The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-12
Opening Day Of the Meeting OF
Women Engaged in Temper
ance Work.
A Titled English Woman Leads in
Prayer and Makes an
Address.
Frances Il. willard Elected President ana
Lady Somerset Vice President--The
Declaration--Ot Otlier Gatherings.

BosroN, Nov. 1.-THE Worlds Woman
Christian Temperance union held it's first
meetinR in James hall to-day. The hal
was decorated with tho flags Of differen
nations. The monster petition asking fo
the prohibition OF tho opium trade and
liquor traffic was festooned around the hall
and great rolls Of ii lay on the platform
Miss Frances Willard opened the meeting
andiplaced it in charge Of Lady Somerset
Tho latter led in prayer, after which she
spoke briefly for the cause. American
women" she said, "have led the van in the
formation Of the Worlds w. G. Il. IT,, anc
it is TO the lasting shame of England that
she has carried intemperance into hel
Indian colonies and fostered the opium
traffic." The report of the executive com
nlittee, embodyinR the constitution and by,
laws,was accepted and n declaration of prin-
ciples, which has the following for preamble
was dlso adopted "In the love of God and
humanity, we, representing the Christian
women Of the world band ourselves to-
gether with the solemn conviction that oul
united faith and works will, with Gods
blessing, prove helpful in creating strong
public sentiment in favor of personal pur-
ity Of life. including total abstinence from
the use of all narcotic posons; the protec-
ton of home by outlawine the traffic in
alcoholic liquors, opium, tobacco and i'm
purity; the suppression by law of gambling
and Sunday dissertation; the enfranchise-
ment Of the women of all nations, and the
establiehment of national and international
arbitration, which shall Danish war from
the wbrld." The declaration is in the
naturelof pledge binding members to
work fSr the purposes of the union and
asking,all others to make common cause
against liquor and narcotics.
plan of the worlds work. including a
provision for a half dozen Christian tenn
perancS missionaries in foreign lands, was
approved and provision made for the COL
lectioniof one-half cent. per annum tax
on members of the union throughout the
world for the maintenance of the work.
Mrs. Telgono japanese lawyer, and pres
ident of the Japanese w. G. r. u. spoke
briefy.s. In the afternoon Miss Bowes, rep
resentt1R the British Columbian w. G. I,
o., moved that the convention earnestly re-
quests the managers of the Worlds Colum-
bian exposition to prohibit the sale of in
toxicants on the grounds and to close the
exposition ON Sundays. Lady Somerset
moved that they be requested to require
purity in art exhibitions. Both resolutions
were unanimously adopted by a rising vote.
Mrs. Mary Clement Levett was made honor
ary president of the w. G. 4. u. The cleo
tion of officers OF the Worlds w. @. r. u.
followed, Miss Frances E. Willard being
chosen president; Lady Somerset, vice
prssident-at-large; Anna Gordon, of Bos-
ton, secretary; Mrs. Williams, of Canada,
treasurer.
A letter from John g. Whittier, wishing
the union God speed in its work, was read.
A resolution was adopted of congratulation
that the attempted introduction of the
English bar-maid system in New York had
failed and Of condemnation of it az q whole.