The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-30
CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN COUNCIL.
Proceedings Of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union at Fort Wayne.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
Fort WAyNE, May 29--The annual meeting
of the w. G. r. Y. of Indiana closed to-day.
The attendance has been the largest ever known
in the State, and took the good sisters of Fort
Wayne by surprise. But they were equal to
the occasion. local union that has pluck
enough to pay $500 to the managers Of the
soldiers reunion, the price offered by the saloons
of this city for the privilege of selling ntoxicants
on the ground, not to have them solo, is
equalto any emergency. They had proposed gra-
tutous entertainment, but ever house spoken for
was soon filed; then places at the leading hotels
were provided, and more of the citizens opened
their houses, so that the union has had royal
time.
The business of the union was largely routine,
consisting in reports from officers and planning
for future work 1t was an agreeable surprise
TO all that the report of the secretary showed
large increase both in the number of members
and in the multiplication of local unions. show
ing that the organization is in healthy condi-
ton
One marked feature Of the proceedings was
the time devoted to religious exercises. Their
prayers were not mere perfunctory Opening ex-
ercises,' as prayers are usually regarded at such
meetings. and too often at church, even, but
they were fervent petitions, such as are heard
when the supplant means to be heard and ex-
poets to be. These women may be mistaken as
to their methods, but they certainly desire the
Divine guidance. The election of officers
suited as follows:
President-Ars. Nichols Indianapolis.
Corresponding Secretary-Miss L. E. Reed Indian
apolis.
Recording Secretary-Miss Alice vining, Indian
apelis.
Last evening there was a mass meeting at
Masonic Temple to be addressed by Miss Myra
A. Goodwin, of indianapolis, and Miss Frances
Willard, of the States-atlarge. Miss Goodwins
address was confined to the work among the
children and Tin behalf of the young womens
work in the cause of temperance, and was we'll
received by all Miss Willard's remarks, after
congratulations upon the unusual growth of the
organization, and especially referring to the
great interest recently developed in the South
on the subject Of prohibition, were confined
wholly to the discussion of the third party and
woman suffrage movement, of both of which
she is an able and earnest advocate.
The union, however, had adopted another line
of policy for Indiana during the deliberations of
the day. The resolution bearing upon this sub
ject reads as follows:
THAT the W. c. T. u of Indiana is, and al
ways has been, non-partisan, and from the ma
ture of the case, made up as it is Of disfran-
chised class, cannot be called, in any sense, apo-
Itical society, but we women who have opin-
ions, and that it is opinion that the principle
of prohibition, to be successful, requires en-
bodiment in political party, and that to such
a party, declaring in its platform for prohibition
and the woman's ballot we cannot fail to give
our sympathy and God-speed."
The purport Of this resolution is explained
further along by reaAirming ''the Detroit reso-
luton of 1882 which reads as follows: 1--WE will
lend our influence to that party, by whatever
name called, which shall furnish the best en-
bodiment of prohibition principles and will most
surely protect our homes, and by bringing for
ward on the record and reaffirming the Shelby
vile lind. resolution of 1879" which says: "We
haillwith delight the Inauguration of movement
among the temperance men which will make the
prohibition of the liquor traffic primary to all
considerations of party and political affiliations"
From these resolutions and the general tenor
of the remarks of delegates, the journal cor
respondent assumes that the sympathy of the
union is more with the non partisan movement
of the National League than with the distinctive
Prohibition party, so eloquently advocated by
Miss Willard last night They are perhaps
unit as to the suffrage question: and equally a
unit in requiring that the men and the party, or
parties, which shall secure their influence, must
positively antagonize the liquor interest and
that they will accept distinctive Prohibition
party only when no other party can be relied
upon for prohibition.
The convention appointed Mrs Helen NJ
Cougar, of Lafayette, Mrs. Edgerton, of Dun
geith, Mrs. Leavitt. of Vernon and Miss Myra
A. Goodwin, of Indianapolis delegates to the
national convention at Philadelphia, to be held
in October next
The memorial services of this morning were
peculiarly solemn and affecting. Several of the
members had died during the year and their
works were properly mentioned before the con-
vention. The meeting adjourned this afternoon
after an interesting childrens' meeting, addressed
by Miss Goodwin and Mrs. Baich. The next
annual meeting will be held at Bloomington in
May, 1886
THE ppIpE0 0G THE EIVC NlmTnNC