The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-06-05
w. c. T. U. CONVENTION.

convention in the Christian church
May 9th, commencing at 1870 a. m.
Mrs. CGpfell, county president, called
the meeting to order. After singing a
hymn, the president read psalm and
called on Mrs. Sherman, of Sleepy Eye,
to lead in prayer. After which the
business proceeded in the usual order
of convention. Mrs. March and Miss
Emma Hammer were appointed COM
mittee on credentials, and Mrs. w. B.
King, Mrs. G. NJ. Abbott committee
on resolutions. The president then
made a short address in which she
stated that we were quite young in the
members, Redwood Falls % working
members and seven honorary mem
bers. Mrs. Sherman, district presi-
dent. made a practical, earnest and
touching address. Mrs. w. B. King
spoke few words of welcome to the
visitors. In the afternoon, Mrs. Atkin-
son, of Delhi, reported an active Union
of eight members at that point. Rev.
Cone made brief address, expressing
his sympathy with the working of the
w. G. T. U. and the great work it was
doing for temperance and humanity.
He thought sometimes the organize
ton was losing ground but he hoped
that such was not the case. He con-
sidered intemperance responsible for
nearly all the misery and wretchcd-
ness in the world. It has been said
that God and one man we're m a ority
and he could see no reason why God
work, the Redwood Union being lit
tie more than two years old, and we
stood almost alone until last February
when Miss Estey organized fiYDUnions
in the county. The secretaries of the
various Unions made the following re-
ports: Miss Hammer of North Red
wood reported 8 members, with a
promising Band of Hope of p mem
bers; Mrs. Longnecker of Morgan re-
ported 7 members at that point and in
tend organizing Band of Hope short
ly; four members were reported from
Sanborn. The Lamberton Union re-
ported that through various hindranc
es, chiefly sickness, they were not in
good working order but hoped to be
soon. Wood Lake reported fifteen
and one woman were not majority
also. He concluded by saying that
the W. G. T. .. must prove great
power for good and he wishes us God
speed.
Mrs. Baxter gave an inspiring adj
dress, brief summary from which is
given below:
She assured Brother Cone that he need not
have the slightest doubt with regard to our
advancement. We were stronger and richer
| to-day than we had ever been before. 1t was
| true that we had gone through a winnowing
process and the chaff blown away. but the
wheat had been left. She sometimes thought
that the name of our organization ought to be
changed and that it should be the Look Ev
erywhCre and Do Everything society. She
stated that we had taken up over 40 differen
| lines of work, each of which were of great
| importhn ce. She spoke of the temperance
| training the children were receiving, which
originated and was brought about by the I'm
| ion, ard that alone was sufficient to make it
| immortal. She warmly approved Of the So
| cal Purity movement, and asserted that
| woman was worth as much as man, and If
she falls she should be lifted up, not frOwned
upon by society, while the equally guilty
man is welcomed and smiled on. Jesus Christ
made no such distinctions when he was on
earth She spoke of the barbarties that are
| being practiccd on women in the Russian EN-
pire, and stated that the W. g. T. Q are pre-
! pairing petition to be sent to the Car, re-
| mOnstrating with him, and telling him what
we think of the treatment the women receive
who are banShed to Siberia. She spoke of the
grand temple the Union is building in Chica-
go for its headquarters. 1t is fourteen stories
| high, and Of immense proportions, costing
million dollars. She attributed the success
and growth OF the Union, first to Gods bless
ing and then to the fact that its members
were kept at work. There was so much work
to be done and they did it. She believed that
lack Of work was the reason churches lam
| guished and died, the members left everything
| to their pastor, and folded their ha IDS and
| slept. She said the Union must be and will
be established in every country under the
sun. She exhorted the members present to
go right on; never be discouraged; if the
prospects look dark we must keep up our
spirits; we must never faint in the time of
diversity. If we faint at all let it be in the
time Of prosperity and at the present time our
prosperity is so great that we ought to pray to
be kept humble, and she felt assured that, as
prayer entered into everything we did, we
should succeed, and be willing to give God all
the praise.
Mrs. Sherman read an address on
the evil of drink and opium, and pre-
sented petition to be signed by la
dies and gentlemen pleading for the
enforcement of prohibition. It was
decided that each Union should sup
ply themselves with petition and Sc
cure all the signatures possible.
The committee on resolution were
then called on and rendered the fol-
lowing which were adopted:
Gratefully recognizing God as the source
of all blessing, and His law, as the only guide
| to individual or national righteousness and
prosperity,
| Resolved that we are uncOmpromisingly OPP,
| posed to any form of license high or low, that
we believe in the principles of total abstin-
ence and prohibition and approve of all wise
| measures that have for their object the utter
| determination of the rum power; and also
that we condemn the course Of our late legis-
lature in enactirg a law to imprison the
drunkard while the drunkard maker goes
free.
Resolved, that in the battle for God and hui
manity, women need the full ballot as pro-
lection and weapon with which to beat down
| giant evils.
Resolved, that we recognize the power of
the press in making public opinion, and that
we urge our women to make this mighty fac
tor more extensively in our work.
Resolved, that the use of alcoholics in med
icine be discouraged, and that we commend
the nonalcoholic flavoring powders in cook
ing.
Resolved, that we tender our heartfelt
thanks to the members of Redwood Falls I'm
ion for their bountiful hospitality, and also to
the press for their kindness, and also to the
officers of the Christian church for the use of
that church for our convention, likewise to
the officers Of the Presbyterian church for the
use of their church for Mrs. Baxter to speak
in Tuesday evening.
After singing "God be with us till
we meet again." the convention adj
| iOIlrne6 Mrs rrcx