Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1883 — WOMEN WITNESSES. [ARTICLE]

WOMEN WITNESSES.

Miss Willard and Others Given a Hearing by the Senate Committee. ! National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union—lts Methods of Work. I ! The National Women’s Christian Temperance Union were given a hearing before the Senate Committee on Education and Labor lat New York. Miss Frances E. Willard, of | Chicago, President of the union, gave a | condensed statement of the organization, its growth and methods of work. She | said the union is often called the sober eec- | ond thought of the crusade in the winter j of 1874, and which, through prayer and ; persuasion, resulted in closing 250 saloons. The society comprises thirty-four States and three Territories, and organizations with over 8,000 local societies and a following of over 75,000. Experience had suggested the advisability of dividing the work of the society into departments, and In every case where a special department of work has seemed to be called for some woman has been raised to stand at the head of such department First in the order of evolution stands the department of “Heredity,” which aims to teach women who come together in companies the relation of parental influences and natal inheritance to the drink habit Besides this department is that of “Hy genic,” whicn aims to give a better understanding of - the methods of daily living, especially regarding food, cleanliness, exercise, ventilation, and the whole physical conduct of life. Under the educational division of the work scientific instruction stands first, its subdivisions being Sunday-schools, juvenile unions, temperance literature, influencing the press, conference with ecclesiastical, Sundayschool, educational, and medical associations, and relative statistics The scientific instruction embraces the introduction of text books into the public schools, setting forth the nature and effect of alcohol on the system. Sunday-school work aims to give the “thus saith 'the Lord” regarding the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. The department of juvenile unions endeavors to teach children the duty of total abstinence by a regular course of study—scientific, ethical and governmental. A military feature is introduced for boys, | and prizes ottered for the best essays Efforts are made to gain the co operation of j ecclesiastical bodies, and whenever a synod j or conference is held some representative |of the society is usually present; The Department of Relative Statistics endeavors to collect the best and latest statistics regarding pauperism and crime, and present the same to the people until such time as the Government shall appoint a committee to take the matter in hand. Mrs. W. G. Buell spoke of the department of “Influencing the Press,” and said that, recognizing the power of the press, the union has during the last four years endeavored to enjist the press by securing columns to be edited by women appointed by the union of the locality, or to secure the insertion of extracts from standard authors of scientific temperance works and from the writings and speeches of promineilt men and women. Mrs. Mary H. Hunt gave an account of the efforts of her department to introduce textbooks into the public schools of the country, giving a short account of legislation in Michigan, Vermont and New Hampshire, which gave to their States a law for compulsory temperance. Other ladies present and in charge of departments explained the working of each department and its purpose. The ladies present were; Miss Frances E. Willfard, of Chicago, President- Mrs. Caroline E. Buell, Eastnainpton, Ct, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Mary L. Burt, Brooklyn, President of the New York State Union; Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, Hyde Park, Mass., Superintendent of the Department o f Scientific Instruction; Mr* C. C. Alford, Brooklyn, Secretary of the Scientific Department; Mra Frances J. Barnes, New York, Superintendent of the Depaitment of Young Women’s Work; and Miss Annie A Gordon. Avondale, Mass., private secretary of Miss Willard.