Smyrna times., 1894-12-26

NHCJ HdNo never neen surpassed IN in /
terest by any State Convention. 1t has
passed into saying "As good as the
Conv ention held in Smyrna in 1891 -
When the Woman's Christian Ten
perance Union came into existence nm
1877, there were no less than lOsaloau-
IN the town. In 1883 the number had
been reduced 10 3 and the ulr6gc. .,f
the Chief Justice was given that the
number should not be increased H.
1854 an application was made for "a IL
cense ior the fourth saloon The "
{. I. U. promptly circulated remon-
strances, obtaining large number of
signatures, and the license was refused.
This was the last attempt made to pre-
vent the granting of license until last
year, when the signatures Of ~ voters
were obtained to a remon stance against
one Of our hotels. The ypcccsS Of that
effort IS too we'll remembered to need
comment
There are many unwritten chapters
in our history of families visited and
the oil Of comfort poured into the
wounds Of bruised and bleeding heart-
IN numerous instances substantial aid.
life, has been furnished by the Union.
The command to visit the sick, feed
the hungry and clothe the naked has
been literally obeyed, even when the
money that should have been used for
the family needs has gone into the
hungry maw of the saloon.
The pledge has been presented and
numerous signatures obtained. In
several instances members Of the
Union meeting with the men who were
making an effort to reform, praying for
them and with them for Divine aid in
overcoming their terrible appetite~.
Some have held out faithful, but alas
some have yielded to the temptations
| all around them. "These offences
must needs come, but woe unto MIN by
whom the offence cometh - Each
( effort along this line Of work has only
made our women more determined
/ that "saloOns must 60"
Thousands Of pages of literature have
! been distributed, as leaves for the heal
/ ing Of the nations, at public meetings,
! through the mail, placing them in the
carriages of people from the country,
handed ia from door to door and in the
/ Sunday School. Ia fact in every way
have we tried to reach the attention OF
the great audience Who hear with their
eyes.
Many notices have been carefully
prepared for the weekly papers, both
announcing and reporting our work
aud meetiug- These have been most
courteously received and many OF them
gratuliously printed.
At our request the pastors Of the
town, without regard TO deuomina-
tional lines, have preached numerous
sermons on temperance, Sabbath OBJ
servauce and social purity. We have
always found them ready and willing
to aid Us by their council-,aud prayers
and presence at our public meetings.
In some instances We have been a self
constituted committee of public good
in calling the attention Of the town au
thoriucs to obscene cigarette picture,
and hil boards
In 1855 we first began our beautiful
flower mission. In the niue years q
its observance we have sent out j0C
boquets Of flowers, Gods messengers.
They have gone with a printed pass
/ aye, either Of praise or promise, tiet
with the white ribbon. The bit of rio
bon that means so much TO 50 many
Which seen upon the breast stands 70
the sisterhood of woman, the silen
, protest against the legalized liquo
traffic and the white life for two
, Each year a. the 9th of June roll
around the little notice in the pape
, asking for fioral contributions is treel,
= answered. To those who have Ell
a gagged in the mission, the service is
y sacrament. Going to the sick to thos
D racked with pain and parched wit
= fever, helping them to realize tha
underneath are the everlasting arms
] To the sorrowing, telling of hearts-eas
= and the balm of Gilead. To the berei
/ bringing the wonderful message of th
= resurrection and to those of man
e winters a message of tender remen
e brance. Many beautiful letters expret
n sive of appreciation have been receive
e in return for the messengers. The
4 have frequently been the enterin
e wedge that has gained for Us hearin
in regard to our work and been tn
# inspiration for a service of song an
= prayer.
), In 1856 the Union opened fire
o reading room in the Cooper bulldin!
n For while this was kept open ever
g evening and janitor employed to kee
t it in order. But like every attempt {
e the kind made in our town, it wa
deemed inexpedient to continue /
u From some cause the right plan OF cOl
e ducting room of this kind has NJ
b been as vet discovered, although a
n who have attempted any reformation
d work as well as preventive, realize th
e necessity for such place, in as niue
e as men are gregarious. The room
:. now used for the regular meetings {
= the w. c. T. U. and Loyal Temperan'
Z. Legion.
if The social side OF human nature hi
n not been neglected. We have he
o four receptions of purely social cha
d acter. Two were tor members eXClu
n lively and to the other two, the bu
l. bands, brothers and friends were i
IS vted.
d In these II years many days of sp
ID cial prayer have been observed. Pray
re for the work of our local union and Il
er State work as we'll as National al
as | Worlds Unions. The W. c. 7.
D. enters upon no line of work withO
of first presenting it at throne of GraC
N asking for strength and guidanC
IN Realizing that that which costs us me
ut is most appreciated, the w. c. 7.
We has a self-denial week, when ca
ne member is asked to do without som
IS thing to which she is accustomed al
a give the money thus saved to the n
in tional. The money thus saved amour
es to considerable in the aggregate.
r. We have written letters 10 the sh
IN in members of our Union, to Congre'
k, men asking them to favor our bills al
of letters of appreciation to men W
" have stood by their convictions, m
d; in our town, and also to Mr.. q.
or Massey for his stand in regard to Ope
of ing the Worlds Fair on the Sabbath.
n, In April 1890 the Union solicit
H. funds and purchased drinking fou
Sc tain, which was presented TO the tow
ce 1t was placed on lower CONNER
k. street, place both suitable and &C
he veuient, as il is on the road to {
in ! steamboat landing and WOodia
he Beach. During the summers of ;!
gh 81, '92 and 93 the stream of pure wal
)r. flowed free to all, and many, both II
ed and beast drank to their sa.isfactiC
ne In 1894 it was deemed nuisance a
be stood calling out "aO, every one th
ra thirsteth." only to turn the thirs
he away disappointed and still thirst
in Much indignation was expressed th
IL it should be condemned, while thr
open saloons flourish in our midst.
)rs is said that Napoleon feared four ht
10 | a.
es, dred thousand bayonets; but rig
'S4 calamity has the SMYRNA TINES sto'
IRE by us in our efforts to furnish Co.