A brief history of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union : outline course of study for local unions

Preface

For a number of years there has been a desire on the part of W. C. T. U. members for an authentic history of the organization. The records contained in the National Annual Reports, in the files of The Union Signal^ as well as the treasures of intimate knowledge stored away in the minds of the women who had part in the Crusade, have been accessible to but few; yet every white ribboner shooild be informed concerning the remarkable past of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

In order, therefore, to bring these facts within the reach of the greatest possible number. The Union Signal published, during 1906, the first twelve chapters of a "Course of Study for Local Unions." These chapters, embodying the salient points in the history of the W. C. T. U., (the "Annual Report" being the basis of authority) are comprised in the volume now offered. Valuable supplementary material will be found in the "Required Readings," while the suggestive topics for papers and discussions will, in themselves, prove a helpful addition to the white ribboner's equipment.

As an authentic history of a great organization, the book is (;f interest and value to the general public, as well as to W. C. T. U. members, and it is hoped that it will find a place in home and school and public libraries everywhere.

Contents

Preface.

Chapter I.— The Crusade— Part I., 7-10; Part II., 81-82. Chapter II.— From 1875-1879— Part I., 11-18; Part II., 83-84. Chapter III. — Organization of States — Part I., 19-25; Part II.,

84-85.

Part II., 85-86

Chapter V. — Evolution of Departments, 1880-1883 — Part I., 32-41;

Part II., 87.

Chapter VI. — Evolution of Departments, 1884-1906 — Part I., 42-45,

Part II., 87-88.

Chapter VII. — Organization from the Standpoint of the National

Chapter VIII. — Evolution of the World's W. C. T. U. — Part I.,

Chapter IX. — Formal Organization of the World's W. C. T. U.,

AND THE Polyglot Petition — Part I., 57-60; Part II., 90-91. Chapter X. — The Seven Conventions of the World's W. C. T. U. —

Chapter XL — Departments of Work in the World's W. C. T. U. —

Chapter XII. — Important Events of the Last Decade — Part I.,

Required Readings — 94-117.

Index

Anti-Canteen Law 77, 78

Armenian Relief Work 76

Call for First Convention 94

Convention — First 9

Conventions, World's 61, 70

Crusade, The 7, 9

Crusade, Causes of ^. 7

Crusade, Leaders of 8

Crusade, Results of 9

Crusader Monthly, The, Purchase of 79

Departments of Work in National W. C. T. U. —

Classification of 46

Evolution of 26, 45

Anti-Narcotics, 40; Christian Citizenship, 44; Evangelistic, 28; Fairs and Open Air Meetings, 37; Flower Mission, 38, 39; Franchise, 38; Health and Heredity, 37; Institutes, 43; Kindergarten, 42; Legislation, 30; Literature, 31; Loyal Temperance Legion (Juvenile), 29; Medal Contest, 45; Medical Temperance, 39; Mercy, 44; Moral Education, 40; Parliamentary Usage, 43; Peace and International Arbitration, 43; Penal and Reformatory, 30; Physical Education, 44; Press, 29; Purity in Literature and Art, 42; Sabbath Observance, 42; Scientific Temperance Instruction, 32; School Savings Banks, 44; Social Meetings and Red Letter Days, 34; Sunday School, 30; Systematic Giving, 44; Temperance and Labor, 36; Work among Colored People, 35; Work among Foreigners, 35; Work among Indians, 36; Work among Lumbermen, 40; Work among Miners, 40; Work among Railroad Employes, 37; Work among Soldiers and Sailors, 38; Young Woman's Branch, 29.

Departments in World's W. C. T. U 71, 75

Dues — Made Lasis of Membership 47

Dues — Increased 48

Field Fund 49

Lecturers, National 49, 50

Official Organs Purchased 78,79

Organization of Foreign Countries 55

Organization of World's W. C. T. U 57

Organizers, National 49, 50

Polyglot Petition 57, 109

Plan of Work— The First 94

Standing Committees 26

Superintendents, World's 74

Superintendents, National (See Departments)

