The Brookhaven leader., 1888-11-22
CONVENTION OF THE N.W.C.T.U.
Extracts from the Report of Mrs. Housh,
National Press Superintendent.

CONVENTION OF THE N.W.C.T.U.
Extracts from the Report of Mrs. Housh,
National Press Superintendent.
1t is noteworthy page in history
that in 1888 the largest organized So
ciety of women in the world should be
invited to hold its convention in Amer
ica's largest city. For days, repre-
sentatlves of over go, COO women, from
nearly all States and Territories
Alaska included-had turned their
faces toward New York. TWAS q most
successful convention in numbers, 405
delegates and officers being in attend
ance, besides hundreds of visitors from
neighboring States.
1t is the hour of convention, Friday
morning, October 10. The devotional
services have been conducted by the
well-known evangelist, Miss S. M. |.
Henry, of Illinois, upon the large plat
form are seated Miss Willard, the
National president and by her side
Mrs. Judge Thompson, 1.-the mother
of the crusade" Before them, upon
the table, the old leather-coveredB Bible,
from which the crusade psalm was
read that memorable morning, Deeem.
Der %, 1873, when 1.-THE seventy"
went out two by two. The other Off
GERS are in convenient nearness to this
central table. and upon the platform
also score or more of distinguished
leaders of the w. G. L, y. The five gal
leries are decorated with flags, ard the
lower tiers with shields of States, with
here and there a w. c. T. U. banner
Near two hundred lights illumine the
scene, bringing out the gold of the
walls and balconies, the maroon of the
upholstery, and the delicate green of
the palms ranged along the platform.
An organ occupied the left side, and
the cornet band near seems impatient
to test the acoustic properties of the
immense building.
Miss Wizards annual address was
received with the closest attention,
and frequent and prolonged applause
We can only quote a few sentences:
Next to God, the greatest organizer is the
mother. She who sends forth from the
sanctuary of her own being o little child, has
\
moving in the orbit Of unchanging law. 80
When 1 graduated from college In 1889
there was not on the face of the earth ven
ture 70 say-certainy there was not in my ma
tive land, the most progressive land of ALA
National society of women. We worked on in
weakness and seclusion. in loneliness and iso-
lation. But we learned at last the gracious
secret that has transformed the world for men
and made them masters. = from
this time on, the world will have in it no act.
I've organic force so strong for its uplifting as
~ srganized motheT-hearts You will notice
the byeadth OF my generalization. 1 do not
say dH saesAfIS, because all women who are
TECHNICALLY mothers are not motber'hearted
WINE many woman is SO, from whom the
cr'ss-cros currents of tho world have with
held her hottest crown.
The person who would win must follow
chosen path, as the engine does the track -
the telegraph message the wire. This you
have seen and IL has made you skilled labor
ers in the Temperance cause. It is hard to be
patient with those who are still in the A BIS
'of total abstinence, when you are away over in
the polysyllables of prohibition and its deri-
vatives; but We were all there once and it is
very hopeful place in the Temperance spelling
book"
Gne convention adjourned at the close
of the address, and lunch was served in
The building to the entire delegation.
The corresponding secretary's re-
port, and that of the treasurer, showed
growth in all the work. The forty
National departments were reported
by their superintendent in different
sessions. Twenty-Five States and all
Territories have secured to the chill
dren in all public schools, scientific
Temperance instruction. Two hundred
thousand pledged children belong to
the Loyal Temperance Legions.
Friday evening was the browning
hour of the convention, with welcomes
from the mayor of New York City,
General Fisk and Mrs. Burt, the presi-
dentof the New York w. c. T. u. The
mayor thought it took no courage to
welcome us, Since no society organized
upon an opposite basis-'.for the pro-
motion of intemperance"- would find
a single member. General Fisk drew a
happy comparison between Bartholdi's
statue and the w. G. L. u. The
marble woman's face is turned toward
the sea, away from our 10000 saloons.
You statues of flesh and blood stand
face to foe" Mrs. Liyermore was
never more eloquent. She reioiced in
our coming to New York, that she was
amazed beyond power of expression at
the marvellous growth and the wonder
full development of this organization.
The magnitude OF the operations, the
extent of the plans, the wonderful way
in which the sinews of war are pos
sessed BY the women, the increase of
money, the magnifcencc of the great
outlook, and all thu while, the high
courtesy, the great regard that women
bsys f0g each other, being sobsFed and