The age-herald., 1902-01-01

At the meeting of the Woman's Chris tian Temperance Union yesterday after noon with Mrs. c. B. Spencer, the report of Mrs w H. Jeffries, the president was one of the most interesting features of tho session, Mrs. Jeffries' remarks being par ticularly impressive as they were not only a brief resume of the work accom- plished under her administration but were also in the nature of a farewell. Following the devotional exercises. Mrs. Jeffries gave a summary of the work touching upon the work in the prisons, the flower missions and that great monu- ment to the W. C. T. U women, the Mer- cy Home. But Mrs. Jeffries reference to her enforced resignation as president of the union, owing to her removal to anoth- was not a dry eye in the room when she finished speaking. Those to whom she was saying goodbye fully realized what 1t meant to the union and to them personally for Mrs. Jeffries to sever her connection with an organization in which she had for IA years been a tireless worker.
 In that time she has served it In various official capacities, and for nearly four years has been it's president. As mem Der of the Mercy Home board Mrs. Jef- fries work has been invaluable. and the women with whom she has labored year after year in the cause of temperance in the name of mercy, feel that her place cannot be filled. Something of their deep regret at her departure found expression in the beautiful tributes to her yesterday, in the sadness with which they listened to her farewell, in the tears that filled all eyes. A more tangible evidence of their appreciation came when Mrs. Spencer, at the close of her beautiful tribute to the retiring president, presented her with portrait of Frances E. Willard, very handsomely framed In Flemish oak.
 In appropriate words Mrs. Jeffries ex- pressed her appreciation of the gift and the pleasure that so beautiful a portrait of Miss Willard should have been select ed for a parting remembrance. Mrs. Jeff fries was deeply touched. and it was an impressive moment when she. with the faithful band of women, gazed with something akin to reverence upon the face of Frances E. Willard.
 Mrs. Jeffries will leave in January for her future home in Meridian, but while her active duties with the Birmingham W. c. T. U. must cease, she will remain corresponding secretary of the state or ganization, and will therefore keep in close touch with the temperance cause in Alabama
 At a meeting yesterday Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Ramsey and hers gave short talks of the recent convention in Fort Payne.
 Mrs. Spencer, in referring to the diff ferent channels along which the w. C.. labor legislation, movement now being so widely agitated in the south. In Ala bama the evils of the present system were first called attention to by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union several years ago at the state conven- | tion. Mrs. Spencer pointed out that north ern capitalists were attracted south by reason that there was no legislation pro- hibiting the employing of children in the mills and factories.
 Now, that the state is so thoroughly aroused to the importance of child labor | legislation, the w. c. T. U. feels that it's | early efforts were not in vain. The reso- lution read by Mrs. Spencer was as fol- lows:
 Whereas, we believe that the unre- stricted labor of young children in fac- trary to the spirit of Christian civilization | and that the continuance of the present system will work moral and material in- jury to the future of the commonwealth.
 Resolved, That we continue to urge our legislators by every means in our power to remedy this evil by law; that we pledge our support to the executive committee on child labor In the state, the Rev Gardner Murphy, chairman, and to the child labor bill framed by them, and will work with the committee in the uni fled effort to secure legislation by bring ing the facts of the matter before the
 
 public. and for such promotion of the measure as may be deemed most effec- tive"
 The officers elected were:
 President Mrs. J. H. weisel
 Vice President, Mrs. c. B. Spencer.
 Secretary, Mrs. J. W. Fain.
 Treasurer, Miss Gary.
 The meeting was closed with hymn in which all the women joined. A light luncheon was served and the souvenirs were beautiful calendars, the last meet ing of the old year being an inspira- tion to every woman wearing a little knot of white ribbon, the emblem of her pledge to the temperance cause. MRS. RAMSAY ENTERTAlNS MERCY HOME BOARD