The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-01
THE NATIONAL W. @. T. u. OONVEN
TON.

1t is wonderfully significant fact
that the women of this land, prompted
| by their mother-love, their devotion to
home, their intense desire for purity in
| every phase of our varied life, will travel
hundreds Of miles to come together in
Convention where they may report what
| they have been enabled to accomplish in
the year past, and there to gain fresh
inspiration and hope, larger outlook,
and fuller courage to go out again to
battle against the hosts of wrong and
| to build around the homes of this land
the safe guards of quickened con-
sciences, high ideals and pure politics,
which shall be characterized by an
equal and just recognition of all the
citizens of this republic.
The Convention opened Friday morn
ing November 16 with over four hundred
delegates present, representing every
State and territory except Utah and
Alaska. The long and busy sessions
continued from that time until Wednes-
found these women speaking in nearly
all of the churches of Cleveland at both
the morning and evening services, pro
claiming the Gospel of Glad Tidings.-
the deliverance from the thraldom of
the rum power. Sunday afternoon the
annual sermon was given before the Con
vention by the Rev. Dr. Bashford, Presi-
dent of the Ohio Wesleyan University,
and this was followed by Gospel suf-
frage meeting, when among other speak
ers. that veteran in the cause of woman,
Susan B. Anthony, gave her word with
its true ring.
AS we looked over these audiences,
largely composed of women. which many
times filled the great hall in which the
Convention held its sessions. and saw the
bright eyes, the tender faces which
glowed with noble purposes and lofty
aspirations and heard the earnest voices,
pleading always for their children. their
homes, their country, the conviction
forced itself deeper into our conscience
than ever before, that the prayers of
these women, followed up by their in
creasing efforts, would prevail before
many years have passed. With over
two hundred thousand of them in the
United States and the numbers con-
stantly on the increase, bound together
by bands of white for the overthrow of
20 a. Il
there are that many saviours living now
in this land who walk close to the Sa-
viour who trod the Judean hills. who
have his faith, his courage, his holy pur-
pose in their hearts and they will never
stop until that work to which they have
been called by the voice of God, shall
have conquered.
These women are body of specialists,
and each one in her department shows
the master hand. AS is we'll known the
w. G. T. U. recognized the fact that all
vice is kindred. and that in order to
overthrow the liquor system they must
lay strong hand upon every line Of
work which will destroy wrong and will
build up right. Hence they have their
forty-two departments of work, each
with it's national, State and local super
intendents and these women are as thor
oughly acquainted with all the laws re-
lating to their departments, with all the
need of it, with it's relation to other NOR
al, social and political questions as they
are with the alphabet. There is the
National Superintendent of Scientific
Temperance Instruction in the Public
schools. through whose efforts laws have
been placed upon the statute books of
every Territory and all but five States in
the United States, requiring that chill
dren shall be taught the effects of mar
cotics upon the human system. This in
itself is one of the most hopeful signs of
the times, for with an educated manhood
and WON anhood in this direction, there
will be prevented in large degree that
which we try so hard now to cure and to
endure.
The Superintendent of the Loyal Tenn.
perance Legions composed of thousands
of the boys and girls of this land, is
welding an educational force the infu-
ence of which cannot be estimated.
These children all take the triple pledge
against tobacco, liquor and profanity.
If these Legions could be organized
in every one of our Sunday schools we
should be aiding in this educational
work very materially.
The National Superintendent of La
Dor. with her undimmed eye and clear
brain, is pleading eloquently the cause
of the laboring man, and she has come
into close touch with them and their
needs from thorough knowledge of the