People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1895 — W. C. T. U. CONVENTION ENDS. [ARTICLE]

W. C. T. U. CONVENTION ENDS.

Important BtMtntlw Xaptod at tk* Closlz H—tloa. Baltimore, Md., Oct. 24.—Music Hall was packed to the doors at the closing exercises of the National W. C. T. U. convention last night. Mrs. J. Fowler Willing, National evangelist, conducted the service. After the presentation of banners and expressions, of thanks and farewells each delegation rose and sang its state song. After the singing of the state songs the delegates and visitors sang the doxology and the convention was at an end. Next year’s convention will probably be held in San Francisco. The national body has never met in California. The place will be selected by the executive committee.

In the words of Frances Willard, the convention was the largest in representation, the broadest in scope of work and declaration of principles, and the most enthusiastic in the history of this noble organization of women. Other leaders of the union agree with Miss Willard in this opinion and say the results of the convention will be widespread in effect. The veteran president carried the convention with her in the closing hours, when, in an eloquent and forcible address, she welcomed to the W. C. T. U. movement Catholics and Hebrews. This resolution was adopted after considerable discussion: “That Catholic women and Hebrew women be invited to send fraternal delegates from their annual conventions to the national convention of the W. C. T. U. and to establish branches of the White Ribbon society within their own borders.”

Mrs. Matilda B. Carse, president of the board ot managers of the W. C. T. U., National Headquarters Temple in Chicago, reported on the condition of the finances. From October, 1894, to October, 1895, the cash receipts amounted to $30,612.52. an increase of $13,000 over the preceding year. In the list of state contributions are named the following as giving the largest amounts during the year: Illinois, $3,397.08; Massachusetts, $3,440.41; New York, $3,412.51; Pennsylvania, $2,520.49; Ohio, $2,500; and lowa, $2,154.94. The report was adopted. A resolution was adopted declaring that as this was a crusade year in the Temple enterprise all white ribbon women were asked to pledge themselves to help raise the necessary funds to secure all the outstanding stock of the Temple Building association by the Ist of January. The convention extended thanks to Theodore Roosevelt for his stand for the enforcement of the law. Mrs. Henry F. Hunt of Boston, superintendent temperance instruction, presented the state of Illinois with the prize banner for having made the greatest increase in the work of introducing indorsed text-books in the schools. Last year the state reported sixty-four towns where these books were being used, while at this convention they reported 1,000, a remarkable gain.