The Republican journal., 1897-10-07
The State w. G. T. U. Convention.

The 23d annual convention of the W. G.
| T. U. of Maine began at 10. 80 a. m. Sept.
2Sth at the Winter street Congregational
church, Bath. About POO delegates were
in attendance. Every county in the State
was represented. The convention was call
ed to order by the president, Mrs. L. M.
n. Stevens. The exercises Tuesday fore
noon were as follows: Singing, led by
Miss Sarah M. Hall of Rockland reading
of crusade psalm, led by general officers;
prayer by Mrs. r. G. Hall; roll call; ap-
pointment of committees on credentials,
resolutions and courtesies; minutes of
executive committee; address of State
president; report of the superintendent on
literature, by Miss Mary Bishop of Port
land; report of superintendent on press,
ETC., Miss Mary l.. French of Auburn
noontide prayer, Mrs. Helen Delano of
Bath
The afternoon session was called to or
der at $50, opening with prayer by Mrs.
S. Tate. Then came minutes of morn
ing and executive committee meetings !;
annual report of State Corresponding
Secretary, Mrs. S. L. Cram; report of
treasurer, Mrs. A. S. johnson; report of
sStar of the East, Miss Cornelia NJ. Dow
report of the auditor; miscellaneous bust
ness. The corresponding secretary said in
her report: sin our work the coming year
we shall need patience and courage. There
are growing evils in our State which we
must oppose with even more persistence
than we have yet used. Nearly all of the
unions in the cities and larger towns re-
port open violation of the liquor law. 1t
is matter for alarm. We have prayed,
we have worked and we have petitioned,
but we have hard task before us when
we attempt to reach the conscience of d
man who, for few hundred dollars,
deliberately violates his oath of Office, and
the bride giver is still more contemplate
than the bride taker.'
At the evening session, addresses of well
come were made by Mayor Bibber on be-
half of the city; Rev. Omar W. Folsom,
representing the churches, and Mrs. A.
NJ. Purington, in behalf of the local w.
c. T. .. The response was by Miss Hun
ter of Cherryfield. Miss Abbie E. Shap-
leigh, Mrs. Helen Coffin Beedy and Mrs.
H. A. Leavitt made short addresses.
The morning devotional exercises Sept
goth were led by Mrs. Belle Bennett Re-
ports of the credential committee and
superintendents were followed by memo
rial service. The afternoon was devoted
to miscellaneous business. In the even
ing, occurred Scripture reading and pray
er by Miss Isabel Shirley and an address
by Miss Helen NJ. Parker, treasurer of
the National w. c. T. U.
The convention closed Thursday even
ing The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, Mrs. l..
NJ. n. stevens, Stroudwater; correspond
ing secretary, Mrs Sarah L. Cram, Bid
deford; recording secretary, Miss Estelle
NJ. Brainerd, China; treasurer, Mrs. AIDE
laiGe S. johnson, Fort Fairfield delegates
to World 5 convention, at Toronto: Cum
berland, York and Somerset counties,
Mrs. Geo. W. Hunt; alternate, Mrs. Har-
riet A. Leavitt; Aroostook, Piscataquis
and Penobscot counties, Mrs. L. J. Spauld-
ing; alternate, Mrs. Mary Crosby; Frank
lin, Washington and Hancock counties,
Helen Coffin Beedy; alternate, Margaret
Hunter; Androscoggin, Knox, Kennebec,
Sagadahoc and Waldo counties, Mrs.
Clara Farwell; alternate, Mrs. L. J
Spaulding.
The reports of the superintendent
were read in the afternoon. In the even
ing there was scripture reading, by Mrs.
Hannah j. Bailey. Miss Agnes E. Slack,
secretary of the Worlds W. c. T. L., fol
lowed with an address,