Smyrna times., 1898-10-19
STATE CONVENTION W. c. T. U.

The State Convention of the w. G..
L. u, held last week in Camden, was
well attended, enthusiastic and espec-
tally enjoyed by the people of that
town. Miss Hilles, the president, was
absent from sickness, and her place
was taken by Mrs. E. Elma Pyle, Mrs
A. S. Wharton acting as secretary. The
devotional meetings were conducted by
Mrs. K. II. Matlack, Rev. Edwin Gard
ner leading the singing. The old
Ridgely Mansion had been turned into
reception hall, and there the dele
gates were entertained in q real coun-
try dinner, viz: good things to eat and
plenty of it.
In the afternoon the NJ. Z. church,
which had been handsomely dressed
for the occasion, was crowded. Rev.
Alfred Smith delivered an address in
which he said ''there was no star of
hope over a drunkard' s grave"
Mrs. Lila Aaron delivered the ad-
dress of welcome. The reports of
three presidents, Mrs. NJ. S.
Cranston, of New Castle, Mrs. X. E.
Smithers, of Kent, and Mrs. A. f.
Fisher, of Sussex were read.
Mrs. Rankin gave an interesting re-
port of the international temperance
congress held at Prohibition Park,
| Staten, Island.
AT night Mrs. Martha S. Cranston
presided. Good music was furnished
by the church choir, with the addition
of some of the musical delegates. A
quartette was sung by members of the
choir, and two solos were sung by Miss
Miriam Shepperd. The audience was
much interested in temperance speech
by the Rev. Mr.. Young, pastor of the
Camden Baptist church, and an ad-
dress by w. Z. Smithers. of Dover.
Mr.. Smithers took for his subject
''The Demon of Drink" aad for an
hour held the closest attention of his
large and cultured audience. Always
a popular speaker, he was unusually
fluent Wednesday evening, and hand
| led his subject with a masters hand.
Thursday was devoted to business
| by the convention. Miss PYLE, secre-
tary, presented her report as did also
the treasurer, Miss S. E. Rawlins. Ad-
dresses on various topics connected
with the work of the organization were
delivered, and the interested discus
slons which followed each showed that
the members were keenly alive to the
Importance of the work they had in
hand.
Thursday evening Mrs. Clara G.
Hoffman, National Secretary, delivered
an eloquent address on the outlook.
The conventions adopted resolutions
favoring the relinquishing of the Tenn
pie in Chicago; on local option; suf-
frage; Loyal Temperance Legion; Sun
day School Work; Purity; Delaware
Industrial Schools for Girls; Union
Signal; Scientific Temperance Instruc-
ton; Press; Hospital; Prison Reform /;
Narcotics; Sunday Observance; I'm
moral Amusements; Young Women's S
Work and the Convention Entertain
ment.
The convention elected the board of
State superintendent, which, with the
| following exceptions, remain unchan-
ged: BY Mrs. N. B. Smithers' request,
flower mission work was made super
intendent; legislation and petitions,
Mrs. Mary Webb; a new department
was adopted-work for railroad en-
ployees-and Mrs. Annie Irwin was
elected superintendent. State Agent
and reporter for the Union .Si0naL Mrs.
Lila Aaron, Camden.
The following were the officers cleo
ted for the ensuing year: President,
Mrs. E. Elma Pyle, Landenburg.
Corresponding Secretary, Miss Carrie
M. Hance, Wilmington; Recording
Secrtary, Mrs. Annie S. Wharton
Dover; Treasurer, Miss Sallie Z. Raw
Inns, Bridgeville.