The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-14
THE w. c. T. u.
How the Work Was Conducted at
the National Convention.

0hc
A New York paper gives the following
details Of the manner in which the National
Convention of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union was conducted:
Like men at political Convention, women
get tired at the end of the first days work.
ton of the National Woman's Temperance
Union at its five days session in the Metro.
DO itan Opera House. The 3S7 delegates filled
all the seats on the orchestra floor. Each
delegate is there to voice the sentiments OF
50J members of the organization, and with
due sense Of this responsibility each delegate
maintains the most matronly dignity. Not
even the United States Senate could be moro
stnid and precise than this congregation Of
gentlewomen. A national political conven-
ton could be hardly more impressive. The
Metropolitan Opera House has an immense
auditorium, and when it is filled to its remot-
est recess-and with women at that-the
scene is grand one.
All over the house there was the quiet of a
deliberative body conscious of the Importance
of its work. President Frances Elizabeth
Willard was the foremost figure in the group
of secretaries and executive officers on the
stage There were gathered the twenty-six
superintendents Of departments who were to
read reports of the work under their super
vision. As their turns came, each would
step to the side of Miss Wiliard's table. and
there for the ten minutes allotted, stand
and address the 1000 auditors An official
timekeeper taps bell when the ten minutes
is up, and then the speaker stops short and
gives way to another.
The business Of the morning and afternoon
was the reading of over a score of reports
upon the results of the Unions work in its
many fields. Each paper was presented by
the superintendent of department. There
are laborers in these special branches in every
village and town wherever, from Alaska to
Florida, the wearers Of the white ribbon live,
and the work of each local band is supervised
by one chief for the entire country. The su-
perintendent of the press department, Esther
r. Housh, of Vermont, told what her
sisters had done; E. B. ingalls, told
about narcotics; Caroline A. Leech, of Ken
lucky, about the efforts to get the use Of
R. A. Egmond, of New York reported about
unfermented wine and the Sacrament Of the
Lords Supper The resume Of Augusta
Cooper Bristol. of New jersey on Labor and
Capital was presented but not read, because
of her absence. ]. K. Barney told of the re.
forms accomplished in Prison and Jail. A.
M. Henderson, Of Minnesota, about Associ-
ated Charities, and Jennie Casseday about
the Flower Mission. The story of endeavors
related by F. E. w. Harper, of Pennsylvania,
herself colored woman, and s. j. u. Early,
another colored woman, spoke Of the things
done among her race in the South.
An account OF the help given to raise the
standard of morality among soldiers and
sailors was presented by S. A. McClees of
New Jersey: reforms secured for the good
ME Smith. of Maryland, and Ada NJ. Bitten
bender of Nebraska, who only last Monday
was admitted to plead before the bar of the
United States Supreme Court, told Of the
work done by the Department Of Legislation
and Petitions. A. S. Benjamin, of Michi-
gan, woman Of affairs, recounted the pro.
gress made by the local unions and the Con-
vention in the intrcacies Of parliamentary
usage; Hannah j. Bailey of Maine appeared
ternational arbitration; Dr. Mary Weeks
Burnett won applause in telling how the Ma
tonal Temperance hospital at Chicago cures
the sick without whisky, brandy, or drop
of alcohol in any medicine.
The doings of the Evangelistic Board were
recounted by S. Nj. !. Henry, of Illinois,
md J. c. Bateham told what her department
of the Sabbath. Hannah Whitall Smith was
to have told about the department of Bible
readings, but she is in London, absent for
the first time from convention, and so her
report was presented by proxy and a cable
gram OF affectionate remembrance was sent
to her Mary Ellen West, of Illinois, re-
ported for the department of the School OF
Methods, and 4. B. Carse, of Illinois, told
what her laborers were doing to build the
Temperance Temple in Chicago.
Venerable and kindly faced Clara Barton,
of the Red Cross Society, was introduced in
the morning. The Convention stood and
waved handkerchiefs at her. She made a
speech conveying the greeting of the Society
of the Red Cross to the Society of the White
Ribbon. 1t was only little while ago that
Miss Barton had been to see Emperor Fred
ericll, and President Willard sad that in
honor of his memory and in gratitude for
his welcome to Miss Barton "The Watch on
the Rhine" ought to be played. She said
that the society could not agree with the
Germans on the beer question, but they
could respect their love of home. So the
crusade quartet lifted up their silver horns
and gold cornets and played the German ma
tional anthem. =,
that many present had never seen Neal Dow.
the temperance apostle from Maine, and
that, knowing he was in the hall, she moved
that Miss Willard introduce him. The gray !
haired octogenarian was hidden behind q |
screen. Miss Willard led him to the front OF
the stage The old crusader smiled and didn't |
mind being put on exhibition. The ladies'
laughed, and he talked little to let them |
hear what kind OF voice q man OF MS
years may have if he doesn't tipple.
When noon came it brought the most I'M
pressive moment of the day. 1t is the custom
of women who wear the white ribbon OF the |
union to bow their heads in prayer every day
when the clock shows the hour OF z
custom Is observed everywhere. hardly
steamship crosses the ocean that does not
carry q member Of the sisterhood OF temper
ance, and her sisters are scattered all over the
land so as the sun at every instant OF the daY
stanls in the zenith Of some spot on lana OF
sea, it may be conceived that at every |
in the twenty-four hours petition
is being offered up by some member OF tnls
But not one woman alone
bowed her head in New York yesterday at
noon. There were four thousand who Enelt |
in prayer, and after moment OF solemn
silence, Miss Willard's voice led in an appear !
to God, and when she came to the worus.
'sOur Father who art in heaven" the entire |
assemblage Joined with her in repeating the
netition common to every Christian creed.
The night gathering was the biggest since |
the Convention began, and the young people !
had captured it without doubt. IN tact. IL
was on the programme as 1.-THE young ladies'
evening" This brought lots of young men
Some of the girls went on the stage and mace
q galaxy of loveliness, with Mrs. Frances o'
Barnes as the centre OF it.
The exercises began with music and prayer,
and a reading from the Bible all the ses-
sions begin this way-and then Arthur B.
Cochran, President of the Junior Pro
hibition Club in New York, welcomed the
Young women to the town. Ida c. Clotnler
made everybody laugh when she replied IN q |
pointed speech for the thousands and thou-
sands of her sisters in the Junior union.
When she finished her response Watcn was
presented to her by her friends OF Massa-
chusetts.
Sunday morning the Rev. Elizabeth Green,
-, 0raro HOnSa ana