Topics, Suggested 82, 93

Union Signal, The, Purchase of, 78, 79; Origin and History of. ..114

Willard, Frances E. — Elected President National W. C. T. U 32

Founder of World's W. C. T. U 51, 60

Willard Memorial Organizing Fund 49, 77, 117

Willard Statue 79

World's White Ribbon Missionaries 54

THE CRUSADE

Chapter I. I.— Immediate Causes

The great moral uprising of the womanhood of America known as the Woman's Temperance Crusade was not an isolated fact In history. Certain definite causes led up to it and made it inevitable. The causes were: (1) The civil war, which had fastened drinking habits upon so many of the returned soldiers. (2) The vast influx of foreign immigration which followed that war, bringing with It the drinking habits of the old world. (3) The close union between the liquor traffic and the government of the United States which the war consummated, since it was as a war measure only that President Lincoln consented to the internal revenue tax upon spirituous and malt liquors. (4) The widening of woman's horizon through the work she had accomplished during the war, making it inevitable that when that work was no longer necessary, she should turn her thought to the overcoming of the great foe of all homes, north and south. For years Mary A. Livermore, the organizer of the Sanitary Commission Fair, had been saying, "The temperance question can never be settled until women take hold of it." She but voiced a conviction rapidly growing in the public mind. When women had tested their powers in other lines of endeavor the hour struck and they "took hold." ^

II.—ANTECEDENT EVENTS. ' " ' ]

There were many prophecies of the Crusade. The first occurred in the town of Auburn, N. Y., when Mrs. Delecta Barbour Lewis, the mother of Dr. Die Lewis, led the godly women of that little town in a warfare against the saloon in precisely the manner afterwards so familiar to the world. They were successful in closing the one saloon of the town. This probably occurred about the year 1830, for in speaking of it in 1874, Dr. Lewis said: "More than forty years have passed and that town is free from saloons.'*

So unusual an event occurring in his childhood naturally Impressed the boy, and years afterward he told the story throughout the country. In 1858 a crusade was carried on with marvelous success by the women of Dixon, 111., also in the same year, by the women of Battle Creek, Mich. In Dr. Lewis' biography the author, after recording the work at Dixon and Battle Creek, says: "Work similar to this was accomplished in Niles, Hinmanville and other places."

Certain other sporadic efforts along Crusade lines are significant as showing the growth of thought on the subject of woman's temperance work. For example, in 1864 the women of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, organized a "Woman's Temperance Union." By a strange prophetic coincidence their badge was a bow of white ribbon, much larger than the bow of today. They labored personally with the saloon-keepers of the place until they either closed their saloons or left town. This society also established a strict boycott against all who patronized or favored the saloon. These women never disbanded, but wore their white bow until the small bow became the badge of the great National organization. /^ '

m.—THE CRUSADE PROPER.

These isolated events all prepared the way for the greater movement. This broke out almost simultaneously in three towns, Fredonia, N. Y., Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio. On December 15, 1873, Dr. Lewis spoke in Fredonia. On the 23rd of the same month he spoke in Hillsboro, and in Washington Court House on December 24. The women of these three towns visited the saloons, praying, and exhorting the saloon keepers to abandon the business.

The duration of the Crusade proper did not exceed six months. Its results cannot be reduced to figures. The New York Tribune of March 14, 1874, says: "A comparison of the returns of internal revenue collections in two of the largest liquor districts in Indiana and Ohio, for the months of January and February, gives some idea of the effects of the woman's temperance movement upon the liquor traffic. The total decrease in the two districts named is $353,720.14. It is estimated by revenue officers that 80 per cent of the collections are derived from alcohol and malt liquors; the decrease of revenue on liquors therefore is $282,976.12." Dr. Lewis, speaking in March. 1874, said that he believed 17,075 dram shops had been closed in Ohio, and he challenged anyone to prove that one had been reopened up to that date.

IV.— EARLY LEADERS.

So many names stand out prominently in connection with the early days that it is impossible to record them all here, but each state should give due recognition to its intrepid pioneers. Mrs. Eliza J. T. Thompson, the gentle woman whose name is loved and revered by members of our organization the world around, led

THE CRUSADE. 9

the crusading band of Hillsboro, Ohio, and was introduced as the leader of that band at the Convention of 1874. Mrs. M. G. Carpenter of Washington Court House was the brave leader of the Crusade in that town where its work came to greatest efficiency. "Mother" Stewart of Springfield, Ohio, was a prominent figure in temperance work before the days of the Crusade, and she early became known as its chief leader in Ohio. She spoke throughout the entire state and nation, and won great fame as an orator and intrepid worker. Mrs. Mattie McClellan Brown and Mrs. H. C. McCabe of Ohio, Mrs. Jennie Fowler Willing and Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller of Illinois, Mrs. Zerelda G. Wallace and Miss Auretta Hoyt of Indiana, Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson and Miss Margaret Winslow of New York, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore and Mrs. Susan S. Gifford of Massachusetts, together with many who cannot be enumerated, were prominently connected with the Crusade In the several states.

v.— LASTING RESULTS.

