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

The twenty y-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 tastefully 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 in this state, Stafford Springs among other places was visited by the struggling pioneers, the first national president, Mrs. Whittenmeyer of Philadelphia, who had long wanted to make an itinerary in Connecticut, came and addressed the people in the Methodist church. The work of the W. c. T. U. in those early days was not done in the systematic way i that it is done now, although the lines of | work were about the same. It is interest ing to look over that first plan of work :; a 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
 a leader for the women of this country
 and that Frances Willard was raised ul for that particular work.
 | For the first few years the work of the w. c. T.U. was done through com mittees
 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 iron
 the standpoint of experience and observa.
 tion. When they took hold science
 came to their aid.
 | The convention was welcomed by tht , clergy and fraternal delegates of Nev |. London. The welcome from the presiden
 of the New London Woman's Christian r. Temperance Union, Mrs., Annie c. s Fenner, was heartily received as 1t launch ed forth from personality.
 . Mrs. Fenner's Welcome Address.
 It would seem but half welcome if ou
 own, failed to be glad of our coming ant
 it is my pleasant duty to bid you heart. , London Woman's Christian Tempe1a anc
 Union.
 But the happy speech which was t.
 ring with true joyousness over the fitting
 preparation for your coming, can not b. uttered.
 We had hoped to welcome you to cit. cleaned and from the curse of the legal
 ized liquor traffic ; we had planned al
 the happy things that one thinks to b glad to say for such joy attained. r But week ago, when the male citizen L of New London stood up and were count . ed, we found that only 745 men in tn , whole city were willing to siy''that whic < is morally wrong can never be politicall : right" >.*
 II Not one man in four. D. you woDde : that our hearts were as lead and tha ), our happy speech turned to ashes in ou J. mouth
 J. And now what shall I say? Shall ,- dwell upon New London's past, tell ho' [, great were our ancestors when Arnol j. burned the town, or that the streets 70
 walk have been hallowed by the feet ( l, Washington and Lafayette? lis history ii' and you know it all-and it does nc
 count for so much for the boys and girl
 of today what the men and women of 17e D were, as what the men and women of 1SS ]. are. ...
 d The fire that bu1ned the town in ITS f. at worst, destroyed material substance 3, but the 70 legal fires in our city tonigh It burn the lives and hearts of our peopl, , consume all that is noblest and best, d, IT prive little children of their rightful il } heritance, the right to be we'll born, an
 make 8 desert of the garden of childhood , and not one man in four declares thf
 these fires ought to be quenched. Do 70 wonder that we are glad you have come s Do you care if our pleasure is selfish
 And that we hope much from your pr
 sence among us to help change all this E. It can be done, for some of the best folt
 in the world, live here in New Londol and if you did not know it before yo b. came, you will be sure of it before yo J. go.
 ir But the objectionable sin of indifferent s, is heavy upon us. We need such g n awakening as the old lady didn't wan
 who said she was so thoroughly tired o1
 that she hoped that when she died sl ,e could lie in her grave and rest for y thousand years, but added, Ut would It just my luck to have the trumpet soun <, thevery next morning after was buried