The Washington times., 1902-09-22
White Ribbon Cradle Roll
to Be Feature of w. c.
7. u. Convention.
SUCCESS IN OTHER CITIES
Innovation to Be a Feature of the w.
c. T. q. Convention Which Opens To-
morrow at Wesley Chapel-To Con-
tinue in Session Two Days.

A pleasing and novel feature of the
annual convention of the Women
Christian Temperance Union of the Dis
trict. which will open tomorrow at Wes-
ley Chapel. will be "the white ribbon
cradle roll at the end of which the
mothers of a hundred OF more little
ones will pledge themselves TO teach
the children to lead pure and temperate
lives.
The cradle roll'' has for number OF
years been leading feature of the an
nual conventions of the W. c. 7. U. in
many large cities in the United States.
but this will be the first time 1t has been
introduced here. For this reason the
members OF the local branch Of the un-
ion, particularly the mothers With young
children, are using every effort to make
the innovation a success in temperance
work in the District.
A young mother, who is very enthusi-
astic over the success of the roll and
who has purchased an expensive outfit
of fnery for her little man" to make
his first public appearance. stated yes
terday that the weather will have moth
ing to do with the success of the affair,
because arrangements have been made
in case the weather, is bad on Tuesday
to postpone the cradle procession until
the following day.
Success Already Assured.
ARRANGEMENTS for the coming cradle
rolf have been in course of preparation
for several months, and from the
standpoint of the number Of babies to
participate and the purpose Of the pa
rade its success is already assured
Mothers, members OF the District Wom>
ems Christian Temperance Union. have
months ago enrolled their little ones
for the cradle roll" and it will take
more than mere threatening weather to
prevent them from living up to their
pledges. So it may be taken for granted
that the babies, with their white rib
tons, will be in the procession.
The white ribbon cradle roll. which
will take place tomorrow at IL a. m.
has been planned the same as in other
cities, where it has proven so success
full. When the child is very young the
mother enrolls its name for membership
in the White Ribbon Cradle Roll
branch of the women'sf Christian Tenn
perance Union and makes the following
pledge:
..I will endearor to teach my child to
live a pure and temperate life, and to
pay 10 cents annual dues as long as the
child remains member"
In addition to this the mother pays an
initiation fee of % cents. Many of the
babies who will participate in the roll
tomorrow were enrolled by their moth
ers before they were a month old. Like
the older members of the Women
Christian Temperance Union, all the
embryo temperance soldiers will wear a
piece of white ribbon, the emblem of the
cause.
Simple Ceremony.
The ceremony of pledging the. little
ones to the caise of temperance will be
simple. yet beautiful. At the appointed
time the mothers. hearing the babes In
their arms. will approach the chancel
rail and. on behalf of the candidates,
will renew the pledge which they made
when the little ones. were enrolled 'or
the cradle ROLL When all the mothers
have made their pledges, still standing
aligned along the chancel rail, they will
sing in chorus the temperance verses
written for the occasion by Mrs. c. E
Hunt, of Harvard. III, the national as
sistant superintendent of mothers meet
fngs and white ribbon cradle roll. The
lines have been set to music, and are a.
follows:
A little child shall lead, you see,
The great white ribbon band:
This little bow Was made for me-
Just see it in my hand.
Pm but tiny one, know,
And do not understand
Just why wear this temperance bow
And what it means to man.
But mothers promised to tell me
About the temperance foe,
And how to live life set free
From sin and bitter woe
Two Days Session.