The greatest result of the Crusade was the awakening of the women of the country to a knowledge of the enormity of the liquor traffic and to a consciousness of their own ability to work for Its overthrow. This consciousness, after the Crusade had passed away, took concrete form in an organization. The call for this organization was sent forth from Chautauqua, N. Y., in August of 1874. The convention itself was held in the Second Presbyterian church, in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18, 19 and 20, 1874. At that convention the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized.

VI.—THE FIRST CONVENTION.

Certain noteworthy facts are connected with the first convention, of which Mrs. Jennie Fowler Willing was temporary chairman. There were present delegates from seventeen states, and four other states sent greetings. The seventeen states were Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, New Hampshire and California, and the states sending greetings were Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Upon the Resolutions Committee are found the names of Mrs. Zerelda G. Wallace, Mrs. Allen Butler, Mother Stewart, Mrs. J. S. Collins, Miss Frances E. Willard, Mrs. A. W. Black, Mrs. Mattie McClellan Brown and Mrs. H. N. K. Goff. "On motion of Miss Willard, Mother Stewart was made chairman."

The business consisted of reports of the Crusade from the several states, adopting the constitution for the new society, preparing the

Plan of Work and Resolutions, and the election of officers. The

Resolutions Committee brought in a quite complex report, which

consisted of an address to the women of America, a Plan of Work,

the Resolutions proper, and, last, a resolution with reference to

the celebration of the Centennial at Philadelphia. The address was

read by Mrs. M. M. Brown; the Resolutions, by Mother Stewart;

and the Centennial resolution, by Mrs. Gofif. The Plan of Work

(see Required Reading) was presented by Miss Willard and it

notable as embodying much that she afterwards worked out in the

Woman's Christian Temperance Union. It was at this convention

that Miss Willard offered the famous resolution:

Resolved, That, recognizing the fact that our cause is, and will be combatted by mig-hty, determined and relentless forces, we will, trusting In Him who is the Prince of Peace, meet argument with argument, misjudgment with patience, denunciation with kindness, and aU our difficulties and dangers with prayer.

An Appeal to the Women of all Nations was voted, and also a Memorial to the Congress of the United States. The constitution, as adopted, was presented by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster of Iowa, and the officers elected were: President, Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer of Pennsylvania; corresponding secretary. Miss Frances E. Willard of Illinois; recording secretary, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson of New York; treasurer, Mrs. W. A. Ingham of Ohio.

Chapter II. 1875— Cincinnati

The National Convention of the year 1875 was held in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 17-19. It may be noted, in passing, that the first scripture reading was given by Mrs. E. J. Thompson of Ohio, and embodied the 146th psalm as the passage "which had inspired her, 'one of the timid and weak ones of the earth,* to lead the first Crusade." The report of the corresponding secretary shows that there were twenty-one states auxiliary to the National society, but the report of the treasurer shows clearly that the basis of auxiliaryship at that early day was not a financial one, since nine only of the twenty-one states had paid dues into the National treasury, and the entire sum received for the year had been but $381.83.

Certain precedents seem to have been established and certain customs adopted in the convention of 1875 which are familiar to the frequenter of the National Convention of today. Introductions of fraternal delegates and of kindred organizations may be noted. For example, the National Temperance Society of New York was represented by Mr. J. M. Stearns, and the woman's work in Canada, by Mrs. Letitia Youmans, who was invited to meet with the Committee for International Convention. It is recorded that Mr. Stearns "spoke with warmth and fervor of the Crusade and its results. He referred to the dearth of temperance literature prior to the present work of women. He stated that women are now writing three-fourths of the temperance tracts and books, his society having paid five thousand dollars to women for the work of their pens in this behalf."

