Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-17
SOUTH DEER ISLE Union.

c0tin oE4Eh ISLE jN1ONs
Report of Ariadne X. Webb W. c. T. u,
South Deer Isle. at the county convention at
stonington. May p, 1901. printed by request of
convention; not that other unions have done
less. but TO stimulate them to more fully report
their work for the good OF the order.J
Madam President and Sisters of the Con-
uention:
Our union has held thirty-six meetings
since the last convention, which covers
less than a year, the meetings on othe-
days being prevented by severe storms,
funerals on our regular day of meeting.
AS rule, we let nothing interfere with
our attendance. Our topics have been:
Reports, five; purity, five; flower mission
work, six; prohibition, three; mercy; two;
franchise, press work, s. T. 1. and school
savings banks, each one, the rest being
general topics.
Our chief work for the year has been In
the line of the flower mission departm ant,
as there was an epidemic of diphtheria in
the fall which rendered a good deal of
such work necessary. Some families were
obliged to burn nearly all their clothing
and bedding, and new supplies were
needed, which brought out the energies of
the w. c. t. U. workers.
Our work in this department may be
summed up as follows: Two hundred
visits and calls to the sick (perhaps more1;
200 bouquets; flowers carried to the church
every Sunday during the season and to
every funeral IN the vicinity except one,
when none were to be had and the
weather was so stormy that few ventured
out; fourteen coats and three overcoats
five dresses, five yards crash, five yards
cotton cloth, about ten barrels OF apples,
thirty-four loaves of bread, and other
food cooked and carried to the sick, cash
81. other things estimated 80, time spent
estimated at six weeks for one person.
Two little girls were entirely clothed and
Others partially clothed by mem ers OF the
material for three of them furnished by
members OF the union.
Sunday school work-The quarterly
temperance lessons taught and temper
ance instruction given at other times as
occasion allows; one sermon especially to
the children, and at least two others such
as could be easily understood by them. In
this connection / will mention that our
late pastor, Rev. Harry Hill, has taken
especial interest in temperance work, and
has preached several fine temperance SER
mons, besides giving an interesting ad-
dress at one public memorial meeting.
His work deserves the thanks of all inter-
ested.
Press work-Have furnished about
eighty columns as estimated for reporting.
articles having been sent to eight different
papers. Literature, counting what has
been lent to different persons and given
away, amounts to 26,50O pages. This
seems quite an amount but one memb Der
keeps a number of purity books in con-
slant circulation, another religious
paper, Others magazines, etc, and much
interest is taken in them.
Petitions were sent to Congress and to
the State legislature in favor of the laws
advocated by the w. G. T. o., and letters
were written to national and State legis-
lators, which received courteous replies.
Petitions for the enforcement of the
liquor laws were sent to both the present
county attorney and his predecessor. The
present officer has sent very favorable
replies to letters addressed to him.
Sabbath observance-O local superin-
tendent has had her hands full to prevent
Sunday fishing in brook near her house,
and she has done good work in that line.
The Sabbath laws have been kept posted
and all the influence possible used in their
favor. Sermons have been preached on
this subject, also on purity and peace and
arbitration.
Purity-Teachers have been interviewed
with view to intoxicating purity OF Ian
guage and manners, laws have been posted,
outbuildings cleared OF obscene writing
and kept decent, and marked improve
ment is noted where this work has been
done.
The mercy department has received at
tention, and several animals cared for.
Our memorial meeting was held March
3, it being inconvenient to have it
before. The sum of 800 was sent to the
national treasurer.
On Neal Dow day meeting was held in
the interests of prohibition, and sketches
OF Neal Dow's life were read.
Our working members wear the white
ribbon, and as we have no headquarters
we meet at the homes OF the members. the
first hour or more il needed being carried
on according to parliamentary usage, and
after that made informal.