Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-18
Absence of Miss Gordon.

Absence of Miss Gordon.
Mrs. Stevens, addressing the audience
after the singing of the Doxology. said that
she regretted the enforced absence, occa-
stoned by illness, of Miss Gordon, who was
i'm the city, but who had been unable to at
tend the ceremonies at the Capitol after all
her labors in perfecting the arrangements
for the unwilling of the statue of Miss VIII
lard in Statuary Hall there. She then IN
troduced DIR. Hale, who spoke feehngiy o,
the noble work of Miss Willard. and said
her example was one which might be wen
followed by all Christian workers In the
world. He said the work she had done was
the heritage of those left behind her 10
continue. and that it was for those In the
audience and throughout the land to conse-
crate their lives to the cause, as she hau
consecrated hers. thanking her Father and
ours for the noble spirit which had worked
such great good for humanity, spreading
the white ribbon throughout fifty-eight ma
lions and teaching the language of tenn
perance in all the civilized lands of the
earth. Dr. Hale then led the meeting in
prayer, after which a delegation of young
people from the District of Columbia
Young Womans Christian Temperance
Union, carrying floral !'Y'' and bearing
broad white ribbon, marched up the aisle
and grouped themselves about the edge of
the platform. There they sang a song,
written by Miss Mabel Callaghan of this
city, and set to the tune of "Juanita.'
Rev DIR. Butler was then introduced by
the presiding officer. He said that he re-
GREETED the absence of DIR. Bristol, pastor
Of the church, but that he was glad of the
opportunity to pay his respects to the
memory of such woman as Miss Willard,
and to say that he regarded himself as on
the firing line of the great battle for tenn,
perance, and that he hoped he would be
for long time spared to continue to lift
his voice and extend his efforts in the great
cause. He noted that this of the
greatest days in the history of American
nm a n Sai6 hot
ministers in the United States and 30, coo, 600
Christians. and that we have as a nation
the soberest people in the world.
You are to be congratulated, he said
lin possessing the memory of a Frances
E. Willard. Let your watchWord be For
ward Onward. Christian Soldiers and YOU
will forever bless the woman who began
this great movement for the betterment of
her fellows"
Messages From Many States.
Mrs. Stevens told the audience that the
meeting had received messages from many
state delegations which had not been able
to be represented. and from prominent per-
sonages, among them being Susan B. An
thony and Lady Henry Somerset, president
of the Worlds w. c. Z. U. Lady Somerset
said that although she was unable to be
with them In person, she was present in
spirit, and that she felt no higher happiness
than to have counted among her friends and
grand character as Frances Willard.
Miss Grace Updegraff rendered with fine
effect vocal solo, and responded to an
enthusiastic encore with Home, Sweet
Home"
At the suggestion of Rev. Wilbur F.
Crafts. who was invited to the platform by
Mrs. Stevens, several gentlemen were made
life members of the national society, Mr..
Crafts himself starting the ball rolling by
pledging the fee of $2o in behalf of Senator
Dolliver of Iowa, who spoke at the Capitol
at the dedication of the Willard statue.
Miss COrnelia Dow, daughter of Neal Dow
of Maine, then, for her state society, named
Representative Charles E. Littlefield life
member. pledging the necessary cash. She
was followed by Miss Wood of Chicago, who
gave the name of Senator Shelby M. Gull
lom, and the name of Senator Beveridge
was mentioned, but Indiana not being Off
cialiy represented it was assured that he
would be later included in the honorary list.
Mrs, Chambers of Pennsylvania was ask
led to address the meeting and said that the
II ,O0D members of the society in her state
sent their greetings to the meeting and ex-
pressed their reverence for the memory of
Miss Willard. She was followed by Mrs.
Crafts. who was named by Mrs. Stevens
as one of the worlds eyangelists. Mrs.
Crafts said that 2500O.000 children through
them because of the foundation of the So
ciety by Miss Willard and that the work
was growing everywhere Among others
who spoke were Mrs. Bourne of New Jer-
sey, who told the audience that there was
no more loyal state to the cause than hers;
Mrs. Morrow of West Virginia, who said
that West Virginia rejoiced that the day
had come when just recognition had been
given the memory of one of the great
personages of all time. She said that a
majority of the members of the state leg
islature were temperance advocates, and
that the movement was growing with great
err strides than it's projectors had dared
hope. Miss Cassie Smith. one of the
twenty-four national evangelists, told of the
work she and her fellow workers had done
and said that If Miss Willard could know
what they had gained she would feel that
her work had been well done, they
all knew it had.