At this convention also "the ladies of New Jersey, through one of their delegates, Mrs. Denman, asked that the members of the union join with them in silent prayer in their mid-day meeting." And thus our Noon-tide prayer was established as a perpetual trysting time. The following committees were appointed: (a) On Resolutions; (b) on Juvenile Work; (c) on Young Ladies' Leagues; (d) on Lecture Bureau; (e) on Medical Commission; (f) on Bible Wines; (g) on Visitation to Medical Associations and to Representative Religious Bodies; (h) on Publication Interests; (1) on Finance; (j) on International Convention.

Of the special committees appointed at the previous convention, Mrs. Wittenmyer reported that ten thousand copies of the Memorial to the United States Congress had been printed and distributed throughout the land. "They were speedily returned and the signatures counted until 40,000 were reached; but when the memorials were returned, measuring from fifty to one hundred feet, the counting was discontinued, and they were marked 'uncounted thousands.' " The document was taken to Washington early in February and presented to the Senate by Senator Morton of Indiana. It was referred to the Committee on Finance, and both Mrs. Wittenmyer and Mrs. Sidmore of Washington spoke before that Committee. The Committee reported favorably, but the Senate adjourned before the business was reached. (A forerunner of many bills and petitions!)

Important reports were given by Mrs. Wittenmyer relative to the work done preparatory to the Centennial Exposition, and a memorial against the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Exposition grounds was unanimously adopted. Mrs. S. M. I. Henry gave an admirable report on Juvenile work which anticipated many of the methods afterward adopted by the Loyal Temperance Legion. The existence of an official organ, The Woman's Temperance Union, was announced, and the cordial co-operation of the entire organization was urged. Mrs. Zerelda G. Wallace of Indiana was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, and It is notable that the following resolution was passed, apparently without discussion:

Resolved J That since women are the greatest sufferers from the liquor traffic, and realizing that it is to be ultimately suppressed by means of the ballot, we, the Christian women of this land, in convention assembled, do pray Almighty God, and all good and true men, that the question of the prohibition of the liquor traffic shall be submitted to all adult citizens, irrespective of race, color or sex.

The following telegram was received from the American

Woman's Suffrage Association, In session in Steinway Hall, New

York:

Frances E. Willard, Secretary Woinan's National Temperance Convention: The American Woman's Suffrage Association bids your convention God-speed. Soon may women, armed with the ballot, help make the laws which concern human welfare.

MARY A. I.IVERMORE, President.

LUCY STONE, Chairman Ex. Com.

Mother Thompson and Miss Willard were appointed a committee to reply to this telegram, and they sent the following characteristic answer:

The W. N. C. T. U. returns your kindly greeting and In Christian faith and charity abides God's will awaiting His future providence.

CONVENTIONS, i87J-'7.9 13

The following list of officers was elected, all by acclamation and unanimous vote: President, Mrs. Aunie Wittenmyer; corresponding secretary, Miss Frances E. Willard; recording secretary, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson; assistant recording secretary, Mrs. Mary T. Burt; treasurer, Mrs. Abbie F. Leavitt.

1876— NEWARK.

The convention of our National Centennial year was held in Newark. N. J., in the Central Methodist church, October 25-28. On the first morning a Bible Reading was conducted by Mrs. Hannah Whitall Smith, whose name thus appears for the first time in connection with the W. C. T. U. The addresses of welcome were given by "Mother Hill" of Newark, and Mrs. Denman, state president, while the response was voiced in eloquent language by Mrs. Mary T. Lathrap of Michigan. The corresponding secretary gave reports from twenty-six states, not all of which were regularly organized. The treasurer reported receipts from twenty-two states and a total of $657.85 during the year, with a balance of $213.63 in the treasury. The report of the corresponding secretary is given by states, and shows marked progress. We quote the following paragraphs from the summing up of the whole:

Through the efforts of our committee appointed for that purpose, an International Temperance Convention of Women was held in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia (June 7 to 9 inclusive), which was attended by delegates from nearly all of the states, also from Canada, Great Britain and Japan, and from which resulted an International Woman's Temperance Union, the purpose of which is to bind the hearts and hands of women in all lands in earnest efforts for the overthrow of home's worst enemy.

Under the auspices of the National Temperance Society (Hon. William E. Dodge, president), an International Convention of temperance men and women immediately succeeded ours, in the same city, our delegates being welcomed to participate in all Its deliberations, and several of their number furnishing essays, by special invitation.

