The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13
WORK OF THE w. C. T. U.
SYNOPSIS OF REPORTS MADE BY Ma
TIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS.
What Was Done for Soldiers by the
White MISUNDERSTANDING of Sur
vivOrs of the Great Crusade.

l.. v. w. -.
T. U. convention, which is in session here,
devoted most of yesterday to exercises in
memory of Miss Frances E. willard late
president of the union To-day the depart
ment and superintendent reports were
taken up. The report of DR.. Mary Wood
Allen of Michigan, on purity, was read by
her daughter. The department Of mercy
was reviewed by Mrs Mary F. Lowell, of
Pennsylvania. Sabbath observance was re-
ported by Mrs. Vanilla F. Cox, of New
Jersey.
Mrs. Minnie 7. Minear- English, national
superintendent of the work among miners
presented the ninth annual report of her
department, briefly sketching work in TWEEN
ty-five States, the distribution of over 1,OOO,-
600 pages of literature, children have been
gathered into Sunday schools, evangelists
have done effective work, hundreds have
signed the pledge. She says: 1.-THE strikes
have paralyzed the work in some States,
particularly in Illinois. Because of these
disturbances there is much restitution and
suffering. Oh, the pity of it that laboring
men should be obliged to resort to such ex-
IRENE measures to secure just recompense
for their labor. All these circumstances ac-
centuate and emphasize the Importance of
reaching these toiers with the gospel of
temperance, love and peace"
Mrs. Mary c. Upham, national superin-
tendent in charge of work among lumber
men, reported on the distribution of litera-
ture among those men whose isolation in
the forests makes them doubly grateful for
the thoughtful attention to them. This work
has been amply rewarded by the gratitude
of the men and the better condition of
camp life generally, and lumber manufac-
turers approve and support the work.
Mrs. Ellen NJ Thatcher of New Jersey,
superintendent of the work among soldiers
and sailors, presented one of the most in
teresting reports of the day. 1t included re-
ports from the various state superintend-
ents of the work among the soldiers and
sailors, and concluded with a summary
showing 406 meetings held, 200 converted,
5S3 pledges signed, SO soldiers put on the
white ribbon, 1895 visits made to hospitals
20 visits to ships, 400 sick soldiers fed and
cared for, 15,0O0 fed and helped, 628 sailors
visited reading room, 312 attended wharf
meetings. 203 evening meetings. 329 children
ShlpWrecked sailors assisted, five poor fam
HES relieved, one sailors rest established,
one soldiers union organized, 90 petitions
sent against the canteen, besides others for
closing saloons on Memorial days and for
the Ellis bill, besides statistics of the cir
culatiOn of literature, distribution of Bibles
and books, flowers, bandages, etc.
The hour of Crusade memories" having
arrived, the original crusaders present at
the convention were invited to the platform,
over twenty coming forward, and, after
prayer while still kneeling, sang the cru
saders' hymn which they sang twenty-five
years ago when closing SO many saloons by
that form of persuasion. Miss Elizabeth w.
Greenwood, of New York presided and in
troduced several other crusaders who brief
ly told incidents of their experiences In the
crusade in California, Ohio, Michigan, Penn
sylvania, Delaware, Wisconsin and Ne
braska.
Miss Anna Gordon announced her check
for $25 to make Mother Thompson, the first
Ohio crusader, a life member of the w. G.
T. u, and urged that like action be taken
regarding all the original crusaders, and in
a wave of enthusiasm Mrs. Henrietta Mon
roe Miss Jenney Fowler willing, mother
Amanda Smith. the colored evangelist Mrs.
Thurman. national superintendent of col
York, Mrs. d. H. Wendell of New Hamp-
shire, Miss Anna Gordon, Miss Fannie III.
Francis of Kansas Mrs. L. S. Rounds,
president of Illinois, Mrs. Helen M. Stod-
dard of Texas Mrs. Helen NJ. Dye. Mrs.
Esther House of Vermont. the presidents of
North Dakota. Indiana; Minnesota, New
York Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky and many
others were made life members, thirty-six
in number. The noontide prayer hour was
given to sentence prayers by the crusaders aas
telegram from her husband that the latest
returns showed that South Dakota had car
ried the woman suffrage amendment, and
hearty cheers.
In the afternoon the proposed amend
ments to the constitution were taken
up looking to the making of the department
superintendents regular members of the exc
e eqttive committee; MRS s. Mary Hunt of OF
amendment and made the opening speech in
its support Brief arguments were made in
quick succession on both sides. IT is an
amendment that has been fought over for
several years. and aroused much interest.
the debate being spirited but finally
carried by a strong vote, ending one of the
longest fights in the Organization. The vote
on the amendment was 2Ss to 80, and was
greeted with great applause. The Sc
ond amendment was TO add the
board of organizers to the exc
cutive committee. and was lost, So
to 1877 third amendment making lee
turers and evangelists members of the con-
vention. was adoDted without opposition.
S9lisul fr ll c, ~ tI ia, sIIeu III
in the life and work of Miss Willard. urging
persistence in Christian temperance work.