Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-06
BlAMES THE MOTHERS
Preacher Says Too Many
Neglect Religious Duties.
BLEMISH ON THE CAPITAL
Sabbath Dissertation Here Shocking,
DR.. Whtehouse Declares.
ADDRESS AT w. G. T. U. MEET
Local Option a Failure, Declares
Mrs. Charlotte Smith-Reports
Of Officers Received.
ADDRESS AT w. G. T. U. MEET

The Dissertation of the Sabbath and the
failure of Washington mothers to spread
the proper influence in their homes to In
still a religious respect for the Lords day
was the theme of an address made by
Rev. George Ellsworth Whitehouse. pas
tor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church. to-
day in welcoming delegates Of the thirty
fifth annual convention Of the District
W. c. T. u to that edifice. where the
convention sessions will be held today and
tomorrow.
Mr.. Whitehouse was particularly severe
in his ARA gnment of members of a par
ticular set whom he described as permit
ting card playing. the holding of large
dinners and paying social calls on the
Sabbath, and thereby setting an example
for a younger generation Of which In
later years 1t would be almost impossible
to break themselves if they SO desired.
mo woman is serving her country
best" declared the speaker, who does
not exert her best efforts in her own
home regardless of all social or other
connections
How many of you have family prayers
in your homes every day? How many of
YOU permit your children to see you on
your knees praying? How many of you
allow the little ones about your knees to
see You reading the Lords word?
"Blemish on National Character"
Never in all my travelling have seer
such lack of respect such dissertation of
The Sabbath as one sees here in Washing
ION. 1t is blemish on the national char
acter. On Sundays IN the so-called bet
ter homes there is card playing, calling
hot rot e., 1oo
to be spreading. and the secret of it lies
n the carelessneSs Of mothers
Mr.. Whitehouse concluded his address
with glowing tribute to the work Of the
w. c. T. U. from its organization to the
present day. and the benefits it has
brought upon mankind.
The other chief event at today's SEES
sion was the report of the president Mrs
Clinton Smith. She spoke at length on
the resolution recently passed by the ma
tional convention of the w. c. T. u. in
which the organization pledged itself to
bring influence to bear upon representa-
tives and senators in Congress for the
passage of prohibition laws i'm the Dis
trict The president also read num-
Der of other resolutions to the same eff
feet, passed by different unions of the
organization
With support like this back Of u.s."
Mrs. Smith declared, I'VE have reason to
feel greatly encouraged for the future.
Whether results develop Immediately or
not remains to be seen. If they do not
the sentiment at least will be impressed
upon the national legislators.
Mrs. Smith discussed the meaning OF
local option as compared with prohibi-
ton and cited states and ccmmun ties
and their effects on the liquor traffic She
said she was not satisfied with local oD-
ton, in the strict sense of the word, as
there were many loopholes in 1t.
Absolute Prohibition Demanded.
1--WE want prohibition absolute" she
said. I'VE want to stamp out the mis-
cradle traffic forever"
Continuing. the president said brew
cry corporations were responsible for
the greater part of misery found in
the drunkards home today because of
their almost universal ownership Of the
saloon. She asserted the hardest fight
for the organization in the future lay
in the struggle against these interests.
"When the nation has thought of the
misery in 1,OOO.O0O drunkards' homes. and
the unhappiness in 10.OOO.OOO other homes
which have known the curse, the public
conscience will be aroused. and then will
been bravely struggling for loom into
hopeful vision Mrs. Smith said, in con-
clusion.
The reports Of other officers showed the
District w. G.. T. L. to be in a flourish
ing condition. with an increase in mem
bershp of o., and probable increase in
unions during the next twelve months.
The condition of the treasury was emf
nently satisfactory, the last obligation on
the w c. T. L. home debt having been
paid within the past year. The treas
urer's statement showed a good working
balance for the future.
The convention opened promptly at
half-past 10 o'clock this morning with
Mrs Smith presiding and the delegates
from twenty-six different unions in the
city arranged in a semi-circe about the
presidents stand.
The auditorium Of the church was
tastefully decorated in cut flowers,
branches of au. umn leaves and w. G.. T.
T. ensigns and banners. The latter were
profuse, one long streamer with the
motto "Close the saloons in the District"
being strung the length of the gallery.