THE SECOND YEAR’S WORK.

The second annual meeting of the “Woman’s National Christian Temperance Union” was held in Newark, N.J., in October, 1876.  From the reports made to this meeting, we take the following interesting statements, showing how actively the work, for which this great National Association was organized, has been prosecuted.

Twenty-two State unions were represented at this meeting, and local unions were reported as having been formed for the first time in Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas, preparatory to State organizations.  An International Temperance Convention of women had been held in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, from which resulted an International Woman’s Temperance Union.  A summary of the work of the year says: 

“In almost every organized State, the request of our National Committee that ministerial, medical and educational associations be asked to declare their position in relation to temperance reform has been complied with.  In every instance, the ladies have been courteously received, and in no case has the declaration of opinion been adverse, and in many, most hopeful to our cause.  The letter of Mrs. Wittenmyer to the International Medical Convention recently held in Philadelphia, secured the important declaration against alcohol made by that body.

“In February, our president, accompanied by Mrs. Mary R. Denman, President of New Jersey W.T.U., made a trip to Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana, in the endeavor to enlist our Southern sisters in the temperance work.  Large meetings were addressed and several local unions organized.

“In the month, of May thirty-six temperance meetings were held in the State of Ohio, by the corresponding secretary, who has also made a trip through Michigan, and spoken in all the Eastern, Middle and several of the Western States since the last meeting.

“Our recording secretary, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, has visited Great Britain, by invitation of Christian women there, for the purpose of introducing our Gospel work.  Going in the spirit of the Crusade, Mrs. Johnson’s labors have awakened an earnest spirit of inquiry and activity among the thoughtful and comparatively leisure class.  During her six months’ absence in England and Ireland, she addressed one hundred and twenty-one audiences and conducted forty prayer-meetings.

“‘Mother Stewart,’ of Ohio, has also visited England and Scotland this year, under the auspices of the Good Templars, and much good has resulted from her labors.

“Our union has circulated the petition to Congress for a Commission of Inquiry into the costs and results of the liquor traffic in America, and to the Centennial Commissioners praying them not to allow the sale of intoxicants on the Exposition grounds.  The desired Commission of Inquiry has been ordered by the Senate in response to the wish of the united temperance societies of the land, but the subject did not come before the House at the last session.