Miss Willard also records the setting apart of special days for the W. C. T. U. at the large summer gatherings, Old Orchard Beach, Lake Bluff, Chautauqua, Thousand Island Park, and others. The fact that Mrs. Wittenmyer and Mrs. Denman had made a trip to Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana in the interests of the organization, and that Mrs. Johnson and Mother Stewart had invaded Great Britain, is chronicled. She also says:

Our Union has circulated the petition to Congress for a Commission of Inquiry into the cost and results of the liquor traffic In America. 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.

Certain practical recommendations given by the secretary come to us as a prophecy of much that was to follow in after years. They were: 1. Industrial and evening schools. 2. Work for young women in schools and colleges. 3. A unification of the juvenile work. 4. Union church temperance prayer meetings once a quarter to be secured through the influence of local unions. 5. The circulation of a petition for Home Protection, asking that the ballot on the license question be given to women, also that liquor dealers be required to obtain the signatures of the majority of voters and of women over eighteen years of age before opening shops for the sale of intoxicating drinks. The report was accepted, copies were ordered to be published at once for distribution among the delegates, and the recommendations were referred to the Business Committee.

Important reports were presented by the Committee on Medical Commission (Mrs. Wittenmyer, chairman), by the standing committee on Young Ladies' Leagues (Miss Willard, chairman), by the Lyceum Bureau (Mrs. S. A. McClees, chairman), by the Committee on Juvenile Work (Mrs. Dr. Crane, chairman), by the Standing Committee on Bible Wines (Mrs. Wittenmyer, chairman), and by Mrs. Hannah Whitall Smith, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions. The first and second resolutions were as follows:

Resolved^ That by prayer, persuasion and petition, we will seek to influence those strongholds of power, the National Congress, state legislatures, and municipal authorities whence the rum-shop derives its safeguards and its guarantees, and

Resolved, That to this end we will combine our efforts to secure such legislation as shall require the liquor dealers in every state, except In such states as have a prohibition law in actual force, to obtain the signatures of a majority of the women over twenty-one years of age, as well as that of the voters of any locality, before opening a place for the sale of intoxicating drinks.

This resolution was adopted and a committee appointed to prepare the Home Protection Petition, Mrs. Caroline B. Buell, chairman.

At this convention we see for the first time the familiar name of Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens of Maine, who was made chairman of the Press Committee, and here Robert's Rules of Order was adopted as the parliamentary authority for the National W. C. T. U.

The ofiicers elected were the same as the preceding year, with the addition of Mrs. Sarah K. Bolton, who, at Miss Willard's request, was made assistant corresponding secretary.

1877— CHICAGO.

Farwell Hall, Chicago, was the place for the gathering of the fourth annual Convention, on October 24-27. The addresses of wel-

CONVENTIONS, 1875-'79 15

come were given by Mrs. Matilda B. Carse and Miss Willard, and the responses by Mrs. Burt and Mrs. Bolton. The address of President Wittenmyer contained some practical suggestions, the closing suggestion being so radical that it is worthy of preservation in the archives of history:

I advise that another memorial be prepared for circulation during the year that may be presented during the session (Congressional) of 1879, and may be the largest ever laid before any official body — a petition long enough to reach from the ice-fields of the St. Lawrence to the orange orchards of Florida. I would like to see in that petition a clause asking for the disfranchisement of the habitual drunkard. This will strip the liquor dealers of their mightiest weapons in politics, and take out of our party contests the more combustible and dangerous elements.

The treasurer's report showed a total receipt of $614.73 from seventeen states, with a balance on hand of $398.94. The corresponding secretary presented reports from twenty-five states, nearly all showing a rapid advancement. She gave practical recommendations concerning, (1) Organization, (2) Gospel Meetings, (3) Enlisting the Press, (4) Influencing Other Organizations, (5) Our Union, (6) Sunday Schools and Public Schools, (7) Temperance Literature, (8) Union Temperance Prayer-meetings, (9) Petitions, (10) Friendly Inns, (11) The Pledge, (12) Capital and Labor. She recorded many signs of promise, chief among them being the influence going out from the White House in Washington through the brave stand taken against liquors by the wife of the President, Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes.

