Evening star., 1898-10-27
Problems Which Will Confront the
W. G. T. U. Convention.
The GREAT TEMPLE IN CHICAGO
Its Ownership to Be Finally De-
cided at st. Paul.
l n TIE ERESTIN HISTORY

as heretofore stated in The Star, has been
| chosen to represent the Woman's Christian
| Temperance Union of the District of CO.
| lumbia in the coming national convention
| of the organization at st. Paul, Mimi, will
| have the privilege of being a member of
| the most important W. c. T. U. convention
| ever held, during which questions will be
| settled whose results will interest millions
| OF people throughout the Union.
| Principal among these is the future own
| ership of the magnificent w. C. T. U
Temple in Chicago There is probably not
| a member of the w. c. T. L. in Washing
| ton who does not feel a personal pride in
and a feeling part owner of the Chicago
| building, who is not anxious on the
subject of what the convention will do to-
! ward meeting the debt which there is upon
| It,
| That the temple was ever built was due
| to Mrs. Matilda B. Carse, one of the ma
| tional officers, and associate for many
| years in the work of the w. c. T L. of the
| late lamented Frances E. Willard. 1t was
| the desire of Mrs. Carse that the National
| w. c. T. U. should own its own home. and
| that the home should be a splendid temple,
| yielding a revenue to be turned into the
| work of the union. She canvassed her
| plans for years before her ideas had be-
| come clearly defined. Then she undertook
| the enterprise and has worked increasingly
|
| If her present projects succeed, the asSoci-
| alton will own a large block of the stoc TX,
| possibly majority; If they fail the whole
| project fails with them.
| The Temple and Its Cost.
| The temple building cost 81 $3.50 When
| completed. five years ago, floating debt
| of S65,OOO all that not provided
| for under the plan Of construction. 1t
| stands on ground owned by Marshall Field
under 200-year lease. The ground rental
Is $4,000 annually, without revaluation
| during the life of the leasehold. The tenn
! pie was constructed by stock subscription
and bonded indebtedness. The association
was capitalized for $500, 600 and bonds in a
| like amount We're issued. The latter are
held by the Field Columbian Museum. Mr..
Field holds the bulk of the capital stock
not pledged to secure the additional bonds
issued by Mrs. Carse. The amount of the
| latter is 100000. To secure the stock thus
held as collateral, the union must pay
| 100000 before November /. That is the
present status of the enterprise.
Mrs. Carse was the originator of the en-
terprise, and is the president of the board
of trustees. She first outlined her plan Of
erecting a temple to the national conyen-
| ton at Nashville, Tenn, in 1887. 1t was
her purpose to organize corporation to be
known the Temple Building Association.
Stock was to be issued and sold and the
| added funds needed for the immediate pros
ecution of the work We're to be raised by
the issue and sale of bonds.
| The national executive committee, it is
said. did not indorse the plan Of building
on leased ground, but in the convention IL
was resolved to cordially indorse the plan
of the founder, and a pledge of co-opera-
ton with money and influence was given.
Mrs. CarSe went to work, organized the
building association, issued the stock and
| first bonds and the work was commenced.
Conservative Opposition.
1t is doubtful if the conservative element
f,,Il,- ;,,rln
project as the building of $1,000, 600
temple. The fact that the members for the
| most part are not wealthy and that 1t would
be very difficult to raise such a large
amount gave them a feeling of fear that
it would fail. But the stock taken by
men friendly to the cause of temperance,
and the bonds of 100000 were also taken.
The trustees of the association bought half
the capital stock and the rest was sold with
the agreement that the trustees might buy
it in at par with per cent interest. The
ownership of the large block of stock would
give the trustees control of the building
but to make the purchase a new series of
bonds for the full amount was issued and
stock certificates placed in escrow to secure
repayment. Twelve years was the limit
placed this latter pledge.
The fnancierng of the enterprise was
considered wise and judicious by board of
reputable business men who inquired into
its terms. The ground rental of $4,000 a
year, considering that it was located in the
best business section of Chicago, was
garded most favorable. The building it
self is model of convenience and artistic
beauty Its rental value has been placed
as high as 100000 year. Under favorable
business conditions it seemed that the
project ought to prove n brilliant success.
Reverses and Obstacles.
The building was dedicated and opened
for business not quite six years ago But
unfortunately for the immediate success of
the enterprise the period of severe financial
depression of 1893 followed closely on the
heels Of the opening. From the beginning
the enormous nature of the enterprise and
the heavy burdens the association was call
ed upon to carry combined with the finan-
cal stringency of 1893 and the succeeding
years, negatived much of the efforts of the
trustees. According to the recent statement
of the national officers but S61 600 of stock
was subscribed by the w. c. T. U. For four
years since the opening of the building the
members of the union all over the land
struggled under the burden. They made
desperate efforts to raise the money needed
to keep the project af1oat, but it was too
much for their resources, and before the
convention at Buffalo last year they saw
failure staring them in the face.
The temple trust bonds, while burden on
the trustees and members of the union, NOR
ally. at least, as the national officers agree.
gave them added interest in the proper
ty. The building is now and has been for
nearly a year in the hands of agents for
the stockholders and bondholders, while the
W. u L. u ASSOcldllon Is no nearer own
ership and possession than at the beginning
Indeed, the offices used by the national Of
ficers and trustees are a source of cost in
stead of revenue.
Report of Committees.
Prior to the last convention a committee
named in response to the request of Miss
Frances e. Willard investigated the mat
ter. Mrs L. NJ. N. Stevens, acting presi-
dent since Miss Wizards death, and Miss
Elizabeth Preston of North Dakota COM
posed the committee. 1t reported adverse
ly but at the convention Miss Willard
made an appeal that earnest endeayor he
made this year to save the temple
A statement received from the national
officers says:
From reports received from states and
from foreign lands, the general officers
have reason to hope that $15, 900 additional
women have done their utmost and stern
reality forces us to face the conclusion that
the money will not come from the rich peo.
pie of the nations If this $4,000 were
raised there would still remain $40. 200
deficit on the temple trust bonds, to saw
nothing Of the other large sums which
must be raised before the temple can be
owned.