Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-19
Worlds NOman's Christian Temper.
ance Union.


The International Convention of the
Worlds Christian Temperance Union
was inaugurated last Sunday in Lon
don, when representatives of these
Unions from nearly all parts of the
civilized world were present, there be-
ing about $50 from this country. On
that day nearly 200 pulpits in London
were occupied by women speakers.
From the account given by the Euro
pean edition of the N. Y. Herald of
the proceedings in the City Temple we
extract the following
GREAT CROWD AT THE DOORS.
By half-past one o'clock this after
noon the crowd which had assembled
outside the doors was so dense that ii
took the efforts of small squad OF
policemen to prevent serious acci
dent taking place, and this, too, upon
day which was so temptingly fine
and beautiful that Londoners with one
consent seemed to have deserted the
hot pavements of the city for the COO
breeZes of the suburban parks anC
commons.
At quarter to three, when the doors
| were thrown open, the crush resem
bled that of a first night at Covent
Garden, and ten minutes later the
whole building was filled from floor tt
| gallery, and hundreds of disappointed
applicants turned away.
OPENED WITH A HYMN.
No time was lost in preliminaries
but promptly at three o'clock the vast
audience joined in singing a hymn
which produced most striking, and
to English ears, II somewhat novel eff
feet, the tune to which the words were
set being that of a well known negro
melody. Mrs. Bottome, of New York
then offered prayer, and Mrs. Todd
of Canada, read a chapter of the Bible
In few words Lady Henry Somerse
then introduced Miss Frances Willard
who, with her pale, earnest face, he
easy, unembarrassed manner and de
livery and her evidently intense con
viction, produced great effect upor
the audience. Her speech was redol
ent OF her native country, and, in fact
question whether she was clearl,
followed in some places by the Englisl
portion of her hearers when she made
SMILES from the forest life in the Yves
which she knows so well.
MISS BELLE KEARNEY SPEAKS.
After making an imprisoned appea
to those present to join the White Rib
bon Army, Miss Willard introduced
Miss Belle Kearney, who, she said, wa
the daughter of we'll known demo
Kearney, bright faced, clever Ameri
40 ri dol xubi al
was attractive almost to the point o
brilliancy.
She was followed by Nine. Anton
cite Stirling, who sang two songs with
out accompaniment, her magnificen
contralto voice easily filling the hug,
building.
Lady Henry Somersets SECOND
speech was chiefly directed to the dis
cussion of her first campaign in tn,
whiskey war, and she followed Mis-
Willard in making a strong appeal tt
the women present to join their Amer
lean sisters in the crusade for temper
ance.
| A CONTRAST.
Never before at any time, she said
had so many women gathered togethe
from different parts of the earth with
one cause in their hearts and one emf
before them, and she went on to con
tJast the emptiness of the life of youns
women of English society with tn,
noble work in which their American
cousins were engaged.
| Lady Henry was followed by Mrs
Stewart, of Ohio, better known al
Mother Stewart" by which title sh
was affectionately referred to by al
the speakers.
1t was this charming old lady, will
her snow-white hair and her tender
pleading voice who undoubtedly at
fected the audience more than all tn
other speakers. 1t was she who re
marked that it seemed like home, re
ferring to visit paid to England
twenty years ago. She presented ;
touching and almost pathetic pic
ture as, leaning her arms on the rail O
the pulpit, she bent over as though tx
come into closer touch with her audi
tors.
Nine. Antoinette Stirling then CAV
short address and sang 1.-The Lord L
My Shepherd" after which the bene
diction was given and the proceeding
were at an end.