She
said, There is no power extant that can dc
our cause so much good as the press. After
our speakers have uttered their truths at the
meetings and have gone to their homes, the
faithful newspaper writers are at work
through the weary watches of the night, and
on the following morning our utterances e
into the families of nearly every one, and tc
distant towns and cities. Then when Oui
conventions are reported, as The REPUBLICAN
reported it this morning giving us two col
umns and u half, we feel encouraged anG
stimulated to renewed efforts. The ladie
should help the press, for it has come to oul
rescue nobly all over the land"
Mrs. Buell. then presented the representa-
tive of THE REPUBLICAN with magnGcUn
bouquet on behalf of the convention, and al
unanimous vote of thanks were rendered the
Washington journals
The report of Mrs M. M. Chaplin on prison
and Jail work was then read. 1t was an in
teresting paper, and stated that thirty -tw,
visits were made to the Jail during the year
and 1000 religious and temperance papers
distributed among the prisoners, besides book
and tracts. Mrs. Chaplin solicits papers ant
books for the above purpose.
Mr.. Green, au inmate of the soldiers homo
being called upon, spoke of the organization
societies among the soldiers. He said tina
the soldiers of the homo were men who hat
often faced death, and it was little hard
first TO penetrate them with religion and TEN
perance, but he thought they would " fall il
line" before long and march under the tenn
perance banner.
Mr.. James r. Brackett, of the Baltimor
and Ohio railway, spoke cheerfully of tn,
work along the rail, after which Miss l.. ii
Chase was appointed assistant superintendent
of the soldier work
Memorial services were then conducted by
Mrs. j. w. Rowan in honor Of Mrs, Jennie
Duncan, formerly president of the Capital
Railway union of this city, who died during
the past year.
The following superintendents nominated
by the executive committeo, were confirmed
by the convention Superintendent o
heredity, Mrs. s. A. Mayse hygiene Mrs. M
Il. MCPHERSON scientific temperance Mrs, S