The Portland daily press., 1890-09-20
The Annual Reports and the Election
of Officers.

The annual meeting of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union was held at the
office on Exchange street, yesterday after
noon. This business was transacted:
sEcRETARY's REPORT.
Madam President, and Members Of the Port
land w. G. T. IT,:
The work of the year just closing to which
the attention of the public has been chiefly
called, Is the Day Nursery, which was opened
April 7th. To Mr.. George S. Hunt are we
indebted for the free use Of house so long
as we need 1t for this purpose. The location
Is central, the house in perfect repair, bright
and sunny and in every way suited to our
needs. Here we not only have all the room
necessary for the nursery, but accommoda-
tlons for lodging strangers, want we have
long felt, and also three nice rooms TO let.
To so many friends are we indebted for gen.
erous donations of money and various house
hold furnishings. and labor too, that 1t Is i'm
possible to mention all, save in this general
way.
On the opening dag the public were invit-
ed and brief service of prayer and song
was held. with short addresses by Mrs.
Hunt, Mrs. Stevens, Rev. Dr.. Merrill and
Mr.. Bayley. The attendance of children has
proved that some of the working women of
Portland appreciate the privilege Of placing
their little ones under the care of our mat
ron during the day they must spend In work
from home. During the five months since
five children each day in attendance, all un-
der six years of age, several babies in arms.
These children represent sixteen families,
and are kept from a. m. to 6 p. M. for ten
cents day, or fifteen cents for two from one
family.
To the many young ladies who have kind
ly assisted in the care and amusement OF the
little ones we are very grateful. Without
this aid so cheerfully and freely given our
expenses must have been greatly increased.
In order to establish this charity we were
obliged to close the Friendly Inp, which for
so long time had been under our care, and
was with great reluctance abandoned. The
building was in great need OF extensive sat
itaTy repairs which we had not means to
meet, but which must be made if we eontin-
ued to occupy 1t for this purpose. After due
consideration 1t was thought best to make
other arrangements for such men as should
come to us in need of free lodging, and de-
vote the amount formerly expended in this
way to other work. We are satisfied that
the result has justified our action
The report from the department of soldiers
and sailors Is very encouraging and shows
great progress during the year. Over fifty
thousand pages of literature have been dis
tributed to sailors going out of our port; {;
tracts, little books and papers have been
given to children about the wharves. The
library of this department numbers 20 vol
umeS. III two cases, one OF which has been on
a trip of nine months. When the captain Of
the brig wished to exchange this case he said.
"The benefit derived from having good read
ing matter Oh long voyages cannot be told In
words"
The work has extended during the year
among the sick at the Marine Hospital. in
the way of printed letters distributed and
kind words spoken. Efforts are being made
for the distribution OF flowers and more per-
sOnal work.
The superintendent of work in the Sab
bath schools has endeavored to learn to what
extent temperance has been taught in the
schools of our city. Blanks have been sent
out to each school superintendent with the
request that they be filed out and returned; /;
but as this has not been done ner report Is
necessarily incomplete. From the neglect
| To return the blanks we can only infer that
the temperance lesson is entirely ignored,
Can the Sabbath schools neglect a more i'm
portant part OF the teaching for our chill
dren? .. ,o,, ..,,.oa
for last winter proved a success, financially
and otherwise. Mrs. Sallie Chaplin, Mrs.
Iiyermore, Mrs. Fessenden, Volney b.
Cushing, Rev. Charles Dole, of Jamaica
Rev. Mr. Bayley and Mrs Laura 0rmiston
Chant of England, who spoke three times,
made up the list. We shall hope this year
to keep our cause and work before the pub
lie by another equally attractive course.
AS usual, we have conducted the services
at the Jail on the fifth Sunday 10 the month";
The chairman of this department has con.
tinued her weekly visits on each Sunday af-
ternooD. talking with each prisoner, giving
advice and help where possible, and distrib,
uting reading matter. In all our work AT
the jail we are cordially received and assist
ed by the sheriff and his janitors.
The office of our agent, Mrs. Mary l. Raw
mond,. who has served the society for nine
yeaIs,ls no slnecure, nor can l give within the
limits Of this report an adequate idea of the
character and amount of work done. Calls
are daily made at the headquarters for help
IN various lines. All cases must be inyesti-
gated and If worthy relief in some way civ.
en-. In comparatively few of these cases ia
the call Tor charitable aid, but all demand
Time and travel and advice. Four girls have
been sent to the Industrial School thronrh
our efforts entirely, carried out by Mrs
Raymond and three sent to the l'emporarv
Home. To us came an appeal from ths
sheriff's family for suitable clothinS for sno :
young woman about to be DISCHARGED fro@
the jail. Once Mrs. Raymond was cal,eS asVtn ~
the police station by gentleman who wished ~
she ministered. w "noSo wants
The monthly calls at the iail and housa q,
coIIectlon nave been regularly made Inv her
Az tne latter she found an average Of fiy,
women month, at the jail Ia. She with ths
station committee have had FREQUENT occa
sion 70 call upon the marshal and police Of