Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-10-16
THE VERMONT W. G. T, U,
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL CoNvEN-
TION,


Thursday ana Friday, October :, =.
and -.
The preliminary meetings Of officers and
superintendent, which were held Wednes-
day in the parlors of the Caledonia county
president. were more largely attended than
usual. The morning meeting was devoted
to prayer and conference concerning the
spiritual needs in our midst, and plans were
formulated for more efficient gospel tenn
perance work during the coming year.
The afternoon was devoted to business
meetings of the standing committees and
Of the board of superintendents. The de-
partment of communion wine was com
bined with the evangelistic, and the de-
partment of temperance literature diScon-
tinued for year. The three departments
of legislative work, capital and labor, and
soldiers and sailors were added and the
state superintendent were appointed.
Windham county was recognized in the list
by the choice OF Mrs. Kenyon as superin-
tenient of Juvenile and chalktalk work,
and Mrs Kellogg of Jamaica of Sunday
school work
Wednesday evening a gold medal CON
test was held in Music hall under the di-
rection of Mrs. f.. A. Kenyon. The 10y
al Temperance legion of st. Johnsbury
furnished music, and nine silver medal
winners contested for the third gold medal
that has been given in Vermont. Miss
Jennie Whitney of st. JOhnsbury Centre
won the me lal, which Mrs. Housh pre-
scented with fitting words.
Thursday morning the delegates and Wis
itors from all parts of the state gathered in
South church, where Rev. Mr.. Fairbanks
ofiiciates, and from him and others re-
! l.
number i'm attendance exceeded all eXpec-
tations, and proved encouraging and Great
ed enthusiasm, as numbers always do.
The annual address of the president was
heartily appreciated by all and the Bur
lington union obtained it to use at its next
Sundays meeting. The significance Of
our name, Woman's Christian Temperance
union, was clearly set forth, showing how
the organized mother love which belts the
world with the white ribbon is arraye1
against the saloon power, which not only
is worldwide, but powerful and aggressive,
and though the conflict may be long. vet
with His aid we shall in due time sing
Miriam's song.
The White Ribbon quartet furnished
music at intervals during the entire con
vention.
The secretary's annual report showed 50
unions and % vs. in the state with mem
bership of nearly 2OOO During the year
- members have died, and III have been
lost by removal and otherwise. Twelve
new unions have been organized. and these
with the new members reported, show 322
new workers in the field, thus making a
gain in membership Of III. Fewer speak
ers from outside the state have been EN-
ployed, but more home workers have been
busy in advancing the temperance cause.
The cost of publications has been S40D. 81
The aggregate amount of n ceipts during
the year has been nearly $500, and the to-
tai expenses and donations have amounted
to about SllOO, thus showing that the tenn
perance cause has not languished. Twelve
new unions have been organized. all 10y
home workers, ana the county conventions
have been held as usual. The departments
that have received special attention are the
Juvenile, prison and Jail, fair ana evangel-
istic, while in all much has been done.
kilograms were exchanged with Illinois,
New York and Kentucky conventions they
being in session at the same time Visit
ors from other states were in attendance.
and were made honorary members of the
convention. Miss Letch, missionary from
Ceylon, led one devotional IAeeting and
Mrs. j. Il. Nichols of indianapolis helped
10y her presence and kind suggestions
throughout the convention. giving special
instruction concerning the preparations
which the Vermont W. c. +. L. needs 10
make for the Columbian fair. The tinan-
cial plan submitted by the national union
calls for not less than 500 nor more than
500 from each state in order to provide a
suitable W. &. +. L. building on the expo
sition grounds. Through Mrs. Nichols
efforts over $40 from Vermont has already
been pledged toward this.
Thursday evening the Us held a pleasant
reception in the church parlors, after which
a special program was carried out, much
10 the endowment of all. The st. Johns.
, bury chorus singers furnished the music
and Mrs. Nichols spoke i'm behalf of ..oul
girls
Friday morning the reports of organizer.
and superintendents and the election OF
officers occupied most of the time. TIL,
former board of state officers was reelected
Mrs. :. f. Blodgett of Derby Line read an
p original poem. sequel TO Take care of III,
babies" which the convention voted Il
print as leafIet
A helpful mothers meeting was held al
the opening of the afternoon session, aftel
which the juvenile work was reported
showing 1878 members in the Vermont
LOYAL Temperance legion. Two iuyenil,
county conventions have been held. and I
long chain of red. white and blue auto
, graph pledge cards has been made prepara
tory TO the Columbian fair. The festoonet