The Portland daily press., 1900-07-28

Mrs. L. nj. n. Stevens the president
Of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, arrived at her home in Stroud
water Thursday evening, from a trip Of
several weeks abroad. She had sailed
from New York on She last day Of May
on the steamer Touraine.
Mrs. Stevens returns we'll and Is just
as enthusiastic as ever regarding her
work in the cause of prohibition. Dur
ing her stay abroad and since returning
to this country, she has found hardly
moment to herself. But she says that
she has long become accustomed to this
and that she is now ready and anxious
to again resume her duties in America.
After sailing from New York. Miss
Gordon and myself, landed IN Havre,
France, said Mrs. Stevens in an inter
esting conversion with a reporter Of the
PRESS yesterday. eve spent a few days
in France but did not go to Paris. We
was called 10 ndon TO attend the Inter
-of-s5tn-er- On t-ance Congress which had
been called by the Bishop Of Canterbury.
This was a great series of meetings and
every phase OF the work was presented
by specialists. It continued from the
tsnth to the eighteenth day of June ana
representatives from nearly every section
OF the world We're present. Our objective
point, however. was the fifth biennial
convention of the Worlds Women s Chris
tan Temperance Union which was held
at Edinburgh. First We went to Man
chester where q great garden party was
given one afternoon IN honor Of Us. On
that same evening a great reception and
demonstration was rendered TO US. After
this was over we continued TO Edin-
burgh. Representatives Of about fifty
nations We're present at TINS convention,
about $50 coming from the United States,
marty every state in the union sending
delegate. The convention opened on
Friday and closed on the following
Wednesday night. We had large num-
bers at all of our meetings. That held on
Sunday was at the largest auditorium in
Edinburgh which has q capacity for sew
en- or eight thousand people, This audi
torium was completely filled. The Lord
Provost who corresponds to our mayor
gave us "a reception. about four thousand
people meeting US. Lady Henry Somer-
set was the presi lent of the meeting but
as / was the next officer in rank. I pre-
sided much of the time and participated,
one way or another, in most of the
meetings. Miss Gordon was also very
prominent, being one of the secretaries
I have no doubt at all that great progress
was made as a result Of these meetings.
It was shown that more interest than
ever is being manifested in the cause
and that more influential people are
joining the movements. Lady Carlyle,
Lady Hope, Countess Langeneau, who
Is q German, and Lady Battesea have re-
Gently become very prominent in the
work. This convention was by far the
largest and most representative which
we have ever held. For the next conven.
tion we have received invitations to go to
Brooklyn, Cape Colony and India. If we
receive an invitation somewhere on the
continent, perhaps Berlin, we would
probably accept such place, as the work
is most needed there. Otherwise we
shall probably go to Brooklyn. This
question will be decided within the
course Of year.
We were especially very much pleased
with the hearty cooperation shown by
the clergy at the convention. Canon
Hicks, Canon WiIberforce and other of
the clergy of the English church
preached temperance sermons on the
Sunday during which the convention |
WIS held. They also attended our con-
vention and sat on the platform We did
not expect this. The rector OF Eastnor.
Rsv. Mr.. Saunders, attended the conven-
tion and frequently spoke. While there
met Rev. Mr.. Sheldon, the famous min
lister. He appeared to be a very unas-
Stunning man and very simple and kind
in his manners.
"Miss Gordon and / spent few days
with Lady Henry in London after this
convention had been concluded, perfect
ing plans for carrying on our work for
the next two years. Then we sailed for
New York on the steamer St. Paul, ar
irving July IA But we were to attend q
great demonstration at Ocean Grove to
welcome home Clara Parish, young
Illinois woman, whom we had sent out
four years ago as a w. O. 4. u. mission
airy to China, Japan and Burmah. In the
time after arrival at New York ana be-