The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-04
w. C. T. U. PURITY WORK
INTERESTING REPORT BY sUPERIN-
TENDENT MARY woOD-ALLEN.
Efforts of White RibbOners to Lessen
the Social Evil-The Bicycle and
Lax Sunday Observance.

BUFFALO, N. Y. Nov. s-Miss L. M. N.
Stevens, vice president at large presided
at this mornings session Of the w. c. T. U.
convention in the absence of Miss Willard.
The report of the purity department was
submitted by DR.. Mary Wood-Allen, super
intendent. She said:
THE interest in this department is in
creaSlng. Never has there been as general
a demand for information and as earnest a
profter of cooperation as now. Not only
parents, but business men, college presi-
dents, pastors, editors and physicians are
and vital Importance of this work. The
reports of the general secretaries of the
different branches are full of interest. Mrs.
Dora Webb, general secretary reports not
much reform legislation this year, as in
many States no legislature was in session.
Utah. Louisiana and Washington , raised the
Texas made unsuccessful efforts to raise
ii. In Florida the seduction law was raised
from sixteen to eighteen. and the rape law
changed, making the penalty DEATH. A
most vigorous effort was made to induce
Congress to raise the age of consent in the
District of Columbia and the territories TO
eighteen. Although the bill did not pass,
there is encouragement to believe that 1t
Will pass at the next session of Congress
II peritioning is kept up The effort in
England to restore the infamous contagious
diseases act warns us to be on the alert
against efforts to foist the same upon us
Mrs. Charlton Edholm reports fcrty-four
Florence Crittenton missions in existence
and the interest deepening. The general
rescue work of the department has been
hindered by the severe illness of the daugh-
ter OF Mrs. Isabel Wing Lake, the gen.
to institute national graded home a
safe shelter for any woman, no matter
from what part of the country or what her
need. The beginning of this work has been
made and during the coming year will be
prosecuted vigorously.
Mrs. Mabel l.. Conklin, general secretary
mol Of 4 En IT,
department, reports societies in every State
put Utah and Florida. Her meetings for
most effective in advancing the cause of
noDler manhood She has organized both
White Cross and White Shield societies.
The White Shield societies branch is I'M
der the general secretaryship of Miss Rose
M. Wood-Allen. The young women in these
societies are distributing literature and
pledSe cards and educating themselves in
regard to the vital subjects embodied in
the work. Sunday school classes are or
ganizing themselves into White Shield So
eIeties. Epworth Leagues and Christian
Endeavor societies are appointing White
Shleld committees, Y. w. c. AS are or
ganizing classes, and the older boys and
White Shield course of study.
Mothers meetings have as general Sec
held parents Institutes as well as moth
ers meetings and finds the interest deepen
1Hqg. d d,o same report is given by Mrs. J.
Dranch OF the child-culture circles, which
is an effort to unite fathers and mothers
III sclentlnc study Of child-training.
Mrs. Mary E. Teats, representing the
eVangellstic phase OF the purity department,
mas done most comprehensive work. She
mas t. addressed many conventions associa-
lions ana schools, organized purity clubs,
started circulating libraries, held purity re-
yivaIs; in fact, has given 494 addresses in
less than ten months
Mrs. Varilla F. Cox, superintendent of the
sunday Observance department, reported,
saying:
NrI~ L
along educational lines. We find among
christian people great apathy and uncon-
Germ, rev seeming to realize how the Sab
bath is being secularized. The experience
of the year has confirmed our opinion that
very few realize the Importance of this de-
partment in its relation to the temperance
work. DIR. r. S. Macarthur said: Destroy
the saloon and you do much to preserve the
sabbath; preserve the Sabbath fully and
you cripple the saloon greatly.
The w. G. T. Z. is working at both ends
or this question The Sabbath observance
department is cooperating with Christian
citizenship leagues and other organizations
to secure the enforcement of the laws
against liquor selling on the Sabbath. We
believe much good is accomplished by call
ing attention to the most fragrant violations
of the law even though few indictments are
secured. The bicycle has come to be bless
ing to the. world. Rightly used it can settle
the question of necessary Sabbath travel
1t may relieve the man servant and the
cattle from much Sabbath labor that has
hitherto seemed to be necessary. But from
bicycle is setting the people wild. 1t is
emptying the churches of young people,
We have issued two leaflets on Sunday BIZ
cycnng which have been commended by
those who have used them, and we hope
they may be widely circulated. We note
with profound thanlfulness that the League
OF American Wheelmen at their convention
last fall condemned Sunday racing. We are
urging young people to take the bicycle
pledge.
'The District of Columbia Sunday rest
bill was before Congress last winter, but l
did not urge the unions to work for it be-
cause believed that it was Of no use to
push reform legislation until the tariff was
out OF the way. This year, the new admin
istration being firmly established and the
f fa. t out OF the way, think we may work orr
which already has the approval Of the Dis
trict commissioners, with a reasonable hope
of success. We shall also work for the
closing of postoffices on the Sabbath by To-
cal petition, that the army of employees may
have their day of rest. We hope that this
general to continue the Iocal-option plan of
ex-Postmasters General Wanamaker and
Wilson,"
Other reports submitted were: "Legisla-
tion and Enforcement of Law" Mrs. NJ. D.
Ellis, New Jersey; franchise" Miss Marie
G. Brehm, Illinois; Christian Citizenship"
Miss Leroy Page CASTOR, Illinois
In a. paper on Work for Railway EN-
ployes" Mrs. C. M. woodward, of Nebras-
ka, took strong position for total absti-
Journalistic Problems and international
Arbitration was discussed by Mrs Hannah
Bailey of Maine
Miss Frances e. Willard presided at the
last business session, which convened this
afternoon. Mrs. Ella M. Thacher, of New
Jersey reported for the work among sol
ders and sailors. Mrs. Mary ID. Tomlinson,
of New Jersey, read paper on Parlor
Meetings. state and County Affairs" was
the subject of a speech by Mrs. Rebecca b.
Chambers, of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Book
err T. Washington, of Alabama, gave a
short talk on educational work among the
colored race.
So many bouquets were presented to Miss
Willard by admirers that her reading desk
looked like floral pillar
The Chicago temple matter came up for
the last time in the form of resolution in
tended to show good will toward Mrs. Carse
and place her in the right light regarding
temple contributions hereafter to be made.
but it was considered a repetition of
previous action and was voted down. Miss
Willard expressed fear lest the public
might understand Miss Dows appointment
as custodian of the special fund precluded
Mrs Carse frcm receiving any contribu-
tions, and, taking the floor, presented the
following resolution, which was adopted:
''That Miss Cornelia NJ. Dow is custodian
of the fund to be raised by our president to
retire the temple trust bonds, and of that
only"
The session adjourned with singing of
Home, Sweet Home"
Salmon Becoming Scarce i'm Alaska.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3--The United
States Fish Commissions steamer Alba