St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-10-15
THE STATE w. c. T U.
Proceedings at Thursdays and Fridays
Sessions.

The regular sessions of the w. c.
T. u. convention began al the South
church on Thursday forenoon, the
opening devotional exercises being
led by Miss Leitch of Ceylon. The
convention organization was then
perfected, which included the ap-
pointment of committees on creden-
tials, resolutions, kilograms, etc.
Welcome words were spoken by
Mrs. A. B. Matthewson in behalf of
the ST. Johnsbury w. c. T. u, who
gave warm and cordial greetings
and emphasized the fact that the
union had always stood loyal and
true to its principles. Rev. Edward
T. Fairbanks of the South church
gave a hearty welcome to the work
ers who are so full Of courage and
conviction that tempestuous weather
and lack of so-called popularity
prove no hindrance to them. He ex-
pressed hope that the presence of
these temperance workers here might
give fresh impetus to the interest
in such things in the churches and
among the public generally. Miss
Nellie Blakely of Proctor welcomed
the union very earnestly in behalf of
the VS., who aim to be loyal daugh
tiers. Miss Helen Hall extended a
loving welcome in behalf of the chill
dren.
Mrs. A. F. Smith of Manchester
responded for the state w. {. T. u,
accepting with gladness the hearty
welcomes extended, and expressing
an appreciation of the Christian in
huence and spirit which pervade this
place She said review of the work
during the years that has elapsed
since the union met in St. Johnsbury
before showed a great advance.
Mrs. NJ. J. Wilbur of Burlington re-
sponded for the church homes, ex-
pressing due appreciation of the well
come accorded by st. Jonnsbury
w lNh ctlS hliO w ioI anu
wide for their Christian works.
Mrs. H. H. Read responded to the
VS., thanking them for their flial
greeting; she said it was encouraging
to know that the daughters were be-
ing trained to take the mothers
places in this work. Miss Amy B.
90 0ntro1,o,- racrnn6a1 n he
children, asking blessings upon the
little ones who are growing up in
the work.
Miss Leitch, a missionary from
Ceylon, spoke encouragingly of the
stand taken by American women
against alcohol and narcotics, and
told of victories accomplished in
righting the wrongs of the past when
God was with those who worked.
Miss Leitch and several other ladies
were made honorary members of the
convention.
The annual address of the presi-
dent, Mrs Esther Housh of Bra tile
boro, was next given. She made
plain the significance of the title
"Woman's Christian Temperance
Union" The saloon, she said, is
worldwide and aggressive; but a
mothers love is arrayed against this
power, and, with Gods aid, woman
will in due time be enabled to sing
Miriam's song-"The Lord hath
triumphed gloriously." Mrs. Housh
emphasized the specific work which
the w. c. T. U. has to do, and urged
a close watch over the details of all
departments.
The report OF the state secretary,
Mrs. Gratia E. Davidson of Newfane,
was encouraging. Fourteen new
unions have been organized the past
year, and this, with the revivifying
of a few of the old unions, has
brought into active service some $50
new workers. There are now in the
state 90 unions and % VS.. The in
come of the unions has amounted to
ABOUT S1OOO, ana over SlOOO mas
been used in the prosecution of tenn
perance work by the ladies. The
Vermont union has been represented
in national w. c. T. U. gatherings
at Saratoga and Atlanta, as we'll as
at the state Sunday school conven-
tons.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
The committee on kilograms re-
ported a greeting from the Illinois
w. c. T. u, then in session, and a
response was ordered to be sent.
The main feature of the afternoon
session was the reports of the super