Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
.LAUD MISS WILLARD
Services Held Around Statue
of w. C.. T. u. Founder.
SEVERAL ADDRESSES MADE
Prominent Members of Big Temper.
ance Organization of Women
Among the Speakers.

Fully three hundred men and women
gathered around the marble statue Of
Frances Willard in Statuary Hall at the
Capitol yesterday afternoon at 4:3O o'clock
and in service of song. prayer and
eulogies did honor to the memory of
the woman who is credited with starting
the temperance and liquor reform wave
in the United States. The odd sight
OF several hundred people holding pub
lie meeting in Statuary Hall attracted
crowds of visitors. and the galleries sur
rounding the heroic marble and bronze
statues Of statesmen and national heroes
were filled with curious sight-seers.
The meeting was presided over by Mrs.
Emma Sanford Shelton. president of the
W. c. T. U. Of the District Of Column
bia, who introduced Chaplain Henry N.
Couden. In his prayer Chaplain Couden
paid tribute to Miss Wizards character
istics. Mrs. Lillian NJ. N. Stevens, ma
tional president Of the w. c. T. L., in
brief but eloquent and feeling address
paid her tribute to the woman who found
ed the organization, which now has 300.
coo members.
Gives Personal "reminiscences.
Miss Anna A. Gordon of Illinois, ma
tiOnal vice president, introduced by Mrs.
Shelton as Frances Wizards closest
friend,' and a member of the Illinois
state commission which arranged for the
carving and presentation Of Miss Will
lard's statue seven years ago, spoke of
Miss Willard from her own personal
memory of the woman
with each succeeding year" she said,
the influence of her life becomes more
benef1cent and members of the great w.
G. I. U. which she founded feel more
and more gratitude in their hearts for
her work in launching this great organiza-
ton. For this work she gave the best
years of a beautiful life"
Mrs. Chauncey M. Goodrich. president
or the w. c. T. U. work in China, told
interesting anecdotes of the experiences
OF Frances Willard in San Francisco
start worldwide movement to stamp
out the liquor traffic and the ills which
she saw in its wake. Mrs. Goodrich said
that thirty-one years ago Miss Willard
saw the opium dens and other haunts of
vice in San Francisco and the vision of an
extensive warfare on vice rose up before
her at that time.
Miss Christine Timing Of England, an
organizer and lecturer Of the w. C. T. T.,
said of Miss Willard:
I'VE need not sorrow for the travail
OF her Soul-We should simply be thank
full for the great work she accomplished. .
Miss Timing quoted some of Miss Will
lard's poetry.
Secret of Her Power.
Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis, national su-
perintendent of legislation, spoke Of the
secret of Miss Wizards great power
among women, and read brief extract
from Miss Wizards diary of February
%. 1851, in which the writer made a re-
solve to be kind and courteous
mo woman had so great an insight
into the character Of other women" said
Mrs. Ellis. "She saw possibilities In
women that the women never dreamed
existed
Mrs. Don P. Blaine, lecturer for the w.
c. T. u, said: she saw q vision Of q
country free from drink, childhood pro-
tected and homes sanctified. The world
is better for women and safer for chill
dren on account of her life."
Mrs. Sarah D. La Fetra, former presi-
dent Of the District w. C. T. u, closed
the exercises with a prayer.