The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-09-18
w. c. T. U. CONVENTION
Forty-first Annual Gathering Was
Held at Barton.

|
| Held at Barton.
| ITS a long, long way" to Barton,
| and then some. In this Forty-First
| convention Bennington Co, was rep
| resented by Mrs. A. F. Smith of Man
| chester Center, County President,
| and your correspondent. Leaving
| Manchester Tuesday noon Barton
was reached the next morning. We
were met and conducted to the Crys-
| tai Lake House nearby, where we
rested until $50 p. m. at which time
we were conducted to the Methodist
| church where the convention opened
at o'clock. rFsgaie
The interior of this large and beau
tful church had been tastefuily dec
| grated for the occasion; every Feature
suggested peace and purity in per-
feet harmony with the sentiment of
the body to assemble there. A pic
ture OF Frances Willard placed before
the speakers platform was framed in
profusion of white flowers and their
delicate green foliage. Green and
white yredominated in the decorative
color scheme, with now and then the
introduction of pale, pink flowers,
overhead broad, white ribbons
of crepe paper carried from different
parts of the large auditorium to cen
trail point-were in constant motion,
and added to the feeling of restful
ness that pervaded this house of wor
ship and felt as soon as one entered
its doors.
But q sin.ail number of delegates
were present at the opening session;
members of the executive came toget-
her in the auditorium and at the same
time suporintendents of departments
and delegates held conference in
the large parlor Many delegates ar
rived during the afternoon; at 600
delegates and visitors were escorted
where meals were served during the
three days of the convention, and lat
or to rooms assigned them.
The day had been hot and evening
brought rain with fireworks and big
guns la nature; our welcome was
later referred to as "a warm one and
also as laundering one" The re-
ccption at 7.30 was well attended in
spite of warning elements. At $50
convention called to order; program
opened with song service followed by
scripture reading and prayer by Rev.
l. 4. Ranney, pastor of the church.
An address was given by Miss Anna
a. Gordon National President of the
w. G. 7. u. Music, followed by re-
freshments, closed the program OF the
evening.
Thursday morning the committee
went into executive session at s o.
clock. At $50 devotional services led
by Mrs. ID. j. lIuse, who gave as the
keynote for the day: | am mighty
enough for all things through Him
who empowers me. At 9.45 conven-
tion opened by state president Mrs.
NJ. l.. Pearson. The lag psalm was
read in unionson, followed by singing
of the Crusade Hymn; prayer was
then offered by Mrs. II. NJ. Denny, of
Montpelier, after which routine, busi-
ness was taken up. At II the presi-
dent, whose full message will be
printed in the yearbook, gave a short
talk i
Symposium of department superior
dents followed; physical culture, hy4
giene and heredity was discussed by
Mrs NJ. X. Fairbanks, who made
plain the fact that the child we'll
born, nurtured under hygienic laws
and strengthened by proper exercise,
will never surrender his birthright to
the liquor habit That to deny the
possibility of race betterment is the
worst form of infdelity; it means to
be without faith in self, in fellow
men, and in the Creator.
Miss Helen Martndale of Swanton,
followed with a short talk on medical
temperance. This department Ell
deavors to gain tho cooperation of
physicians and nurses in educating
the public against the common views
of The beneficial effects of alcoholic
liquors. This department is closely
allied with the one preceding it,-in
fact, both departments declare that
For the supposed stimulating effect |
of alcohol there is no better substi- |
tute than fresh air, sunshine, light ex-
ercise and cold baths Noon tide
prayer was offered by Miss Gordon |
and the convention adjourned.
At 1.30 devotional service was led |
by Miss June Sleeper. While no one |
believes that prayer changes the will |
of God, we know that prayer is a |
channel through which Gods will be-
comes more effective, or in other |
words-prayer opens the way for the |