Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-05
w. c. T. U. CONVENTION.
A Large and Enthusiastic Gathering at the
First Baptist Church.
THE GRANTING OF LIQUOR LICENSES OCCUPIED
GOOD DEAL OF THE ATTENTION OF THE
DELEoArEs-MRs. IA FETRAs ANNUAL AID
DREss-MANY REPORTS SUBMITTED.


The granting of liquor licenses was evidently
the subject that was uppermost in the minds
of the ladies Of the Womans Christian Tenn
perance Union of the District when they met
this morning at the First Baptist Church for
the opening session of the eighteenth annual
convention. Next month the licenses are
renewed and in the interval the temper
ance people are endeavoring to stimu-
late sentiment which will lead citi-
zens to refuse to sign the applications
for licenses. The attitude of the members Of
the W. c. T. Union was indicated in the re-
marks which were made at the experience
meeting which followed the opening devotional
exercises. There good attendance of the
delegates for the various auxilisries. The loca-
ton of the delegations was indicated by little
banners. supported on slender rods, giving q
business-like air to the assemblage.
THE USIoS's MOTTO
Across the front of the platform was draped
large American flag, while suspended above
the arch Of the organ loft was the motto Of the
union, loyal Until Death" Foliage plants and
flowers adorned the platform. Mrs. Sarah ID. La
Fetra, the president of the union, called the
convention to order and then Mrs. Cohen took
charge ard led the devotional exercises. At
A. Stakely, D. D.. made graceful and hearty
address of welcome, extending to the ladies Of
the union the cordial hospitality Of the church,
which he said was in hearty accord with the
purpose OF the organization.
AN EXPERIENCE MEETING.
An experience meeting of half hour fol-
lowed and number of the ladies' made short
speeches. Reference was made frequently to
the close of the license year and the hope was
expressed that the spirit of conservation would
be given to temperance workers in order that
public sentiment might be aroused against the
continuance of the practice of legalizing the
traffic.
THE BUSINESS SESSION.
The business session was opened a. II o'clock.
Several committees were appointed and the re-
port of the corresponding secretary. Miss L.
c. Kcssler. was read. Reports from several of
the departments were submitted
The afternoon session was begun at 80. The
usual devotional exercises were held and then
the president, Mrs. La Fetra. read her annual
address.
MRS. LA FETRA's ADDRESS.
Mrs. La Fetra's address covered good many
points.
The legal prohibition of the saloon" she
said, ''woman's ballot and womans ecclesias-
teal emancipation are among the cardinal doc
are probably nearer at hand than We think
great majority of the membership
voting on the question in the Meth
odist Church have registered their ballots
IN favor OF woman admission to its supreme
law making body. Farther than this have our
congregational friends gone, in that already ut
least seven OF their women have been ordained
to preach the gospel and administer the sacra-
ments. Among the last thus set apart was
our own Ada II. Keplcy. long known to white
ribboners in temperance and purity work.
ALLEY MISSIONS.
That our missions in the ale-s have done
much good was fully evidenced to my mind. 10
l was at work in one of them not long since.
There came to my help pleasan.-faced colored
man. whom / recognized one to whom my
attention had been called By the po-
lice when We took the work
in the alley The man was one in whose nome
Satan held his strong Notifications. and over
against whose house our prayers had been con-
s:antly going during all the months of labor.
He was literally transformed With happy
face and earnest soul he gladly offered to tidy
mp the mission, put the rooms fully in order,
clean the lamps and relieve us of all heavy
lifting and care. You have saved one if you
never save another, said one after another of
the residents Of the alley. We oil see and
know he ha, been changed from his life among
us Thank God for answered prayer! This
work i'll the alleys pays if you work for God if
You desire case and sef-gratulation let it alone.
THE alley mission work is educational in
TINT it discovers to us the inefficiency and in
consistency of many of our laws. For instance,
there Is II fine to be imposed for pouring foul
water into the alleys. and a rule (foc there
are few exceptions) there is no sewerage in the
houses or Yards. certainly not Iii the old build
inss which largely predominant. then where
shall this water be thrown, and is there justice
in the not less than 81 nor more than IS fine to
be imposed in such cases?
THE GREAT ENcAMPMENT.
Except the Lord keep the city, the watch
men waketh but in vain.'
For months before the great encampment, Of
which we all so justly proud. came to our
city ..icvout PRAYER was offered in all our lead
ing churches that the benediction Of God
might rest upon the city and upon the crowds
which would assemble from every state in the
Union that sobrie;y and peace and good will
might prevail and wondrously was that prayer
answered So little drunkenness amid such
crowds where such facilities for obtaining Ii
quor were offered could scarcely be cited from
scenes at any time in any nation. We believe it
was answered PRAYER. 1t was u spectacle for
the world 10 behold and be glad. glo-
rious monument to our cause of total absti-
nence. The city was really given into the
hand OF God before the encampment by the
churches in their prayer meetings. The saloons
were Observation-Disclosures OF them-and by in
tention almost objectionable oversight the
laws were left as to be almost impotent to
prevent even an illegal sale. And yet tits said:
saloon keepers did not realize the profits they
expected. even though many defied he law and
kept open OH the Sabbath We trust the "a
loon men were the only ones disappointed with
the great encampment. One Of our city pas
tors said: The hard drinkers had died
off from the veterans, not having the
promise Of long life vouchsafed to
the righteous. Then others possibly
yetliving we're poor. through strong drink,
that they had not the money to come So our
fathers and brothers who came to the encamp-
mcnt we're the pure and true Of whom we, as
white ribboners. may well and justly be proud
1--WE believe that President Harrison's order
to Col. Ernst, superintendent Of public build
ings and grounds, that no liquors should be
sold on government grounds during the en-
campment and that the police should enforce
this order was another strong factor in keep
ing men sober.
AGAINST LICENSES.
"The days for the renewal of liquor licenses
are at hand and we should redouble our dill
gence in bringing in our protests. II twelve
saloons are licensed this year in the block sur
rounding Willow Tree alley, to the disgrace Of
our city authorities and Of ourselves also,
be it said: We know it's true
that our saloons are now as legal
as any church, as legal Us any school. They
are under the especial care and Endorsement OF
the government although IL rusx he confeased