The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-19
THE Wet. J.. CONVENTION
ANNUAL MEET
ING OF CHRISTIAN LADIES
IN ST. LOUIS.
A SHORT TALK BY MISS Willard
Tn Lieu of Her Annual Address-The
Work in Behalf of Armenian Refu-
gees EXtoled-Last Night Was
"WelcOme Night"

st. Louis, Nov. 13.-The twenty-third
annual convention of the Woman's CHRIS
tan Temperance Union opened in Music
hall today with the greatest attendance
of any one previously held. At least
500 accredited delegates were present,
and as many more visitors from every
portion of the country. Among the dis
tinguished workers in philanthropic helds
in attendance are Miss Agnes e. Hook of
England, secretary of the World
Woman's Christian Temperance Union;
Mrs. Booth of the American Volunteers;
Mrs. G. w. Gynth of Wales; Miss Re-
becca Kirkorian of Armenia, and Mrs.
+. ID. Green, secretary of the Armenian
committee in New York. Three ses-
sions day for five days will be held.
Exercises were begun as early as s
o'clock prayer meeting being held III
the Schuyler memorial home, at which
York, worlds national secretary of the
evangelical department, acted as leader
Music hall, in which the convention
met was appropriately decorated.
Miss Frances e. Willard, national
president, called the meeting to order.
Previous to this all the women identified
with the Original crusade" were called
to the platform. AS Miss Willard
stepped TO the front she was received
with salute of waving handkercihefs.
The exercises began with the reading,
of the crusade Psalm of
the 10th book. The report of the
executive committee was then made.
1t was decided to make March 20, the
of Neal Dow, prohibition rally
day.
There was some singing and Miss Will
lard made an address. She said that
her annual address was partly prepared
when the call came to work for the Ar
menian refugees in Marseilles, and that
since that time it has been impossible
for her to complete her message. She,
therefore, gave familiar talk to the
delegates. Mention was made of The
previous convention, held here in 1881
and Miss Willard added:
I'VE have marched far since then, the
alignment of parties has changed, the
labor movement has taken on proportions
so vast that no one speaks lightly of it
any mere; the people are forging tneir
way to the front misguided often, max
ing pitiful paths in the wilderness, fol
lowing false lights, when, if labor would
win, it must make the temperance re-
form the ark of God to be borne in the
very van of it's swift gathering army. In
1892 some of us sat up all night with the
on resolutions of the great
labor conventions, with their thousands
of delegates, praying them to put a pro-
hbition and a home protection plank i'll
their platform, and they would not"
The speaker said that prohibition in
politics has been, and is, now the protest
of the home against the saloon. When
women plighted their faith to the move
ment the prohibitionists polled only
10000 votes. In 1890 the number rose
to 100000 and had gone on increasing,
but, owing to the great controversy con-
party, like every other, had split i'll
twain in the memorable year of 1896 and
the vote had fallen off to about 10000.
Miss Willard touched on the work done
for temperance in the several states and
then spoke of the Armenians and of the
excellent work done by Mrs. Stevens of
Maine, Mrs. Fessenden and Mrs Black
well of Massachusetts, in finding homes
for the refugees sent over by herself and
Lady Henry Somerset. She praised tie
Armenian relief committee and the Sal
walton Army for the admirable work done
by them.
A letter from Lady Henry Somerset
of England was read. 1t was addressed
ITO my comrades of the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union"
and said in part:
Il profoundly regret that the compli-
cations here in the enterprises to which
| am pledged and the duties growing out
of my sons recent marriage and my
mothers impaired health render it imDos-
sible for me to cross the ocean this
autumn that | might receive the impetus
and inspiration always impaired by asso-
citation with American sisters of the
white ribbon. 1t is as certain as any
thing in this changing life can be that |
shall attend the Worlds Woman's Chris
tan Temperance Union convention IN
Canada next autumn, and | am earnestly
hoping that your annual meeting may be
held in some city not so far away put
that L may be able to be present at that
great gathering as well as the biennial.
The cause of Armenia is deeply on
shrined in all our hearts and l feel sure
that you will plan broadly and wisely to
comfort those whose unSpeakable calami-
ties should open to them the doors eff
every Christian heart and home"
AT the afternoon session Mrs. Mary
Garland, president of the North Caro-
lima union, opened the meeting with
prayer, after which letter from Lady
Henry Somerset was read.
The report of the corresponding sec
rotary, Mrs. katherine Lent Stevenson
of Massachusetts, was read. The report
shows that during the year 1850 new
unions had been organized, the gain in
membership being 15.SSS. The gain.
however, had been offset by a cores
ponding loss.
Next came the report of the treasurer,
Helen NJ. Baker of Illinois. 1t stated
that the receipts, notwithstanding The
hard times, had been larger than for sew
eeral years previous. The appropriations
for all lines of work were greatly in
creased, yet there was a very encouraging
balance after all bills had been paid. 'rbe
total receipts were $27,O7S and the OK
penditures $24,115.
Then followed reports from q number
of superintendent.
.. A cablegram was sent to Lady Henry
Somerset in response to her letter. after
which the convention adjourned until
7:45 p. m.
The evening session of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union was in the
nature of welcome night and Music
hall was crowded with visitors TO wifi
ness the welcoming ceremonies.
Miss Willard did not preside at this
session, although on the stage throughout
the proceedings Har Dl,on n - ,,,os:1o.,t