Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-04
NATIONAL W. C. T. U,
Annual Convention convenes and
Begins Work in Hand.
Address of tho Natioua, President Shows
Progress Along All Lines of Work "A
Large Number of Delegates in Attend
anco.

fBy Telegraph to Virginlan- PlIot)
Washington. Dec. 3.-1he national con-
vcntion of the Womans Christian Tenn
perance Union was called 10 order at tho
Lafayette Theatre this morning. The
president. Mrs. Lillian NJ. u. Stevens.
delivered her annual address. She said
in part:
When we were here in 1851 the treas
urer reported receipts from all sources.
Including dues from IS states and the
District of Columbia, to be $e557. To-day
states. the territories and the District of
columbia, at least ten times that amount
i ana our membership as eight times as
iarec;; ol those who were then state
presidents. but two are here to-day, and
only one of them holds the same office
At That convention we had but 20 de-
partmcnts of work. now we have 80. an
built upon our fundamental principles ui
pu lirSy, total abstinence. prohibition.
lection for girls above 10 years; now.
largely through the efforts oil white rib.
years: and in some states rs high as IS
and there is Il growing sentiment in favor
age as we'll as girlhood In her minority.
Then. there was only one police ma
iron IN m, the e, country (at Portland Me-:
we'll flied in many of our cities. In Chi
cage there is police matron Mt every
| lice matrons from seven Rhode laI,,na
| cities told of the work they do for the
| who arc brought to the police station,
si;t eh-rishths of whom are victims of the
aicohoi haDit and the liquor habit
TEMPERANCE EDUCATION.
when we were here before there were
| no compulsory temperance educationnl
avs; now they exist in every State save
| and in the District of Columbia Then
temperance was not systematically
taught in the sunday school; now there
arc quarterly temperance lessons as part
| OF the International lesson system
| since 1881 eight round the world mis-
; sionaries have gone out TO carry The eoy-
pei OF temperance, as we understand IL.
| To all people in all lands. MISS Willard
WAS the fomnder of the Worlds Woman's
! orSani2ing convention. held in Boston
| November, 1891. delegates were present
| convention OF the Worlds w c. n. IT,.
held In Edinburgh last June, 81 countries
iliaryship.
ABSTINENCE AND PROHIBITION.
During the last 20 years total absti-
renee ana prohibition sentiment has
greatly advanced In 1851 the people of
Maine, by a vote of three To one. placed
| the heretofore statutory prohibitorv law
in the constitution of the state. Kansas
constitutional prohibition. Neal bow
never claimed more beneficial results for
the law IN the state OF Maine than do
|
Charles Sheldon. OF Kansas, claim for
| thei respective states. Last winter in
house by a large majority. and would
| have passed the senate but for the con
ccrted action against 1t of the Liquor
| Dealers Association. Not until good peo-
pie learn that they should be as active
! TO promote good work as the evil doors
are TO carry their points shall we have
| correct expressions OF public opinions
concerning the great evil in our midst.
ON BOARD WARSHIPS.
:. within two years the sale or use of
nhhnor mas oegn prohibited on board the
nhips OF me ;. Navy. or within the
limits of naval stations. ana AS lately as
| February, 1899, Congress pnssed - In y,
prohibiting the sale OF Intoxicating liquors
in any army cainps. posts. exchanges or
military purposes by The United states.
TO be sure this law has been declared
The public conscience that prevented
brigham Robcrls having a seat in the
United state Congress will yet cause TO
pending, or some kindred measure
INPATIENT NOT DISCOURAGED.
we may sometimes he impatient but
we should never be discouraged no be
sure we nave arraycd against us the SOL
idly combined liquor business of the coun-
ny, Try: IN lts afrogancc it sometimes die
cally strong and financially rich. but il
Is spiritually bankrupt and morally ,,oor-
or than poverty itself. We have with us
!,
led IN all lie Just reforms of the past.
| we nave on OR side the testimony OF
science. or law and OF gospel and the
LORD oil Hosts is our leader. Are we not
| sure TO win
notwithstanding we are almost daily
saddened and shocked by revelations OF
crime and rccitas of dreadful tragedy,
sun IL is true that the world is lsrnwius.
kinder, mat mans humanity to man is
more rear. more abroad to-day than M
any previous time in the worlds his
1T Is lamenable that in the closing
year OF The century there should be war
ana famine pcstilence and massacre we
nave not vet reached ideal Christianity
put thS Nineteenth has been the best cen
Jury me world has ever known. III some
OF the previous centuries there has been
continuous war. duelling, private wars,
judicial combats have been abolished al
together and the scores of cases of differ
cnces between other nations and our own
nave been settled by arbitration, and we
confidently believe that there Will he
| established before the Twentieth Century
mas gone far on It's march, an Interim
toinal court OF arbitration, and so the
day shall be FASTENED when there will be
| Peace on earth"
The progress of other temperance So
cietics as we'll as our own is marked and
! encouraging. 49,
I'VE believe that the need which called