The Press., 1897-10-28
w. c. T. U.
New London Convention.

The twenty-second annual harvest and feast of the Connecticut W. c. T. U. convened in the First Church of Christ on October 13, IA, and 15. The interior of the old, conservative church was most tastefulIy decorated with American flags and the banners of the Loyal Temperance Legion, state and county unions were al- so used to advantage, while the floral dis play was in harmony with those warm days and soft sea breezes.
 The Holland co nty delegation was seated in the front seats at the right of the middle aisle, the position of the larger counties being at the left and back of little Holland. Indeed the wild Indians of New London did not trail up to and through Holland county to Stafford for nothing, sitting at and bathing in these springs, drinking the mineral water, and after much rest and refreshment going to their wigwams at Stafford Village, which derived it's name from this Indian village.
 In the early days of w. c. T. U. work
 
 other places was visited by the struggling pioneers, the first national president Mrs. Whittenmeyer of Philadelphia, who had long wanted to make an itinerary people in the Methodist church. The work of the w. c. T. U. in those early days was not done in the systematic way that it is done now, although the lines of ing to look over that first plan of work :; plan which Frances Willard thought out and gave us at our first convention. Although the organization has grown un- til it has become international, if you look at that first plan you will see the seed of all the departments of work that are now in existence. It shows that God appreciated how much the cause needed leader for the women of this country and that Frances Willard was raised up for that particular work.
 For the first few years the work of the w. 0. T. U. was done through committees and it was not until 1880 that the depart ments of work were instituted. For in- stance the department of scientific temper ance instruction was called the comittee for introducing temperance into schools and colleges. Before the W. C. T. U. took hold the reform work was done from the standpoint of experience and observa- tion. When they took hold science came to their aid.
 The convention was welcomed by the clergy and fraternal delegates of New London. The welcome from the president of the New London Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. Annie c. S. Fenner, was heartily received as it launch ed forth from personality.
 Mrs. Fenner's Welcome Address.
 It would seem but half welcome if oul own, failed to be glad of our coming anc it is my pleasant duty to bid you hearty welcome on behalf of your sisters of New London Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
 But the happy speech which was tc ring with true joyousness over the fitting | preparation for your coming, can not be uttered.
 We had hoped to welcome you to city cleaned and from the curse of the legal ized liquor traffic we had planned al the happy things that one thinks to bt glad to say for such joy attained. I But week ago, when the male citizens of New London stood up and were count ed, we found that only 745 men in the whole city were willing to say''that whicl is morally wrong can never be politically right" I Not one man ill four. Do you woDde that our hearts were as lead and tha our happy speech turned to ashes in ou mouth
 And now what shall I say? Shall dwell upon New London's past, tell hov great were our ancestors when Arnolt burned the town, or that the streets yol walk have been hallowed by the feet o Washington and I.afayette? ,Tis history , and you know it alI-and it does no count for so much for the boys and girl of today what the men and women of ITS were, as what the men and women of 189 are. ....... ... i The fire that buIned the town in ITS at worst, destroyed material substance but the 70 legal fires in our city tonight burn the lives and hearts of our people consume all that is noblest and best, de prive little children of their rightful in heritance, the right to be well born, an make desert of the garden of childhood and not one man in four declares tha these fires ought to be quenched. Do yo wonder that we are glad you have come Do you care if our pleasure is selfish And that we hope much from your pre- sence among us to help change all this It can be done, for some of the best folk in the world, live here in New London and if you did not know it before yo came, you will be sure of it before yo go.
 But the objectionable sin of indifferenc is heavy upon us. We need such a awakening as the old lady didn't want who said she was so thoroughly tired ou that she hoped that when she died sh , could lie in her grave and rest for 7 thousand years, but added, Ut would b just my luck to have the trumpet scum ? the'very next morning after Twas buried