The Portland daily press., 1884-09-20
WOMAN's CHRISTIAN TEMPER
ANDE UNION.
The ANIMAL Meeting and Election of Of
hcers-The Society RepOrts.1


The annual meet ng of the Womau's Chris
tian Temperance Union was held at the
Friendly Inn yesterday afternoon the pres.-
dent Mrs. George S. Hunt, in the chair.
The report of the secretary was read and ac-
copied. The following is the report.
sEoRETARY's REPORT.
Mrs. President and Members of the W. C. r. o.:
In presenting the annual report OF this Society,
can only give you summary Of the years work,
the details and minuti@ of which you have listened
to month by month in the reports of the several
committees.
The long-established departments. the Flower
Mission, Police Mission, and Friendly Inn, demand
our first attention.
To all those who have furnished flowers and aided
in the distribution of the same our sincere thanks
are due. As in former years. this mission has
cheered the weared sufferer in many lowly sick
room, where the beauty and fragrance Of the
weekly bouquet was the only delight. To such, one
hundred and forty-tw0 bouquets have been sent;
to the patients in the Maine General Hospital
three hundred and twenty; to theGreely Hospital,
sixty, and two to the Bethel.
In this department new feature has been de-
veloped, called Flower Day. The national Flower
Day, June 8th, day set apart by Mrs Cassidy the
National Superintendent of Flower Missions, for
the distribution of flowers among the occupants of
reformstory institutions and prisons Is early in
climate for such work.
The day was observed by this Union on Sunday,
June 9th, at the jail, where Mrs. Bashford adj
dressed the prisoners gathered in the chapel, on
Goods teaching through the flowers" After the
service, when the prisoners had returned to their
cells, the ladies visited them individually, accom-
panying the gift o. flowers W tn earnest practical
words which they feel did not fall wholly on barren
soil. One of the ladies says, I'VE feel that the
flowers found way to hearts that perhaps could
not be reached in any other way
The next Sabbath. the day was observed at the
Reform School. At the service in the chapel, Mrs.
Hunt and Mrs. O'Brion, Miss Hersey and Mrs.
Stevens addressed the boys and presented each a
bouquet, with temperance text attached.
Those " attend meet
ings know somewhat of the work of the Police
Mission, but many of the members of the Union
know little or nothing of it. To such, a detailed
account of the work of the police matron will be Of
interest She goes to the station every morning,
and sees every woman brought there during the
night, learns from her for what che was arrested,
if not suitably clad to appear in court furnishes
proper clothing. She then follows her to the court
room, knows her sentence and watches her through
1t, and after her discharge. Does she show any
desire to reform the matron is at hand to help
by advice, by assistance in procuring work, by daily
watching and encouragement that she may not fall.
One woman arrested for drunkenness, the moth
er of a family, who under the matron's influence
has taken the pledge has been visited at her home
every day. excepting Sundays, in the last fourteen
months. But for these daily visits the woman
might have relapsed long ago. At night again the
matron goes to the station. to meet any who may
have been brought in during the day, or early eve
ming and is Away ready at any hour to respond to
the call of the marshal. 1t is not always the
criminal that she thus meets, but often stranger
passing through the city who having no money
to such she supplies food and in many ways
helps her on her journey. An insane woman, brought
in for no crime she took 70 her home and kept for
several days, until arrangements could be made to
send her to an asylum. One hundred and sixty-foar
women and girls have thus come under the infu-
ence of this society through the Police Mission.
Three of this number have been sent directly to the
Temporary Home, several to the Greeley Hospital,
six to other homes, and five girls to the Industrial
School. The matron also visits once a week the
Greeley Hospital to look after those there who have
previously came under her notice; once month,
and frequently oftener she visits the women in the
jail.
The matron is aided in her work by the Station
Committee, on whom she often calls for advice and
assistance in the abundance of work which comes to
this mission.
The Friendly Inn, under the superintendent OF
Joseph Kennedy, furnishes lodgings only to men
and boys; 1913 have been thus accommodated, and
five have been permanent dodgers. During part OF
the wear the managers have each in their turn, a
week at a time, furnished, either in whole or in
part the board of the superintendent. Here we
have held twelve regular business meetings and foul
special, with average attendance of %. At these
meetings we have been visited by Mrs. woodbridge
of Ohio, Mrs. Emily Pitt Stevens Of California, and
Mrs. Pearson of England, representing the W. O, Il
U. in their several States.
FRI m October to June, on each Sunday evening
there has been a religious service at the Inn pro
vided for by the managers in turn, From June Il
the present time the Sunday service has been out
side many coming to these meetings who would moi
go inside. To the clergy of the city. who have
kindly responded to our call in sustaining these
meetings. and to Mr.. Pearson, who has provided the
music, we owe hearty thanks.
During the same months there has been temper
ance meeting on every Thursday evening" conducted
by Mrs. Stevens, where are gathered from 20 to &C
men and boys.
During the summer Mrs. Woodman and Mis-
Scales have conducted Sabbath school every Sun
day afternoon at the Friendly Inn, from 40 to o.
children attending.
The Jail Committee work is an important adiunc
of the station work. Miss Leavitt, chairman, witt
one other member of the committee attend servic'
in the chapel every Sunday afternoon, visiting afte
the service every woman in her cell, and half of thu
men, holding personal conversation with each, dis
tributng reading matter and presenting the pledge
Woman's day occurs on the nth Sunday in tn
month. On that day the service is conducted en-
tirely by our committee The chairman says CIV
feel that the seed sown in this place will yel'
its harvest by and by
The Employment Committee is new feature in
our work and yet in its infancy, but we hope it ma
become as it has in other cities an important help
both to those seeking employment, and to thos
needing the service.
eonspicuously printed notice has been PLACED
by this committee in the various rail DAD and
boat stations, inviting girls and women seeking
where the managers have consented to co-operat
with the Union, The committee is notified by III
agents of the presence of such homeless girls in th
city apply to them for situations, and following
them to their new homes and informing themselve
as to their characters and capabilities thus pre-
pared to give to them the recommendation OF tn
The Committee on Distribution of Temperance,
Literature have supplied boxes sent to foreign mis-
sion stations and also one box sent to an Indial
mission station in the far West.
There have been three public meetings under on
auspices during the year. The union service of al
the Sabbath schools in City Hall ON Dec. 31st
and lectures by Mrs. Livermore in Congress squar
church, and Mrs. Mclaughlin in State st. church
On Sept. Sth when the constitutional amendmen
forever prohibiting the manufacture and sale O.
intoxicating liquors was to be voted upon by tn
people, the Union held prayer meeting in the yes
try Of Free street church, which was well ATTENDED
and ably and earnestly sustained from nine oclocl
n O,elOck clOeiDp
ing the same hours, others Of the Union were il
attendance at our headquarters, established in
tent in Market square, distributing the Yes vote
and by their presence and precept influencing man,
to cast it. And in closing we desire to thank al
those who by material and labor, gratuitousy aide'
the Union in that work that day.
Respectfully submitted.
CoRNELIA NJ. Dow.
TREAsURER's REPORT.