The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-23
Another Letter From 0uI
Correspondent.
Interesting Personal Story Of the
Great Convention.
Fen Pictures of Gatherings In Hall
and at Garden Party,
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:


Yesterday was the opening day of tn,
Worlds Women's Christian Temperanc,
Union convention at Queens Hall, Fran
ces II. Willard, president, in the chair.
| The delegates were from all round tho
world. New Zealand, Australia, Spain,
China, Canada, South Africa, Germany
Armenia, Turkey in Asia, and the very
ferent costumes of these countries were
worn, the effect was singularly attractive,
and certainly il would be difficult TO tell
which country produced the most brilli'
ant woman.
On the platform, side by side, sat Lady
somerset and Frances Il. Willard-Amanda
omith, black as coal, and very popular
with the audience Miss Kirkorian from
Sonstantinople, in native costume; Miss
Irygg from Finland, who won everybody
by her charming and natural attractive
ness; Nine. Antoinette Sterling, grand
and tremendously in earnest to help the
unfortunate; Mrs. Pearsall Smith, author
OF the "Christain Secret of Happy Life, -
always winsome in her Quaker garb;
Mother Stewart" from Ohio, and a host
OF Others OF all shades and from all
classes, " one In love and in high aims. -
The work OF the years-for this was a
biennial onvention-showed great ad-
vancement in all lands, educationally,
legislatively, or in evangelistic lines, and
ON the work of the more than 40 depart
ments with renewed zeal in the coming
year.
1t would be impossible to tell you OF the
many and great things planned all along
the llne-the wonderful interest developed
In unexpected quarters for the further
ance and maintenance of total abstinence
principles, and the new avenues opened to
ameiiorate the condition of those counted
helpless, "fallen" and lift them TO a new
ana better life with encouraging sur
roundlngs, purer atmosphere.
The election of officers resulted in ms
changes, excepting Miss Agnes Slack, who
was made corresponding secretary. The
convention closed with most remarkable
meeting at Albert Hall at which over
II, 600 were present. "No words can do it
Justice, as all the newspapers said. There
were representatives from Sons of Tenn
perance, Good Templars, chabites, Sons
OF the Ph9nix-in scarlet, yellow, blue
ana crimson scarves-also from west and
east London Wesleyan Missions.
WOMEN AND ENTHUSIASM
When Lady Somerset and Miss Willard
entered the thousands rose and gave such
welcome as only English people can
give. Following them was mighty army
OF women from all countries and all
ranks, interested and working for one
common cause.
Then came the company of black -robed,
gray-veiled women, Sisters of the West
London Mission, after which company
OF girls from the ST. Mary's Home, Rel
gate, London, dressed in terracotta and
white. Each delegation is surprise, and
engrosses the attention till the next APP
pears. The Sisters OF the London Tenn
perance Hospital-policemen, postmen,
hremen, railway men, army men, etc,
these ocessions-twenty-five in all-are
greeted most enthusiastically as they enter
the hall.
But the greatest effect is yet to come.
AT the entrance one sees great host OF
waving banners and brilliant colors and
then enters representatives from different
countries in which the w. {. II. ". IL
organized, wearing their national costume
and giving the audience al object lesson
as to the cosmopolitan work carried on by
this great organization. IL was gor-
geous pageant, a marvellous trans for ma
tion scene, and wrought the great
audience into tumult of delight.
A TYPICAL MEETING.
The meeting opened with prayer, and
then as Lady Somerset came forward the
vast audience rose to greet her, and it
was some moments before the tremend-
Gus applause subsidized and she could be
heard. Her welcoming speech was as fol-
lows: In coming to our coun-
try to hold its great convention
the W. w. &. II. u. is coming to it's own.
No memory is more sacred TO us than that
OF the noble, large hearted woman who
was first president OF the Women's White
Ribbon Society, and who was for many
years also president of the b. w. Il. A.
She was of far-sighted, almost amounting
to prophetic, vision, for when the Polyglot
Petition that wreathes this hall was but
he dream OF Miss Frances Willard, it was
Lucas who, with the weight of
10 years upon her, and the added weight
)f falling health, crossed the Atlantic
ma took the long journey to Minneapolis
N order to put with her own hands ca BILE
II love and loyalty between British
women and the women OF that. distant |
very woman, and, we believe, with |
hat great host triumphant, she is
lere tonight TO see the proportions that |
inY germ, thcn sown by the strong faith |
II the president OF the w. w. &. T. u, |
las assumed. The white ribbon is be- |
'oming domesticated now in the hearts |
" all the Engilsh-speaking nations OF the |
world. Those great pioneers that have gone |
'ut alone to foreign lands have woven n |
abric OF events wider than any that have
'een shown to the world by the asso-
lated efforts OF women. We look upon
his white ribbon and realize that on |
very page OF that great petition sigma
uEe IL tThSeu Dy some WOmen'B little
Iand from every quarter of the globe;
hey have risen TO protest against the
reatest enemy OF the home. We well
ONE and honor you, my sisters, for all
hat you have accomplished. You have
ent us an inspiration, waited
cross oceans and from dis
ant lands, and today temperance En-
land welcomes and halls you. We thank
iod that we have learned to love. trust
nd honor one another; we have learned
D understand that true comradeship
nows no difference of class, creed or
ationality. We are one i'm cause which
destined to be victorious, because IL Is
he cause OF God Himself Just as the
)under of this society when she sat in
er quiet study i'm that far Western state
title dreamed that her first idea OF
reat women's petition would result
these rolls OF seven million names.
D we--who sometimes feel that the cause
feeble, that we are fighting against aw.
Al odds, that money and vested interests
10 arrsyed against us. must take hone
nd know that that which is to succeed
tll succeed because the God OF hosts Is
18th us. We thank you for having given
: an inspiration OF what Women can do;
g hear about women today as never be.