Evening star., 1900-12-03
WORK OF PAST YEAR
Annual Address Of Mrs. Stevens,
President of the w. G. T. q.
TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND PROHIBITION
The Evidence Of Progress of the
Women's Societies.
CAUSE FOR REJOICING

~ u l.
Mrs. Lillian M. NJ Stevens Of Maine, ma
tional president Of the w. c. T. u. deliv-
cred her annual address before the conven-
ton Of the union in the Lafayette Square
Opera House this morning. In the course
Of her remarks she said:
The happiest place know of is the Har-
vest Home of our Old Mother National!
1t was with these words that Frances Will
lard opened her annual address at the Buff
falo convention in 1897. adding, Every face
smiles on every other, and all voices are
kind, while each ones glance is upward as
If the hills Of hope were sighted fair and
beautiful on the horizons rim AS we
assemble here this morning, at the crossing
Of the centuries, these words come to us as
a precious memory, ag an inspiring proph-
ecy.
FOR more than quarter of century
just closing we have each year been COM
Ing to these annual gatherings. The city
OF Washington was chosen as our meeting
place this year for several reasons. Among
seven invitations that We're given this con-
Vertlon Washington was the most eaSterly
point, and inaSmuch as the convention of
1875 was held in the far west it seemed
best to meet next in the east. and again,
" ashington, the seat of our governmental
interests for one hundred years, is 4 most
interesting place to visit. But the chief
reason that influenced our decisions was
Miss Wizards hope that the convention
nearest the dawning Of the twentieth CEN
tury might meet in the capital city of the
United States, and we were profoundly
grateful when the hearty invitation to come
to Washington was extended to US. And
thinking Of her who hoped that this might
come to pass, there are golden CLEANS from
ha mt
so far away.
Former Convention Here.
October 26-29 1881, our national conven-
ton met in the Foundry M. E. Church in
this city. At the first executive commit
tee meeting only fourteen responded to the
roll call. The names Of nine Of that num-
ber are now written in the book of the life
immortal. When we were here In 1881 the
treasurer reported receipts from all sources,
including dues from twenty-eight states and
the District Of Columbia, to be 81, 557. 60.
Today she will report, including dues from
forty-five states, the territories and the Dis
trict Of Columbia, at least ten times that
amount, and our membership is eight times
as large. OF those who were then state
presidents but two are here today, and only
one Of them still holds the same office.
Mrs Thompson Of Ohio was actively
with us in that convention. often speaking
and sometimes taking the chair; today
we think of her in her Tillsboro' home, and
we watt her loving thoughts, freighted with
gratitude, for all she has been, is and will
ever be to the Woman's Christian Temper
ancc Union. And here in 1881 many of us
saw for the first time the woman OF whom
1t was said, Behold, here is an explanation
Of Miss Willard! and those of us who
knew Frances Wizards mother can but
think Of her as the embodiment Of the SEN
timent which is carved in granite above the
mound at Rosehill, for she did pronounce a
I1,- - ,l~o1o
were received in those old days after much
the same fashion as today l recall that in
addition to the cordial welcome on behalf
of the local unions, Bishop Andrews said
he was glad we had come, for while we
might differ in regard to woman's suffrage
Qemember this was nineteen years ago.
and in regard to working in political par
ties, we were sure to leave behind precious
influences and forces which would tend to
the regeneration of the United States cap
ftal.
Gains of the w. C. T. u.
cat that convention we had but twenty
six departments of work; now we have
thirty-six, all built upon our fundamental
principles of purity, total abstinence, pro-
hbtion. Then in no state was the age of
protection for girls above ten years; now
largely through the efforts of white ribbon
ers, it Is raised to an average of fifteen
years, and in some states as high as eigh-
teen, and there is a growing senti-
ment in favor of legally protecting woman
hood at any age as well as girlhood in her
minority.
Then there was only one police inatron
in the country Cat Portland, Me-; now this
office is we'll established and we'll filled iE
many of our cities. When were here
before there were no compulsory temper
ance educational laws: now they exist in
every state save Georgia and Utah, also in
the territories and in the District of Co
1t. %D,1 81 ctn,,,
atically taught in the Sunday school, now
there are quarterly temperance lessons a
part of the international lesson system.
"Since 1881 eight round the world mis-
have gone out to carry the gospel
of temperance, as we understand it. to all
people in all lands. Miss Willard was the
founder Of the Worlds Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. and at Its organizing
held in Boston. November. 1891
delegates were present from twenty-one
countries. At the fifth biennial convention
of the Worlds w. c. T. u, held in Edin-
burgh last June. -fifty-seven countries were
repre- sented by delegates and auxiliaryship
and yet the beloved, honored, gracious pres
ident Of this great society today was un-
known to us when we were here before.
Let us at this hour send across the ocean
to Lady Henry Somerset an expression OF
our loving loyalty.
.Since 1881 marked progress has been
made in that great movement looking to-
ward real republic the enfranchisement
of woman. Last May, at the Methodist
general conference, a church constitution
was adopted which removes the traditional
objection to women delegates and makes
them eligible for election to the general
conference. So at last woman is to have
her place in the highest councils of that
great church, to the work and success of
which women have so largely contributed
ever since the days Of Susanna Wesley.
WOman's Vote.
mot long ago in Idaho we were in W.
c. T. U. convention, to which some of the
delegates came late, because. as they ex-
planned, they could not leave home until
they had cast their votes for the temper
ance candidate for mayor, while the nomi-
nee on the other ticket was a well-known
brewer; and in Colorado we were present at
a temperance meeting when fine, manly
looking man was introduced as mayor, and
h. openly and apparently proudly stated
that he owed his election to the White Rib
bcners of this city, and this year $4,000
women registered to vote for President of
the United States.
Mrs. Stevens said that during the last
twenty years total abstinence and prohibi-
ton sentiment has greatly advanced. She
recounted the steps recently taken In sew
eral states toward legislative prohibition.
and. continuing, said:
'sWithin two years the sale or use of
k@I ~ h.