The Press., 1891-11-26
w. C. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Especial correspondence of The voice.l At the Worlds w. cru.

1t IS not new thing for voices speak ing in old Fanueil Hall to be heard around the world, but last Wednesday the world gave back an echo in tones softer, not less earnest, than those which trumpeted for human freedom upon that historic platform two generations ago. Thirty four nations and provinces were repre- sented there in the federation known as the Worlds Christian Temperance Union. The delegates chairs were marked with banners bearing the names of their re- spective countries. Prominent among them were the colors of China, Japan, India, Burmah, France, under which pe- tite impassioned Isabel Gibson sat; and Australia, carried by Mrs. Love, who went from West Virginia to Melbourne, and was made president of the w. c. T. U. of the continent. Miss Campbell rep resented South Africa. The Hawaiian Islands and the provinces of British Am erica sent delegations, while the "mother country almost came herself in the per son of her most royal daughter, Lady Henry Somerset.
 The great picture, mellow with years, of Daniel Webster replying to Hayne, forms the background of the rostrum. Under it was stretched broad white rib bon, bearing the motto of the organiza- tion: "For God and Home and Every Land" Flags of all nations entered into the decorations, those of England and the United States draping the speakers desk. Greenhouses furnished plants of every cline, but most unique of decorations was strip of white paper festooned across the galleries, with the ends furled in massive rolls resting upon either end of the platform. This was the ''great pe- tition," already numbering a million names. When it shall have reached two millions, commission with Lady Henry Somerset and Frances B. Willard in the lead, will present it to the governments of the world. It is already a veritable polyglot, having signatures in40 languages. The meeting was appointed at 10 o'clock, and by 9.30 every seat was taken.
 Miss Frances E. Willard called the con- vention to order and> introduced Lady Henry Somerset, who led devotional ex- ercises, and after roll-call gave the ad- dress of greeting. There is in Lady Son. erset remarkable absence of the stilted air we have associated with the English She possesses all the graceful tact which belongs by divine right to American wo- men, and the American audience would never know her from one of our own gold en-throated feminine orators but for the fulsome introduction. She said:
 II feel that.I am not the one to greet you to-day. It should have been an Am erican voice to give words of welcome, for your women have led the way in this great temperance work.
 Standing in this historic hall, I am re- minded of the time when America declar- ed her independence. And she did we'll Nations as well as mothers are sometimes blind to the best interests of their chil- dren. To-day we are here to proclaim a grander and truer independence. We meet to wage a holy war which shall free thousands who are the slaves of liquor. We cannot. over-e estimate the noble army of American women who have gone to every corner of the earth, filled with the power of the Almighty. It is woman to- day who steps into the arena of the worlds strife, because she wishes with Gods help to proclaim His measures. It is wo- mans voice to-day, sounding in every land, which shall proclaim this new gos- pei. of personal and equal purity. For she has heard the voice of God calling her to rescue those that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affiiction and iron.
 Sisters, gathered from all parts of the globe, the great world lies before us in this darkness and sin, and as look in your faces feel that our work is indeed broad as the world"
 After the handkerchiefs had been pock- eted and the hands folded, Miss Willard, who presides over worlds convention with as much sang froid as her mother exhibited in laying off the squares'' at a quilting, remarked: ttLady Somerset has but taken up the strain that has al tways been sung in this hall by Samuel Adams, Otis and Webster, by Phillips, Sumner and Fred Douglas. We have be- gun the movement of mans liberty over himself.
 '"This declaration of principles is the most concise and comprehensive utter ance yet made by the W. c. T. U.-: We believe in the coming of His kingdom whose service is the highestliberty. His laws, written in our members as we'll as in nature, are perfect, converting the soul. We believe in the gospel of the Golden Rule, and that every mans habit of life should be an example, safe and beneficent for every sober man. We therefore formulate and for ourselves adopt the following pledge, asking our brothers in common danger and com mon hopeto make common cause with us in resolving it's reasonable and helpful precepts into the practice of everyday 1 life II hereby selemnly promise, God helping me, to abstain from all alcoholic liquors as a beverage, whether distilled, fermented or matted; from opium in it's various forms, and other narcotic poisons, and to use all proper means to discourage the use of and traffic in the same
 To enforce the nationals oi. this pledge, we declare our purpose to educate the young, form better public sentiment, re- form as far as possible by religious, eth ical and scientific means the drinking classes. seek the transforming power of divine grace for ourselves and all for
 whom we work, and finally we pledge our selves to labor and pray that all these