The Republican journal., 1903-04-02
THE BELFAST w. c. T. U.
Observe Their 29th Anniversary March 21t

Observe Their 29th Anniversary March 2sth
The annual meeting and anniversary of
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
was held at the home of the President last
Friday The Union was formed 90 years
ago, when Rev. W. NJ. Brown was pastor of
the M. f. church, and the first meeting was
in the NJ. f. vestry. Mrs. Palfrey, wife of
the Unitarian pastor, well remembered by
many, called the meeting to order. Mrs. w.
H. Burrill presided, and was elected presi-
dent. Mrs Phlo llersey was elected secre-
tary and Mrs. W. II. Hartman treasurer
In 1873 Reform Club was organized, and
the Ladies' Temperance Association, as it
was then called, was a great aid to the club.
Sunday meetings, special temperance meet
ings and a great amount of charity work oc-
cupied the association.
In 1878 it became auxiliary to the State
| Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
paying dues, and taking its name. Depart
ment work began to grow, and superin-
tendentS were appointed to visit the Jail, to
hold meetings, to distribute literature, etc.
The pastors led services at the Jail and the
w. c. T. U. took papers and leaflets The
same work is done now.
In 1882 Loyal Temperance Legion was
formed and 800 children became members
the first year. This is work that ought to
be renewed. viii not some heart respond
to the need and begin this work?
The first county convention was in 1882
Mrs. Burrill presided and was elected coun-
ty president. In few years she resigned
and Miss A. A. Hicks was elected. These
annual conventions have been held yearly,
and under the auspices of the W. c. T. L.
some Of our best speakers have been heard
in Befast-Miss Willard, The National
President, Mrs L. NJ. \. Stevens, National
and State President, Mrs. Lathrup, Mrs
Woodbridge, Mrs Emily Mclaughlin, Mrs.
Zerilda Wallace, Mrs. Gleason, Miss Lillian
| Phelps, Miss Lucia Kimball, Mrs. Burger
! and others.
| Previous to this first county convention
State convention had been held in Belfast
In 1895 the local union invited it again, and
$50 women filled the NJ. +. church for three
days, on two evenings adjourning to the
| Opera House, as the church was too small
/ for all who wished to attend. This conven-
tion was pronounced by some of the State
officers to be one of the best ever held.
The local union began Flower Mission
work in 1884. 1t is observed all the year by
, carrying to the sick or sad bouquets with
Scripture cards tied with white ribbon at
tached, and ON June 9TH the birthday of the
National Superintendent, Jennie Cassidy
now gone home-by a special visit to aims
house, jail, etc Some fifteen departments
are carried on-Press, Social Purity Mar
cotics, Purity in Art and Literature Scien-
| tific Temperance Teaching in Schools,
School Savings Banks, etc, etc
The membership list for all these years is
| over 300. but many have now responded to
the roll call in the Unseen At the meeting
last week about - We're present. A bust
ness meeting was he'd, at which dues We're
paid, and officers elected as follows. Miss
f. 7. rockingham, President; Mrs. Ada
Brier, Corresponding Secretary Mrs. 5. W.
Bicknell, Recording Secretary Mrs. Emma
Mckenzie, Treasurer; Miss +. 7. Frothng
ham, Assistant Treasurer. Three new
members We're received with little cere-
mony of welcome. After the buuntItul
picnic supper, Messrs. Black and Talbot
sang Duets and Mrs. Alexander ana little
Helen Brier gave recitatiOnS. Mrs. y. +.
Clark read very interesting article writ
ten by Miss Hicks for a similar occasion
some years ago, from which many OF the
facts here given are taken. | close with
the following quotation:
The question is often asked; "What is
the W. c. I. L. doing, anyway" Why, we
are doing everything. Come to our county
conventions and listen. 1t is true we are
not constantly parading our work before
the public, but much that we have done has
been quite forgotten. Not flag tioated
over any schoolhouSe in Belfast, until one
was bought by the White Ribboners and
presented to the High school. No religious
services have been held at the almShouse
except by the w. c. T. U. No literature,
carefully selected, with kindly letters en-
closed, to the sailors, have ever been placed
| on outgoing vessels, except by our Union.
No local society has held mothers meetings
except our own. No class has worked for
the Sunday closing of saloons as we have.
No attempt has been made to remove Oh
| scene pictures, and suppress the sale of inn
| moral papers as our superintendent i'll that
department has done. We have worked in
quiet way for the purity, sanctity and
| education of the home for the young men
and young women of our city,"