Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-12-05
Vuman's Christian Temp. Union Column.
First Worlds W. c. T. U. Convention.

The first convention OF the World
Womans Christian Temperance Uniol
was held In Boston, Nov. IL, u aud Is
The meetings were In old Fanucil Hal
around which throng historic mem
cries Of more than one hundred years
Delegates from all over the world wer,
present, among them being Lad,
Henry Somerset, Miss Florence Bal
garnie, Mrs. Hannah Whitall Smith o
England, Miss Gibson of France
Nine. Angeline of Italy, Miss Camp
bell of South Africa, Mrs. Love u
Australia, Mrs. Peters of NewfOund
land, Miss Bumstead of South Africa
Mrs. Tel Sono, the lawyer from Japan
and Mrs. Leavitt.
Of these women Lady Henry Som
erset is the president OF the British w
g. T. U. She, with Mrs. Hannah
Whitall Smith, our own American
sister, now resident of England, adj
dressed large meeting in Chicago
Sunday evening, Nov. l. From the
Union Signal we copy brief notice oil
this meeting:
Next to the Auditorium, Central
Music Hall is the largest audience
room in Chicago, but 1t was too small
to hold the crowds who wished TO hear
Lady Henry Somerset and Hannah
Whitall Smith, Sunday evening. No
posters or special advertising had been
needed /; the simple announcement in
the newspapers that these two wO-
men were to speak, was sufficient to
call together such crowd as Chicago
has seldom seen. Long before the
hour for opening the doors, 1t packed
entrance way and sidewalk, and when
the doors were opened surged in filling
every seat in a few minutes. The
doors were then closed, and sturdy po-
licemen strove to keep back the crowd
and dispense it, by announcing "Every
seat full doors will not be open till
the close" But it had little effect /; the
people would not 60 away, that is,
enough of them to pack the sidewalk
of block though it is estimated that
fifteen hundred did 60, q crowd still
stood all through the exercises, and
met the out coming crowd when the
lecture was over. Those hundreds of
people standing there in the keen No.
vember air, quiet, respectful, but per-
sistent, with no hope of entering, yet
thus showing their interest, was SER
mon in itself.
Inside was one of Chicago's finest
large proportion being
gentlemen from pit to the highest
gallery every inch of room was occu-
pied the sea of intelligent, sympathet-
ic faces was an inspiration.
Fine music had been arranged for
but neither organist nor singers had
been able to press their way through
The crowds, surrounding all doors,
even that of the stage entrance, 30
Miss Willard, who presided, 'lined
out" GAIL hail the Power OF Jesus
Name" and the vast congregation
sang it unaided by the great organ.
Whitall Smith read por-
ion of the 10th Psalm, and led all
hearts up to heavens gate in prayer.
Miss Willard now introduced Lady |
Somerset, as only one like Miss VIII
ard can introduce one whom she hon
,rs and loves. Lady Somerset ac-
znowledged the introduction in very
graceful way and proceeded to sketch
he progress of temperance in Eng
and. She had not spoken three SEN
ences before the charm of her won
lerful flexible, sympathetic voice and
perfect enunciation was felt through
,ut the house. She spoke WITHOUT
apparent effort, and every syllable was
distinctly heard at the very back of the
highest gallery. We have looked into
he faces of many large audiences, yet
lever saw one which more literally
hung upon the speakers words" than
lid the one in Central Music Hall
Sunday night.
Speaking OF the change wrought in
England by the temperance movement
he said that if asked it's cause, she
would say, dead, worthless Chris
ianity had been supplanted by q
Christianity of boundless love for hu-
nanity. The Christianity of JESUS
las no distinction between the affairs
# religion and those of secnlarism. 1t
3 in the polling-booth, the Senate ami
he House of Commons as much as
n the church or the prayer-meeting.
Cold type can not reproduce the
,athOs aud solemnity of the personal
appeal she made at the close, intenSi-
led by the relation Of personal expert
nee. A greater tribute than the wav-
Dg of handkerchiefs ut Chatauqua
Vhen its chancellor gives the signal,
vas the lifting OF handkerchief to
yes suffused with tears, drawn from
by this heart history.
And the impression will not fade when
he tears are dry, but will last through
II eternity.