The record-union., 1891-04-05
CHRISTIAN WOMEN.
Their Labors for the Cause of Tenn
perance in Sacramento.
A Building of Their Own to be Erected
Here-Plans of the New
Structure.

ian Temperance Union of Sacramento is
to have new building, and we are in
hopes of seeing it well under way within
a few months"
Mrs. j. A. Barrett, prominent mem
Der of the worthy temperance organiza-
ton of this city, made the above reply to a
REcoRD-UNIoN reporters query as to the
status of the rumored new building
scheme.
For ten years." continued the lady,
I'VE have labored in Sacramento, and
saved many and many a wrecked life
yet we have never asked the public to
contribute dollar to help along our
cause. 1t has often been a subject OF
discussion among US however-particu-
larly when we see other charitable organ
izations springing up and flourishing all
around us, on account of the financial
assistance they ask and receive from the
pubhc-whether or not we have been
acting ill-advisedly. But we never So
lictited aid, and that is probably the rea-
son why we have
NO LARGE FUNDS
In our treasury, and also why we have
not attracted the attention that would
have otherwise been the case. We strug-
gled along, as | before said, during all
these years. meeting and forming our
plans at this and that members resi-
dence, and then going about doing what
work we could at the jails and hospitals,
and fighting the saloons. Last Septem-
Der, however, our membership had in
creased to sixty, and we decided that our
work could be greatly facilitated and
made to be far more reaching if we had q
permanent meeting-place or hall. So we
rented the little place we now occupy on
X street, between Fifth and Sixth, and
from that time on dated our real success.
II do say it myself, we accomplished a
great deal Of good-in fact, when you
come right down to consider the nature
OF our work and the obstacles we encoun-
ter, we accomplished wonders. You
would be surprised to see the number of
persons who drop into that little hall
every evening and join with us in our
prayers and hymns, and you would also
be surprised at the number of
GENUINE CONVERTS
We have in our midst. Each lady who
belongs to the union pays a small assess
ment every year, but this only pays for
the reading matter and other incidentals
The whole years collection would little
more than pay the rent of our hall for a
month. But each month we give din
ner, and in this way get enough money
to pay the rent-and we don't have to call
upon the public for money. But we
started in to talk about the proposed new
building, and Pm getting away from the
subject"
Mrs. Barrett excused herself from the
room tor moment, and when she re-
turned she carried a large roll of paper,
on which was drawn the plans of the pro-
posed new structure.
Now, before showing these,' con-
t1nued the lady, Il must tell you all about
the new building scheme. As / said be-
fore, as soon as we established ourselves
In our k-street quarters we began i'm
mediately to see the fruits OF our labors
more forcibly than before. The oppor-
tunities to save souls and snatch victims
from the clutches Of King Alcohol Were
more numerous. Our membership in
creased from sixty to 10, and all were
the best class of Sacramento ladies and
enthusiastic in
THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE
And Christianity. We were not long in
seeing that we needed still more room.
and naturally talk of a building of our
own was INDUCED in. Generous and
charitable Mrs. e. b. Crocker heard of it,
and one day when she met Mrs. Carley,
one Of our most enthusiastic members.
she said that if we would go ahead and
pick out the lot we wanted she would
DlIy IL IOI US. IldG W as Joyous news TO
US, can assure you, and we We're not
long in finding the lot we wanted. Some
have no doubt chided us on our choice,
but i think it was good one. We chose
lot on the west side of Third street. be-
tween X and l., in the very locality where
we can find most to do, and where our
services are most needed. Mrs. Peck
ham, who owned the lot, reduced the
price of it $500 when she learned that il
was for building for our organization. -
Mrs. Barrett then unrolled the plans
and exhibited them to the RECORD
UNION man.
If the plans are carried out, and a
building is erected in strict accordance
with them, both Sacramento and the
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Will have something to be proud Of The
lot is 40 by 50 feet, and the entire area,
with the exception of strip five feet
wide for an alley way, Will be covered by
the building. 1t was with quite a show
of pride that Mrs. Barrett referred to the
fact that these plans were drawn up by
herself, with the assistance and sugges-
tions of the other members of the Union.
All had been asked how they would like
to have
THE NEW BUILDING
Arranged, and the variety of suggestions
that poured i'll was astonishing as well as
amusing. And yet, despite all this. the
plans were finally put together in such a
manner as to include everything that had
been suggested, even to a flower garden
and play ground.
The proposed new structure will be a
two-story brick and iron affair, of very
neat design, with a large basement,
in which it is intended to establish a per-
manent coffee-house. The first or main
floor viii be several feet above the level
of the sidewalk, and will consist of q
large lecture hall, 60 by % feet, with the
entrance directly from the street. The re-
naming twenty feet of the floor Will be
raised three feet above the main floor, so
as to form one large platform or pulpit
when needed. This platform, however,
viii be separated from the main floor by
series of "tan"-doors, which can easily
be removed when the entire space is
needed. When it is not needed. however
this platform space will be utilized as a
kindergarten and quarters for the ''Y's,"
an organization of young ladies, which is
really q part of the w. c.. I. u. This
twenty feet OF platform space will be
open
DIRECTLY To THE ROOF,
And viii not be divided by the second
story. Space has been allotted on the
main floor for a reading-room, and this.
like the platform, can also be thrown
open so as to form q part of the one big
hall or lecture-room. There will also be
gallery in the main hall, which, except
when it is needed for the accommodation
of spectators at the unions meetings or
entertainments, will be utilized as sew
ing-room. A large quantity of clothing
for kindergarten children is made daily
by the ladies of the union.
Evangelical meetings will be held ev-
cry evening in the big hall.
The second floor viii be divided up in
to conveniently arranged rooms. which it
is intended to rent. Three of the rooms
will be set apart for the matron, who will
permanently reside in the building. An
other room is to be designated the prod
igal daughters room, and will be a sort