Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-03
FLAG PRESENTATION
AT FORT DOUGLAS
Beautiful Banner Sent to Local Post
As Recognition of Temperance
WorlS-Chaplain's Address.

The Fort Douglas chapel was crowd
ed Thursday evening. on the occasion
| or the presentation OF handsome
silkcn American flag to the Christian
Temperance union at the Post by Mrs
T.. e Shepherd for the National Con-
ventlon of the w. c. T. U. which met
recently at Omaha. Mrs. shepherd mace
neat speech, stating now MIS-
Thatcher, chairman of the national w.
C. T. u. committee on work among
the soldiers and sailors. handed over TO
her this flag for the boys at Fort
Douglas, as the Christian Temperance
union here had gained more mem
bers and secured more signatures TO
the temperance pledge than any other
similar society in the army. Mrs.
Shepherd drapcd the flag around the
chapel pulpit where 1t appeared 10
advantage.
Mrs. c. a. Walker who presided,
made the acceptance for the soldiers,
Chaplain Clemens of the Fifteenth in
fantry gave short talk. and there was
a temperance dramatic recitation by
Mrs. II. Lang.
Chaplain John T. Axton of the Eigh-
tcenth infantry made a most Interest,"
Ing address. He prcfaced his remarks
with several anecdotes of army lie.
He told how chaplain at Leavcn-
worth saw soldier entering one OF
these places were the green baize
doors swing in and out so readily and
frequently He called after the soldier.
Riley, haltr' but Riley didn't halt.
When the soldier came out, the
chaplain said. "Rilcy. why didn't you
stop when 1 called you?" Sure,
Chaplain. If We phase, I had but the
price OF wan drink" Chaplain AXton
then warned the boys against the evil
effects of intoxicating drink on the
average soldier which brought him SO
often before Judge Duify (the
court martial usual on such occasions).
and related a touching incident OF a
volunteer In the Philippines who after
the war went into the saloon busi-
ness to his eternal undoing, and how
in his last days OF sickness the boys
of the Eighteenth infantry cared Tor
him, and sent a purse to the diving
mans sister in Rhode Island. Then
the speaker took up the matter of
desertion. calling attention to how
It remained a stigma on man all
life. He mentioned the case
OF a deserter from the Union army,
how a few years afterward, when he
seemed prosperous. II was noised
around town that he was descrter.
his trade fell off so that
he had to remove to another section.
on a political ticket, but was dropped
when the opposition aired his record
But the hardest experience was when
he mans little daughter came running
to him. with the complaint that
playmate had charged her papa with
being a deserter. This was the finish
ng stroke. Chaplain Axton also
gave his hearers a good sensible talk
On patience, how to overcome home
sickness, the profit of being attentive
% duty, OF living sober. righteous
and Industrious life. He was atten-
lively listened to and roundly applaud
ID.
At the close of the speaking, tenn
oerance. pledges were circulated for
signatures. These meetings are being
leld under the auspices OF the Salt
Lake W. C. T. u, and are made as
as possible. Several COM
nissioned officers were present.