The herald., 1894-11-19
W. C. T. U. CONVENTION
THE DELEGATES LAY BUSINESS
ASIDE.
Tho Sabbath Devoted to Rest and Wor-
ship-Dr. James W. Bashford
Delivers the Annual
Sermon.

CLEVELAND, o., Nov. 1S.-Business
was laid aside today by the delegates
and officers of the W. G. 7. U. conven-
tion. The hours were devoted to wor-
ship and rest. Many OF the visitors
spoke from pulpits thrown open to them
by the city pastors. A mass meeting
WAS held in Music hail III the afternoon.
DR.. James w. Bashford, OF Ohio Wes-
leyan university, was accorded the
honor of delivering the annual sermon,
which office had heretofore been filled
by women. The preacher took for his
text, Matthew Al: THY kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth as it is
in heaven"
He said the aim OF the w. G. T. u.
was to bring the kingdom of heaven on
earth. He thought the subject for the
confederation of the hour shuld be,
"The problem to be solved in bring ing
in the kingdom" and "The best solu,
tion of the problems which confront our
civilization" One OF the problems he
believed to be the growth OF the cities.
With the increase in population has also
come an increase in the tax rate.
In the early part OF his address DR..
Bashford turned to discussion OF Tam
many. "We have all JUST witnessed, -
said he, "the humiliation of municipal
corruption in the chief city of the land.
1t is estimated the Tweed ring, during
the entire time in which it controlled
the city of New York, stole $4,000, 900.
This was the most enormous theft dis
covered in municipal administration
down to that time. But it ia now be-
lieved that Tammany has besn stealing
SIS 1000, 900 year. The question OF mu.
nicipal government is national prob
lem. II the corruption of our cities grow
with the cities growth during the mex t
half century, and il our urban popula-
rural population, the repu bile ia doomed.
Do we not need to pray earnestly today
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
ON earth as it ia in hsaven?'"
World wide relations were next die
cussed. I'VE are spiritually asleep"
said the preacher; dreaming the self.
came dreams OF race supremacy that
have wrecked the greatest nations of
the world. Meanwhile Jehovah is say
ipg to us as he said to the Jews of old,
Either serve the world or perish.
America in the twentieth century must
Say w hi meu, even 10 tl0 Lagos, to
the Guiteaus, TO the Lobengulas and to
the Calibans. We are brethren,' and
lift them up to angelhood, or the Cali
bans will hoarsely hiss in our ears, I'VE
are brethren and drag us down to
beastliness."
The latter part of the sermon was an
account OF temperance movement in
Washington's tine. Washington a
hundred years ago was characterized as
temperance reiormer. Washington
owned distllery and sold whisky. His
expense account in his own handwriting
shows that he spent money freely for
liquor when he was candidate for the
house of burghers, and yet one of the
first temperance organizations hundred
yesrs ago took refuge under his name
and called itself the Washingtonian CO.
ciety. At the rate at which temperance
reform has progressed since that time,
the ultimate triumph of its principles
would be seen in the twentieth century
After the sermon a rousing suffrage
meeting was held, presided over by
Susan B. Anthony. and this evenina
"Y's" were held in different parts oi
the city, presided over by secretaries o.
the organizations from different states.