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

Mrs. Emma Hurd Chaffee, of Moodus, 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 me the blessed privilege of acknowl- edging in behalf of the convention these cordial greetings. Our welcome is royal ore. You have opened wid. 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, 6 great big band of loving sisters, pledged to work unitedly and unreservedly for the coming uf 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 countryfs 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 its Godgiven rights and the great mother-heart of love cannot be ap- piled to the publication of the body poli- tic. Why are they denied these rights ? Because they have not read the 'tsigns 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 it? God says "Ask and ye shall receive" and the good men of all times have believed it and our resolute think my beloved soldiers of the Woman's Christian Temperance union, with, its hundreds and thousands of good women as 8 unit on this great question, why a mighty power to add to our prayers upon election day for the utter annihilation oi the drink traffic. =. Does your high minded spiritual leader Frances Willard, endorse this means oi 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 iI the ballot of pure womanhood. Wher: ever women have been granted the fran chise they have struck deadly blows al 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 tender Christ-love has tocched their hearts anl opened their spiritual eyes, to see the in justice meted out to their less fortuna t, I1;1 Id d, all selfish conservatism and given then
 moral courage to stand in the face o
 public opinion and prejudice, and cham
 pion 8 righteous but unpopular reform
 Why do these other good sisters refuse ti
 hear Gods message? Are they no
 Christians 'i-,5 =: :. = -.
 Yes, every one, and doing all that lie
 in their power by earnestpra and faith
 full work along the old lines Of reform
 but as yet cannot see how poweriess ar
 these weapons before the gigantic force
 that is arrayed against us and which. |
 the ruling power in the political world to 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 VI closed our hearts and eyes to the heaven
 sent message that comes to the women c 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 5 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, br , talks about going with Christ out to tn , suffering, the forgotten, the tempted, tn
 destroyed. Oh, let us follow the whit figure of the ages let us all come int line with him and by His grace may 1t | n truly said of us when we have worked ou
 little work and passed away, These a the small package