The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-08
The National w. c. 7. u.

80 The National w. e. 7. u.
Having published an account of the
Non Partisan w. g. r. T., in the interest
of ''giving both sides a hearing" we
print below a communication from the
nington County. Having done so we
shall not admit discussion of the
merits or dement's of the two bodies.
This paper will print as news such infor-
nation concerning these and other tenn
perance organizations as may be of gen.
eral interest just as 1T does of other
good societies and no more. 1t is no
part of q geaeral newspapers duty to
champion any one cause, however
praiseworthy, to the exclusion of others
equdlly as important to the veal or woe
OF the whole peOple.-ED.
To the Editor Of the DEMONSTRATING
been asked by readers of your valuable
paper to give an account of the National
/ w. C. r. U. held at Atlanta, Ca, have
gathered from stenpgraphic report some
of the most interesting features. First,
word in regard to Atlanta and the re-
ception the convention met with
there. Atlanta is beautiful for situation,
30 miles from the Atlantic, 260 from the
Gulf parts, and $40 from the Mississippi,
1850 feet above the level of the sea.
Eight railroads centre there. Population
about 10000. SiXty-twO churches rep
resenting every denomination and afford
ing seats for 80, 900 worshippcrs.
The church in which the convention
was held was one of the largest in the
city, with a seating capacity of 1900.
The special decorations of the church
were artistic and beautiful-trailing
moss, branching palm and palmetto,
happily blended, and flowers by the
bushel. Clergymen, mayor and press
representatives We'd with each other in
extending cordial and hearty welcome.
Rev. DR.. Lee in behalf of the city clergy
said: 1t is the duty Of the clergy to so
teach truth and TO so live truth as that
the relationships which furnish the con-
ditions of manhood and wOmanhood,
shall be kept moral and religious. We
welcome you ladies because you work
for the same purpose. We welcome you
because you are working to keep this
Republic with its people, its institutions
and laws sufficiently in line with the laws
of God, to make it possible for God to
bless us, and pour into our national life
the wealth and hope and truth of
heaven. We welcome you because we adj
mire your courage, your sclf-sacriiice,
your devotion to duty.
The mayor being absent welcomed the
convention through Col. Abbott who
said: The city of Atlanta is always glad
to see the stranger within her gates"
have witnessed the coming among us OF
distinguished bodies. The President
his cabinet and others, but am frank to
say that l have never yet beheld the
coming of any body into our midst
so fraught with interest and dignity to
our people as the coming Of this conven-
ton. l have looked into the faces of
many deliberative assemblies and fee
sure that for dignity and intelligence
and methods and dispatch of business
have never seen this body eXcelled
Your president has evinced knowledge
of parliamentary law that would put the
male sex to shame. We bid you God
speed and thrice welcome to our city
and homes.
Mr.. BE- nnett Of the Atlanta Jowna
said: | am proud to believe that
voice the sentiment of this city when
say it considers itself more highly hon.
ored in welcoming this band of devoted
Christian women than all the distin
guished men who have ever visiteC
Atlanta.
The responses from Mrs. Buell. TO
New England-Mrs. LatlTop for the
West, were so touching and beautiful
wish space would allow me to give then
in full. Mrs. Buell. said: We come from
the rock bound coasts of New England
We are proud of our prohibitory laws
: She then sketched some of the results o
prohibition and drew therefrom tn
. prophecy of certain success in tn
! future. Mrs. Lathrop said we hav
listened tonight to this many-sided wei
come, chorus from church and State
We are glad we came, and forgetting a
things behind we are glad we stand tC
night in the the bond of commo
faith under the flag of commO
: country, and under the hallowed ribbo
; white, the token of a holy cause.
Roll-call showed the presence Of til
I, presidents of 80 States and two teri
/: tories, the largest representation @
. record. Report OF secretary showed a
Y increase in membership Of 1925 and q
1891 members have seeded we hav
\ !had that loss to make up. This make
r the TO tai gain 1886, When this fact wa
: brought ont the enthusiasm was III
bounded and was only stifled by singin
-, the doxology. The money received ;
:. dues in 1890 Is sixteen times as great {
in 1880. The Union Signal, the nationi
= organ of the w. G. Il. u, mas grow
from an eight-page paper with circl
a latiOn of 5000 in 1880 to sixteen-pas
n with circulation of $4,000. The large
!, list of any religious or philanthropy
paper except the Sunday School Time
Treasurer report showed receipts fro
all sources for the year, SAC, 900. Ne
d York has the largest membership of ar
It State and Pennsylvania next.
It The reports of State Presidents prove
Is extremely interesting and showed q
n increased interest in the cause an
greater effort put forth than evt
IS before in the history of the temperate
II work.
o The Alabama President said: o.
flag is thrown to the breeze and we wi
~ wave il until we accomplish the end (,
{ for which we are all laboring--the con
plete overthrow Of the liquor trafii
/ The Arizona President said: We ha'
~ population of 10000 whites and 400
II Indians. The rum element has been I'll
% controlling power, but the prayers
l. our Christian women for the last fe
years have worked marvellous chang
\ The Arkansas President said: Befol
the W.. G. Il. U. was organized in Ia
= State there was but one county i'm q
State but that had open saloons. To-da
4. there are A counties that haven'ta sing
\ licensed saloon.
The California President said: W
have the most wide-aYake aggressi'
y earnest w. c. r. U. to be found in Il
D. United States, and we are loyal TO OF
L baIoxyad t,raafdont and tha National "