The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-16

The eleventh annual convention of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
union opened yesterday afternoon at
Dalton. The pretty Methodist church
where 1t was held was a bower of flow
ers about altar and windows. After
devotional exercises, Mrs. G. d. Simp-
son, president Of the union, called the
convention to order A large number
of delegates and others were present.
On the platform were Mrs. Simpson,
Mrs. ]. M. Howell, corresponding Sec
retary, and Mrs. Stearns, of Peckville.
acting treasurer.
Rev. Charles Newing, pastor of the
church, gave an address of welcome
that really welcomed and was not the
luke warm effort usually made by pas
tors toward visiting temperance con-
ventions. His hearty, earnest words
greatly pleased the visitors and made
them feel that it is good to be appre-
ciated. His remarks were ably sec
onded by Mrs. Smith, who, in behalf
of the local union, cordially greeted the
officers and delegates. Seldom have
the conventions of the past been so
warmly welcomed.
The response was given by Mrs. M.
w. Vaughn, of Moscow, who in fitting
terms expressed the delight of the Wis
itors at the kindly expressions OF their
entertainers. After the minutes of the
last meeting, Mrs. c. D. Simpson gave
the presidents address, which was
heard with much appreciative atten-
tion. Her words carried weight not
alone because of the great cause they
plead for their simplicity and direct
ness.
CRITICIZED SEVERELY.
She spoke encouragingly Of the out
look and yet criticized with some sever
ity the apathy to be noticed where its
absence should be. She gave sugges-
tions for department work and urged
more definite efforts on the part of the
members. Two great channels were
mentioned as being available in the
way of advance, viz, the public schools
and the Sunday schools. Jealous en-
deavor in these directions will surely
work mighty results. They are the
open doors where entrance may be
made for instruction in scientific tenn
perance and temperance lessons.
The work in the Loyal Temperance
Legions has been nobly sustained in
the county, through the efforts of Mrs
Pease, the assistant superintendent OF
that work, while Mrs. Swartz had been
obliged to resign, because of illness in
her family. Among the obstacles in the
way Of this work are difficulties in
securing places of meeting, superin-
tendents and teachers. Mrs. Simpson
spoke of the fact that many news
papers would open their columns to the
temperance work If women could be
found to keep them filled with live mat
ter.
She then said, impressively: 1.-THE
Woman's Christian Temperance unior
of the nineteenth century is a fact
Whatever the future may hold for us
the past cannot be ignored. We have
lived and much of our work has beer
wrought into the warf and woof OF
eternity. But great past does not
insure a great future. There have beer
organizations, laws, customs, institu.
tions, even churches which have come
upon the plane of past activity have
played a mighty part and then have
passed away. Whatever goes from the
nineteenth into the twentieth century
goes not because of the great work il
did, but because it fits a place in the
twentieth. because the work God
would have it do is not finished. What
place has the w. c. Il. u. in all this?"
POWER OF WOMAN.
The power of woman and her work
was then portrayed and the speaker
closed with strong appeal to her sis
ters in the temperance cause.