The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-10-02

The election of officers followed, and Mrs
l.. M. N. Stevens was unanimously elected
president of the Union, and acknowledged
the honor by appropriate and well chosen
words.
Rev. Mr.. Woodrow, formerly of Pembroke,
was introduced and spoke few words to the
Union.
The remaining general officers of the
Union were then chosen, as follows;
Corresponding Secretary-Miss S. G. Lord,
Kennebunk.
Recording Secretary-Miss c. NJ. Farwell,
Rockland
Treasurer-Mrs. II. N. Jones, East Win
throp.
Rev. Mr.. Collins was introduced and said
few words to the audience.
The president and Mrs. Willard spoke of
the publications of the Union and the i'm
portance of distributing them widely.
Rev. Mr.. Eastman of Hiram, was introduce
ed and spoke briefly of the society's work.
Miss Willard spoke of the worldwide la
bors of Mrs. Leavitt, who is doing mission
airy work on the Pacific coast and in the dis
tant East. She also referred to the interest
Ing history of quilt presented to the Union
or to Miss W., by a lady of Mt. Vernon, N.
Y.-the quilt being on exhibition in the
church vestry to secure funds for the socie-
tvs work among the children of that town,
At half-past four o'clock the children be-
gan to pour in, and soon filed the centre of
the church. 1t was beautiful sight Mrs.
George 5. Hunt presided, and after repeat
ing with the children the Lords Prayer,
made brief address to the little folks. Mas
ter Lester Kneeland was then called forward
and made an address in verse that took the
audience by storm. At the close of his reci-
tation he presented a basket of beautiful
flowers to the president and to Miss Gordon
who was to address the children. Miss Will
lard was called upon to reply to Macter Les
ter's address, and responded most happily.
Mrs. Bent and Mrs. Reynolds led the chill
dren in song and then Miss Anna Gordon
made delightful address to the little ones,
OF which we shall not attempt to give re-
port. 1t was admirable in word and spirit,
and will not, we are sure, be soon forgotten
The Union resumed its work after the chill
dren's meeting, elected the remaining Off
GERS, and heard the report of the committee
on resolutions.
EVENING.
At the opening of the session Mrs Geo.
S. Hunt read the 47th Psalm, and Mrs.
Bashford offered prayer. The choir gave
some choice music, led by Kotzschmar on the
organ. The event of the evening was to be
an address to the Union by Miss Frances
Willard of Chicago, who has been such
powersin temperance work in the West and
throughout the whole country. Miss Willard
was introduced by Mrs. Stevens, and ad-
dressed the Union. She compared the human
brain to watch, with this difference The
watch will keep as good time in silver as in
a gold case; but the brain is affected by it's
cases, and will do good work only in a good,
well kept case. She spoke of the almost
universal testimony of English physicians to
the poisonous character of intoxicants. All
the best traits of character are dependent
upon sobriety. In a teachers work, arith-
metic is not so important as lessons in the
physiology of the brain. When the children
are taught in the laws of physiology they
are prepared to reason with their drinking
fathers. The trouble in business comes not
so much from over production as from under
consumption. Money spent for rum ought
to be spent for food and clothing The tenn
perance reform in its economic aspects
reaches life insurance, and even comes into
consideration with express companies, rail-
road corporations, and base ball clubs But
our gospel is gospel of love. We reason,
and persuade, and circulate our papers. But
prohibition, to be successful, must become a
national movement. 1t must be engrafted
into the national Constitution. The speaker
referred to the action of the political conven-
lions of many of the leading States,
showing their hollow professions and equiyo-
cal action about prohibition. She justified
the union of the friends of temperance with
the Democrats, because they were willing to
help on the cause of prohibition. She thinks
this prohibition movement will help the
freedmen of the South, and when it shall
have strong body of voters behind it, then
shall the cause of humanity triumph. Minor
tiles have always stood as the vanguard of
humanity. They have stood for all the great
steps in human progress.
From this point on to the close of her adj
dress, Miss Willard made an eloquent appeal
for separate prohibition party organiza-
ton, for political action. She was eloquent,
apt in Illustration, forcible In argument; and
however much her hearers may have disa-
greed with her in opinion, they were charm
ed with her eloquence and the kindly spirit
of her whole address. 1t is certain she has
the courage of her convictions, and most
catholic tolerance for those who differ from
her in opinion. 1t is not at all strange that
with her earnest and eloquent words, she in
duces many to lose sight of party ties and
follow her in her war upon the rum power.
vote Of thanks was passed to Miss Will
lard for her acceptable work in this meeting
of the State Union; and the meeting closed
with singing the hymn "Blest be the tie that
binds, by the audience, and the benediction
by Rev. Mr. Blanchard.
A pleasant incident after Miss Willard's
address was recitation by one of the tenn
perance children of the city, Miss Kimball,
presenting an appeal for liberal collection,
which was then taken.
large audience was present, and this
evening closed a most successful convention
of this organization, during which our citi-
zens have become more and more impressed
with the magnitude and growing Importance
of the work done by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.
The list of subordinate officers elected and
the resolutions passed by the Union are una
voidably deferred till tomorrows paper
~