The W.C.T.U. in America.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 141, 13 February 1907, Page 3

The W.C.T.U. in America.

At tin 1 Annual Convention of the I S.A. W.C.T.U. it was reported that 1000 new Unions had been organised during the year, that 22,U27 signatures to the total abstinence pledge had been secured and that the net gain in membership was 13,000.

The Governor of the State of Connecticut was present at the opening meeting, and during the course of his welcoming speech said : There can he nothing better for the growth and strength of a nation than that we seriously consider those failures and weaknesses which hinder its growth and weaken its citizenship. Therefore the State should always welcome and give a hearty sympathy to

those agencies which will make her stronger. There is no doubt that the weakening influences of intemperance a* a matter of cost to a State arc great, and that

Halt our Judicial Expenses could be Saved,

were it not that so much must be applied to the trying of eases which result directly or indirectly from intemperance. Hut better and far beyond iliis is that strength of character, that manhood and womanhoo I which you sci*k to incite in the coming generation. 1 take it that your strongest and most successful appeal is to tiie young.

President Roosevelt gave a special reception on November 7th to delegates to the World’s Convention who were in Washington tn route to their respective countries.

Governor Guild, of Massachusetts, and hi> wife hold a reception for the members of the World s Convention at tht' State House. The delegates presented the Governor with a magnificent bouquet of white roses, tied with white ribbon, and the Governor presented bouquets to Mrs L. M. N. Stevens, Miss Slack and Mrs Katherine Ix*nt Stevenson. Later in the afternoon the Mayor of Boston and Mrs Fitzgerald entertained the delegates at tea.

The public meetings held in connection with the World s Convention, at Boston, were crowded, the reserved scats bringing 3 dols. (twelve shillings l each.

Beautiful and appropriate music was a feature of the Convention ; for example, at tin* In Memoriam service the Boston Male Quartette sang “ Lead Kindly Light, and a setting of Miss Willard’s “ 011 Heights of Power ” was given as a solo. At the “ one-minute addresses meeting the Male Quartette gave good prohibition songs and a lady soloist a setting of Browning’s lieautif 111 words, “ The Year’s at the Spring. On another occasion Rev. Anna Shaw gave an enlightening address on “ Patriotism, and the solo “ Victory followed.