Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-05-24
White RIbboners at South Paris.
THE COUNTY W. C. T. U. MEETS IN
ANNUAL CONVENTION, WITH INTER
EsTING AND PROFITABLE SESSIONS.

Il THE COUNTY W. C. T. U. MEETS II
ANNUAL CONVENTION, WITH INTER
EsTING AND PROFITABLE SESSIONS
On Tuesday and Wednesday of las
week the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union of Oxford County held its seven
/ teenth annual convention at South Paris
The various local unions were most o.
them we'll represented, the sessions busy
and interesting, and the workers have
gone to their homes with renewed cour
age and zeal.
At a reasonable interval after the ar
rival of the forenoon trains of Tuesday
the convention was called to order in thu
Baptist church, the county president
Mrs. E. A. G.. Stickney of East Brown
field, presiding. Devotional services
were conducted by MrsaE. S. Cotton Of
Norway, and the roll was called.
The church had been simply decorated
for the occasion with few flowers ano
plants, with streamers of white drapeC
from the center of the ceiling, and the
W. C. T. U. banner and motto, "Fol
God and home and every land" display
ed at the back of the platform.
The visitors were cordially welcomed
to South Paris by Mrs. l.. A. Rounds OF
this place, and a pleasing response ir
their behalf was made by Mrs. Anna
I. White of West Paris.
The corresponding secretary, Mrs. An
ME r. Barnes of Norway, made her an
nual report, not taking up the reports OF
the several unions in detail, bnt dealing
only with some special features of the
work. She commended the practice OF
some of the Notwithstanding South
Paris and West Paris-of using a pre-.
pared yearly programme for their meet.
ings, and set forth the plan of district
superintendent adopted by the Norway
union, by which the town was covered
by the work.
The president, Mrs. Stickney, then
gave her annual address. This, said
Mrs. Stickney, is our seventeenth annual
convention. We have one new union in
our number this year. We should be
able to add one every year, so that we
may at least reckon our years by our
mum bers. There are many towns and
villages in Oxford County where our
work should be extended. / would
recommend that the local unions assume
the responsibility of securing an
organizer, which can now be done at
small expense, to 60 into the places
where no unions exist and see what can
be done there.
But let rs never place numerical gains
above the efficiency of our work. Our
department work is very important, and
is value should be emphasized.
The present year is an important one
in our work, especially as regards the
issue of resubmission, against which we
must labor with the same zeal as in the
past. Never was there time when the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
held the position it does to-day, when
its influence was so great as it is now. If
we were all citizens in the fullest sense
of the term, and had all our time to de-
vote to the duties of citizenship, we
could hardly be called upon for more i'm
portant and varied duties than we are
to-day.
AS some time remained of the fore
noon session, beginning was made on
the reports of the superintendent of de-
partments, and Mrs. Elizabeth W. Nor
ton of South Paris, superintendent of
scientific temperance instruction, report
ed the work done in that line in the
several unions. This gave rise to dis
cussion which filled the rest of the fore
noon, relative to the best books and the
manner of using them.
Dinner was served to the visitors in
the church dining room.
The executive committee held meet
ing soon after dinner, at which it was de-
cided to employ the state organizer for
two weeks in September. Two new de-
partments of work were also added, red
letter days and Christian citizenship.
The principal paper of the afternoon
session was by Mrs. ii. c. MunSon of
Rumford Centre, on the topic, "Our
Young Women in the Temperance Re-
form" Mrs. Munson emphasized the
influence that the young women may
exert because of their social position and
opportunities, and especially their in.
,uence with the young men, and pointed
out the great advance which might be
made if the young women could be in
duced to exert their power strenuously
in behalf of temperance.
Some visitors being present, a number
of them were called upon to speak, and
brief remarks expressing interest in the
work were made by Mrs. Quinby of the
Turner union, Rev. j. II. Little of South
Paris, Mrs. C.. A. Brooks of Norway,
Arthur E. Forbes of the Democrat, Mrs.
Sprague from AroostOok County, and
Mrs. ii. A. Clifford of South Paris.
Reports from the local unions were
next called for, and some account of the
work done was given from the unions in
Bethel, West Paris, South Paris, Norway,
Hiram, East Brownfield, Buckfield, Rum
ford Falls and Rumford Centre. The
union at Rumford Centre was organized
only few moths since. Reports from
the superintendent of the several de-
partmentS followed.
The afternoon session was diversified
with music, Including solo by Mrs. ii.
E. Wilson, and singing by school chill
dren of the village.
At the Tuesday evening session, after
singing by quartette, Scripture was
read and prayer offered by Mrs. Howard
A. Clifford of South Paris. Remarks
were made by several of the pastors,
and Rev. F. Z. Britten, the apostle of
prohibition from Michigan, spoke briefly.
Mrs. Luella Smiley and Miss Jessie
Tolman each rendered solo in very
pleasing manner.
The duet with violin and organ by
Misses Ida and Oracle Dean was heartily
applauded.
The address of the evening was given
by Mrs. Calle Howe of Missouri. 1t
was a most stirring appeal for prohi-
bition, and every argument ever brought
forward by its enemies was met most
squarely, and refuted by facts and reason.
The close attention of the audience
testified to the power of the speaker.
Her appeal to individual conscience must
have left its influence.
Wednesday morning the devotional
service was led by Mrs. e. w. Chandler
of Bethel. The convention was then
called to order, routine business trans
acted, and the reports of superintendent
were continued.
The committee on credentials reported
and the election of officers followed, the
following being the officers chosen:
| BrowHeld.
Vice President: at Large - Mrs. Martha b.
Chapman. Bethel.
Corresponding secretary-Mrs. Emma w
| Chandler, Bethel.
recording secretary-Miss Jennie NJ. Brown
West Paris
Treasurer-Mrs. Fannie NJ. Y. Clifford, Hiram
A few changes in department super
intendents were made.
Il H..