Smyrna times., 1891-10-21
The W. C. 7. U. Convention in
Smyrna, last Week.
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF DELEGATES ON
THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE BODY,
AND CROWDED HOUSES AT THE
PUBLIC MEETING
AT NIGHT.


THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE BODY,
AND CROWDED HOUSES AT THE
PUBLICsMEETING
AT NIGHT.
The 18th annual convention of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
which assembled in the NJ. E. Church
of this town on Wednesday, and held
sessions mornings, afternoons and
nights for three days, has been pro-
nOunced the most successful fanny yet
held. The weather was charming,
hospitality free and hearty, and the
public seemingly in sympathy, judging
from the way they thrOnged the meet
ings at night, about 1000 persons be-
ing in attendance. The church was
tastefully decorated with flowers by
the flower committee of the Christian
EndeavOr Society.
WEDNESDAY.
At IL o'clock they met in what was
called the Workers Conference, and
convened for the regular deliberations
at 2 o'clock. Devotional exercises
were conducted by Mrs. Il. II. Matlack
of this town after which the cOnven-
ton was called to order by Miss Mar
garet Hilles, president of the Delaware
w. G. II. U.
The roll call of officers, vice-presi-
dents, superintendents and ex-Oflicio
members was called, nearly all res
pOnding to their name. The report
of the executive committee was read
and accepted, after which committees
on credentials, resolutions aud finance
were appointed.
The president made her annual adj
dress, which consisted of a 80 minute
talk, stating the condition of the w. G.
T. U. as a state organization and feel
ings of pride in the work it had accom-
plished the past year. The cores
ponding secretary, Mrs. Mary l.. Cox,
of Middletown, Treasurer, Mrs. Hattie
M. Phelps, County Presidents, Mrs. V.
l.. Culbertson, New Castle, Mrs. Kate
E. Smithers, Kent, and Mrs r. ]. JEFF
ferson, Sussex, all read very favorable
reports.
The convention adjourned at 5
o'clock to meet again vt 7.30. The
evening session was entirely different
from that of the day. 1t consisted of
addresses and songs. After an enioya-
Bile organ recital the Loyal Temper
ance Legion sang Marching On" An
address of welcome was delivered by
Mrs. John p. Hudson, which was res
ponded to by the president of New
Castle and Sussex counties. l.. NJ
Price sang a. solo, Ashamed of Jesus"
The Band of Hope sang 1.-The Saloons
Must Co" Then came the addresses
by the pastors of the several churches
of the town.
Rev. w. w. w. Wilson was called
first by the President to lead off which
he did with effectiveness and direct
ness, striking the key note that vibra :
ted throughout the lines of the temper
ance work and met with the hearty
endorsement of the delegates.
Rev. G. c. Adams, Of the Presbyter-
ian Church, followed in an address
that for aptness, freshness of incident
and brightness of application, met the
demands for entertaining platform
work. He characterized the Whskey
Ring the great foe of temperance re-
form, constituted as it was a great mo-
nOpOly by means of the bonded
whiskey tax that put them in a meas
ure in control of politicians and thus a
great and insuperable barrier to re-
form. He would abolish the whiskey
tax and put it on par will any other
business or traffic.
Presiding Elder Smith followed. He
is a popular speaker on this subject,
and faYOrite on the platform. He
| spoke earnestly on the principles at
| stake, but differed somewhat with the
preceding speaker as to the methods.
Mr.. Smith is for the most direct way
by legal prohibition.
Mrs. Mary NJ. WOlcOtt, of Dover.
sang a selection that was quite pleas.
ing to the audience. Mrs. WOlcott has
a sweet, sympathetic voice, that where
it lacks in compass is made up in ex-
preston. Demands were made on her
every evening outside the regular pro-
gram.
Rev. G. w. Dame, rector of St.
Peters Church, was next called upon
to face the large audience. He an
nOunced himself in full harmony with
the temperance reform work, and
wished the ladies God speed in their
great endeaVOrs. He dWelt for a time
on the general evils of intemperance
but when he took an advance step and
hooked on to the caFOf WOman's Rights
and Female Suffrage, he struck what
seemed a responsive cord with nearly
every delegate and large part of the
audience.
Rev. Herman Roe, as representative
of the Good Templars, was next called
to the platform. He looked around
with bit of surprise and Ventured to
remark that something must be out of
joint; this was announced as a Won
ans Meeting and yet the Lords of
Creation" were doing all the speaking.
Besides, the speakers before him had
exhausted the subject leaving him
nothing to speak about, abiding wit
tily to a phrase or paragraph from each
that had the sparkle of bright take
off, ending in an endorsement of them
all and an affirmation of his own con-
victiOns.
Rev. r. K. Stephenson, pastor of
Smyrna Circuit, was temporarily alb
sent, and Mrs. Lucy Washington, of
Port Jervis, N. Y. took his place. She
said she never felt more like making a
speech.
THURSDAY.
The session this morning was occu-
pied by the conference of workers.
The meeting was conducted by Mrs.
Washington and was a very helpful
one to practical temperance workers.
The exercises consisted of the relation
of actual experiences of the workers
and suggestions of the more expert
enced as to methods.
Mrs. Kate E. Smithers, president of
the Kent County Union, submitted her