The Portland daily press., 1885-10-01
w. C. T. U.
The Formal Opening of the Conven-
ton by Mrs. Stevens.
Reports of the offIcers-A Good
Days Work.

L. u
ercises were led by Mrs. H. N. Jones Of Win
throp. Following the prayer Mrs. Jones called up
On the members present to praise the Lord either
in song or speech To this call many :lsdes cheer
fully responded.
At 1890 Mrs. L. NJ n. Stevens formally opened
the convention. Upon the platform with her sat
the two secretaries, Miss Lord Of Kennebunk and
Miss Farwell of Rockland, also Mrs. Geo. S.
Hunt the President Of the Portland Union, Mrs.
Merrill Mrs. Donnel Immediately afterssthe call
to order the delegates were seated by counties.
When the Aroostook delegates arose to take their
seats their number was shown to be so large that
they were heartily spplauded. After the roll call
of the officers and members by the corresponding
secretary, Mrs. StevensIappointed the following
committee on credentials: Miss Lydia VOse. Mrs.
Whitman Sawyer and Mrs. Geo. B. Page. The
minutes OF the last meeting were next read and
approved, following which came the appointment
by the chair of the following committees:
On courtesy-Mrs. Hunt and Miss Cornelia Dow
On fnance-Mrs. Mcdowell and Mrs. Bashford.
On revision OF consttution-Aiss Lord Mrs. L.
W. Weston and Mrs. Brainard.
On resolutons-Mrs. Paul Of Arosstook Mrs.
Delano OF Bath, Mrs Eorcross of Oldtown Mrs
Hunt OF Portland, Mrs. Jones OF Winthrop, Mrs.
jackson OF Foxcroft, and Mrs. Talbot of Rockport.
On messages-Msses Moses, Rich and Stevens.
Miss Lord then read Corresponding secretary's
report.
Miss Lords report was well received and at
times applauded. The following telegram was
then read by Mrs. Stevens and answered by the
recording secretary
PARIS, Kentucky.
To Mrs. L. M N. Stevens
T. u sends greeting. Read Nehemiah, chapter
verse To-
F. GERTRUDE FERGUSON, Secretary
The verse referred to is as follows: "And 1t
came to pass when our enemies heard that 1t was
known unto us and God had brought their coun-
Gil to nought that we returned all OF us to the wall
every one unto his work"
In the absence Of the vice president of some Of
the counties, the following were elected to fill the
vacancies: Miss Hamilton for Washington coun-
ty; Miss Robinson Of Bath, for Sagadahoe; Mrs.
c. F. Ware of Gardiner for Kennebee; Miss Hicks
of Belfast for Waldo; Mrs. Brown of Old Orchard
for York, and Mrs. Blanchard Of Lewiston for An
droseoggin.
The reports Of Cumberland and Aroostook coun-
ties were then made by Miss Beckett and Mrs.
johnson respectively, after which Mrs. Sweitzer
of Washington Territorya was introduced to the
convention. Mrs. Sweitzer made some very inter
esting remarks upon the work OF her own Union.
She spoke particularly of woman suffrage in Wash
ington Territory, and had much to say of the in
fuence of women in the politics Of the Territory.
Rev. Mr.. Crosley of this city followed Mrs. SWEET
ger in few appropriate remarks. The conven-
ton then adjourned
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The session was opened with singing selections
from the Gospel Hymns by the audience, and
reading from the Scriptures and prayer by Mrs.
Lucy A. Sweitzer of Washington Territory, who
conducted the services. After brief Introductory
remarks she was followed by prayer and remarks
by others.
The regular sessisn then opened-Mrs. L. n. n.
Stevens the president, presiding. The business
Of the morning was resumed, theihearing Of the
reports from the presidents of the several County
Unions. Very satisfactory progress was report.
ed from the different sections of the State.
AT this stage of the proceedings telegram was
received from the New Hampshire Woman's c. T.
Union In session at Great Falls, conveying their
cordial greeting and appreciation, to which fit,
ting reply was voted, also suitable reply was
sent to the Kentucky Union, In reply to similar
telegram from their meeting in progress at Paris,
Kentucky.
Miss Vose presented the report OF the commit
tee on credentials which left open for further
additions. Mrs. Bridges Of Pembroke and Rogers
of Union, were added to tho committee ON the
Constitution and bylaws.
