Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-29

THE w. c. II. U. CONVENTION.
The Session Begun at Calvary
Church-RepOrts From All Over
the state About Three Hundred
and Fifty Delegates In Attendance
The Evening Exercises-COlonel
George w. Bain,s Stirring Address.
The seventeenth annual convention of
the Woman's Christian Temperance union
of Connecticut commenced its sessions at
Calvary Baptist church yesterday morning.
There were about $50 delegates present at
the opening exercises, and they were seated
by counties in various parts Of the church,
each county being designated by a small
white banner with the name of the parti-
cular county in gold letters upon it and
supported by a standard at the head of the
pews.
The organ front bore a large banner
with the inscription, "For God and home
and native land" Over the center of this
banner was festooned American flag
Half dozen silk banners of the union, in
bright colors and gilt, stood about the
platform, and in front of the platform
were flowers and vines artistically ar
ranged.
The convention was called to order by
President Mrs. S. B. Forbes of Hartford,
the other officers being Corresponding Sec
rotary Mrs M. M. Andrews, Stamford;
Recording Secretary Mrs. P. F. Partridge,
Norwich; Treasurer Mrs. S. K. Luce Of
Mantle. The convention was opened with
devotional services conducted by Mrs.
| Luce The roll call was then read by the
| president. and the appointment of the
| committees on credentials, resolutions and
| courtesies was proceeoed with. Mrs K.M;
G. johnson of this city was appointed
| chairman c. the committee on courtesies.
| The minutes of executive meetings were
| then read, and after singing by the dele
getes present the reports of the county
presidents were submitted. The report OF
New Haven county was very encouraging
and was read by Mrs. G.. A. Holmes of
Meriden.
Five unions have been added since the
last state convention. At Naugatuck,
North Haven and Waterville unions have
been organized, and at Meriden and Wa
terbury the ''Ys' have fallen into line, in
that we now number twenty-four unions.
Two conventions were held during the
year, and were reviewed.
Rev. Phebe Hanaford of this city con-
Quoted the noontide prayer meeting, and
at 1915 o'clock the convention took re-
cess until afternoon. During the inter-
mission the delegates to the convention
partook of a collation. in the Sunday
school room of the church, prepared by
the ladies of the city churches.
The afternoon session was opened with
devotional exercises conducted by Rev.
Phebe Hanaford An address of welcome
| was made to the delegates by Mrs. Philip
| S. Evans of this city, which was beauti-
| fully responded to by Mrs. E. M. White,
president of the Windham county w. G.
! T. U.
At this point Mrs. S. B. Forbes of Hart.
| ford, the president, presented the annual
report, sketching in brief the various lines
of work performed during the year.
| Among the topics considered was the text
book for scientific instruction concern
ing the effects of alcohol on the system
| the book now used in the public schools.
The president considered this volume
non-effective in the work for which il
was placed in the schools and recon-
mended some more satisfactory volume.
! She also recommended that a state super
intendent to look after this line of work,
which is to be entered upon during tn.
coming winter, be appointed.
| A recommendation was also made thai
II
come when by its large numbers and in
| creasing activities, such an organization
was really necessary. Mrs. Forbes paid
beautiful tribute to the late Eliza A.
Landfare, for so long time the state secre
tary.
The report was accepted, as was also tn
reports Of the various other officers.
| The report of the corresponding secreta
ry, Mrs. M. M. Andrews of Stamford, re
viewed fully the work of the past year
both as to the formation and disbandmen
of local unions, and embodying other mat
ters of interest to the convention. The fol
lowing is brief summary of her report:
The shadows of amendment defea
| weaker locals, and for this reason NOR
disbanded ones than usual have been not
| ed, but the new links added make GU
state chain longer and stronger than eve
before, beginning the year with 112 W.
and 10 Y unions. we close it with 119 W.
and 81 Y's, and total membership O
$500 active and 262 honorary members
Sixteen unions have disbanded and tween
ty-si1 been added to the state circle
A thorough revision has beel
made of the Loyal Legion roll b
we gladly report that eighty-fiv CON
panies have "a local habitation and
name," though few meet irregularly fc
lack of leaders. How strange that thi
most hopeful field of temperance effor
$50 white unto the harvest should eve
beseech SO unsuccessfully for the comm
of the cleaners. Dues received by stat
from locals $807.40. Birthday thank o.
fering to state $375.73. Money expende
for w. T. P. A. literature by loca
$221.03. 800 subscriptions to the Unto
} Signals are reported but the list is doub
! less imperfect. $4,000 white ribbon bar
ners have been published and distributed
At this stage of the proceedings IL
president Introduced Eev. E. NJ Poteat
this city and Colonel Knowlton of Will
mantle to the convention. Colonel Know
| ton made few well chosen remarks, viii
| Rev. Mr.. Poteat contenteI himself vii
saying that he would be heard from late
t | at the evening session.
{ Then followed the report of the trea
urer, Mrs. S. X. Luce OF Mantle, whie
: was of great interest to the member
showing the union to be in very pro
: porous condition.
Then followed the reports of the supe
intendents of the various department
which included the following: temperate
| literature, Mrs NJ A. Graves; Sabbat
observances, Mrs G. A. Moody; wor
/
Sunday school work, Mrs j. H. Morri
state and county fairs, Miss Jane Sharp
Between the various reports Miss Gino
rendered vocal solo and Mr.. Goodw,
Dickerman favored the convention with
recitation, both of which were thorough
enjoyed by those present.
As the hour for adjournment had arrive
the reports of Mrs. E. A. Chapman @
evangelistic work and Mrs. NJ. Belle Smit
on press work were postponed until tn
morning. The convention then electe
the following members as delegates to Il
national convention: New Haven count,
Mrs. G. A. Holmes; Hartford county, Mr.
R. M. Stanley; Fairfield county, Mrs. Fit
gerald; Middlesex county, Mrs. g. Brown
New London county, Mrs. Rogers; Wine
| ham county, Miss Bowers; and delegate
large, Mrs. j. H. Leeds of this city.
The convention also adopted resolutio
: protesting against the opening on Sunda,
Of the worlds fair in 1892 and instructe
the secretary, by unanimous vote, to TO
ward the protest to the board of COMM
sioners of the worlds fair The full te,
| of the protest follows:
The members of the w. G. T. U. of tt
! state of Connecticut, in convention assen
bled, do earnestly protest against the opel
| ing of the international exposition of 1S9
or of any part thereof, on the Sabbatl
These are our reasons:
l. The Sabbath is in the eyes of the MAORI
a sacred day and should be protected from des
Grafton
2. The claim that the working classes cam
i reap the advantages of the exposition on 9th
days has been found in practice wholly u
8. No more can be said in favor of its sund.
| opening than for museums, and this has new