The Press., 1897-11-04
w. C. T. U.
Now London Convention

had the difficult task of replying to the generous welcomes.
 Mrs. Chaffee's address was given with charming frankness and her telling points were recognized with applause. At its close Mrs. Ida s. Newman rendered the solo, "The Good Shepherd, artistically and impressively.
 The Response to Welcomes.
 Madam President, Ladies and Gentle men: am truly thankful that you have given methe blessed privilege of acknowl- edging in behalf of the convention these cordial greetings. Our welcome Is royal ore. You have opened wide your loving hearts and beautiful homes to re- ceive us, and in return for all this gracious hospitality accept our warmest thanks and appreciation. Not only do we thank you for the present perfected state of the convention as we see it but for all the weeks and months of preliminary arrange ment, which represent no end of hard work and personal sacrifice. It is great task you have undertaken, but your courage born of love has overcome all obstacles and we, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Connecticut are once more united, great big band of loving sisters, pledged to work unitedly and unr nreservedly for the coming Jf Christs kingdom in the world and the downfall of the liquor traffic. Now, my beloved sisters, how can we bring Christ's reign on earth most speedily ? Our countryis ruled by laws made through mems votes at the ballot box; some of these laws have worked ruin and damnation to thousands of human souls and rendered lower than the brute the man that God made in His own image and likeness.
 Why not repeal these laws :? Because the strong righteous element in the land is denied it's Godgiven rights and the great mother-heart of love cannot be ap- piled to the purifcation of the body poli- tic. Why are they denied these rights Because they have not read the ''signs of the times" and cannot see the hands of God pointing straight to their duty as Christian citizens. Could they have this great power for righteousness if they earnestly desired it2 God says "Ask and ye shall receive" and the good men of all times have believed it and our resolute Puritan blood afarms it. Did you ever think, my beloved soldiers of the Woman's Christian Temperance union, with its hundreds and thousands of good women as unit on this great question, why 8 mighty power to add to our prayers upon election day for the utter annihilation ot the drink traffic.
 Does your high minded spiritual leader Frances Willard, endorse this means O. gaining the end we so earnestly desire Yes, indeed, she does, and constantly urges upon our good women the necessity of more personal responsibility in these vital matters, and fearlessly asserts that the liquor men have no fears for the safe | ty of their abominable business, except 1T the ballot of pure womanhood. Wher. ever women have been granted the fran chise they have struck deadly blows a the saloon and the social evil. Why dC some of our women Especially those noble sisters of the New London union, so earnestly desire this privilege. Be cause they have heard the great hear breaking cry of humanity, and the tende Christ-love has sched their hearts ant opened their spiritual eyes, to see the in justice meted out to their less fortunat' sisters This had led them to lay asid all selfish conservatism and given then moral courage to stand in the face o public opinion and prejudice and cham pion righteous but unpopular reform Why do these other good sisters refuse f hear Gods message? Are they no Christians o- -.|5.. F: :.
 Yes, every one, and doing all that lie in their power by earnest prayer and faith ful work along the old lines of reform
 but as yet cannot see how poWerless ar these weapons before the gigantic force that is arrayed against us and which 1
 the ruling power in the political world tc day. Surely our beloved nation is doome
 unless some saving power comes to- tn rescue. Let it not be said of us, my, be
 loved sistera of the Connecticut Woman
 Christian Temperance Union, that w
 closed our hearts and eyes to the heaven sent message that comes to the women (
 this age, but, rather, let us turn our eye
 to the light as 1t breaks upon the worl
 at the dawn of the twen ieth century, a though now but faint gleam, it fore shadows the glorious liberty that wi arise from the perfect equality of tn sexes Gods laws, now so broken an
 disregarded, will be obeyed and th ], human race lifted out of degredation an , sin.
 Our beloved leader says This is tn age that does not forever keep on talkin
 about coming to Christ as a Savior, bt talks about going with Christ out to th suffering, the forgotten, the tempted, th
 destroyed. Oh, let us follow the whit figure of the ages let us all come int line with him and by His grace may it truly said of us when we have worked or
 little work and passed away, These