Mrs Hamilton resumed the history of the work
in the counties and gave a very interesting re-
port Of the work in Washington county.
On motion of Mrs. Hunt Of Portland, new de-
partment Gas added to the Unnion-"The work
for soldiers and sailors"
A letter from Rev. Chas. Whittier Of Dennys-
vile, was read, requesting the retention Of Mrs.
Hamilton for missionary work in Washington
county.
Twoladies gave interesting reports of work
HI
quis counties.
At this point an unsuccessful effort was made
to enlarge the committee on resolutions from sew
en- to sixteen.
The lady reporting from Somerset county stated
that the feeling caused by the political action Of
The friends OF prohibition in the November cleo.
ton, made temperance work in that county din.
cult
Rev. MI. Blanchard of Portland was introduced
and made short address referring to the import
ance of the work of the Union and his wonder
that so many can be so Indifferent to it. Cues
tions from the Question Box wero now received
They referred to various practical matters, diff
cultes, evasions Of the law, etc.
Mrs DR.. Gordon Of Boston was introduced and
made brief but exceedingly appropriate remarks
when the meeting adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The session was opened with singing, led mos
acceptably by the two lady corhot players Mrs
E Eent and q. Miss; Reynolds After which Mrs Dr.
ed prayer Rev Mr.. Daniels Of Portland, then
in behalf OF the State street church especially
welcomed the Union, and proffered to its It's mem Des
bers the hospitality Of our homes. Rev. Mr. Bay
ley, the pastor of the church was unavoidably sb-
sent from the city. In his welcome the Reverend
speaker recounted some OF the prominent meas
ures OF usefulness, wide philanthropy and pro
gressiye Christian effort that has marked the his
tory of the Woman's Christian Temperance I'm
ion.
Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stevens, president of the Union
presented her annual report in condensed form
She referred to the fact that this was the tenth
year in the history Of the Union, and the Tooth
year in the history of the temperance reform. She
paid high tribute to the character CT DR.. Bena-
min Rush, the pioneer temperance reformer. She
also read from copies Of the original bill accounts
Of rum and sugar furnished to the workmen on
showing how.much less strong drink is used now
than at that time She thought that the state.
| ment that the temperance cause would be set
back twenty years by the action of prohibitonists
in the late Presidential election had not been sus
tanned. She thought that in the work of the I'm.
ion SUFFICIENT Importance had not been attached to
the laws of family also that the law re-
quiring temperance instruction In our schools Is
not properly observed; that work among the chill
dren is exceedingly important; and that work
among the fallen should be more earn
est. The journalistic and financial questions
were also referred to, and the president reminded
the great temperance reform:
Mrs. Clark Of Caribou, was introduced and made
a most pertinent appeal in behalf of the financial
interests OF the Union, which was followed by a
collection, during which the hymn America" was
sung.
Mrs. DR.. Gordon of Boston, then made the clos
ing address She said she was interested n see
ing the difference in the posters and advertise
ments Of the public streets from those in her own
city Boston. She spoke of the grand influence of
Maine in other States, notably in her own Massa-
chusetts. But we are yet to have q great battle
before US. She spoke of the need of earnest work
Massachusetts had over 1000 saloons and about
| 5000 schools, there were eleven distilleries lin
| the State, and her breweries produced 800 600
barrels of beer, while Maine had neither dstillery
| nor brewery On liquor Massachusetts paid 81 16
| per head of internal revenue tax, while Maine
| paid 5000 per head There, while the popula-
ton increased % per cent, liquor dealers increas
ed 80 per cent and criminals increased 43 pei
cent. She spoke of the power of personal influ-
ence in carrying on this work. and she illustrated
this by remarkably opposite incident in the life
of the present leader OF the prohibition host OF
England. The cause has most powerful oppo-
nents but we are not to look at our foes, but to
Jesus our leader, whose promise is to be our sure
support 1t is business to look after the sails
and rudder, but God will look after the wind.
Mrs Gordon's address was earnest and inspir-
ing, and elected the warm approval of the audi
ence The convention closed the days exercises
with the Doxology, and the benediction was pre-.
nounced by Rev. Mr. Daniels.
There was large audience at the evening ses.
sion, and the proceedings Of both afternoon and
evening were Interesting, and indicated most en-