At this convention the badge of the organization was definitely decided upon. The committee first recommended a badge of royal purple and violet; this was amended to a bow of white ribbon with a cross of red and an anchor of blue combined, woven in the fabric and stamped with the initials, "W. C. T. U." Miss Margaret E. Winslow, editor of Our Union, moved to substitute a bow of white ribbon with "W. C. T. U." in gold letters. This, after much discussion, was finally adopted by the convention.

The resolutions were presented by Mrs. J. S. Kennard of New York, and the 13th resolution was as follows:

Resolved, That, as the responsibility of the training of the children and youth rests largely upon woman, she ought to be allowed to open or close the rum-shop door over against her home.

It was moved to strike out this resolution, and the first discussion upon the subject of woman's suffrage upon the floor of the National W. C. T. U. Convention then followed. The motion to strike out was lost, and the resolutions as presented were adopted by a vote of forty to twenty-six.

The development of lines of work may be seen from the fact that,

16 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE W. C. T. V,

to the regular Standing Committees of that year were added committees on Outdoor Gospel Work, on Southern Work, on Systematic Bible Readings for use of the W. C. T. U., on Securing Co-operation from Reformed Men, on Work for Fallen Women, and on Prison Reform. The officers elected were: Mrs. Wittenmyer, president; Mrs. Mary T. Burt, corresponding secretary (Miss Willard having declined re-election) ; Mrs. Louise S. Rounds, assistant corresponding secretary; Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, recording secretary; Mrs. Mary A, Woodbridge (for the first time brought into National prominence at this convention, though a power in Ohio before this time), assistant recording secretary; Mrs. Abbie P. Leavitt, treasurer.

1878— BALTIMORE.

Eutaw St. Methodist Episcopal church, Baltimore, Md., was the mecca for the fifth annual convention, November 6-11. The addresses of welcome were given by Mrs. M. A. Reilly and Mrs. Georgia McLeod of Baltimore (the latter address in verse), while the response was given by Mrs. Mary T. Lathrap of Michigan. In her annual address the President, among many other encouraging signs, said: "The amount of alcohol used in cookery has been decreased within the last five years at least three-fourths. The amount of alcohol used as a medicine and a tonic has been decreased at least one-third, the International Medical Congress and most of the state Medical Associations having been brought to consider the matter and to give oflacial rulings in the interest of temperance, through the efforts of this society."

The corresponding secretary gave reports of work in twenty-five states, and the treasurer showed receipts amounting to $665.69, with a balance of $362.17. The pretty custom of gift making in token of loving appreciation seems to have been introduced at this convention, for Mrs. Eliza J. Thompson was presented with a Crusade quilt, and Mother Stewart with a fine linen table cover, the gift of temperance friends in Ireland. Dwight L. Moody, by special invitation, addressed the convention.

The long deferred debate relative to the wisdom of advocating the ballot in the hands of women, on the license question only, occupied a large part of the proceedings of the convention. The subject was precipitated by the action of the oflicial organ, through its editor, in refusing space to communications upon this subject from states which were making the Home Protection petition the strong point of their work. Miss Willard, as a member of the Publishing Committee, gave a full and frank statement of the situation during the year. It seems strange to watch the evolution of thought

CONVENTIONS, lS7o-'70 17

upon this subject and to note many well-known names, since pronounced in their advocacy of woman's suffrage, who then greatly feared the disintegration of the entire society if women's right to vote upon the licensing question were conceded. After prolonged discussion, the matter relative to the paper was settled by the passage of the following resolution: "That the Publishing Committee be requested to conduct Our Union as a temperance paper, and as the organ of this association of Christian women, not excluding any courteous and valuable discussion of any branch of the temperance question."

Miss Willard, as chairman of the Resolutions Committee, presented, among others, the following:

Resolved, That while we stand by our action in the past, as recorded In the Home Protection petition and in the thirteenth resolution of last year, we are as an organization, and have been from the first, thoroughly committed agrainst in any way affiliating with the woman sufCrage movement as being irrelevant to our work.

Even so conservative a statement as this was not allowed to pass

the convention, but Mrs. Burt moved as a substitute:

Resolved, That while we would not trammel our members In the exercise of their private views, yet we believe that as a society we can best subserve the interests of God and humanity by going before the public with one issue; therefore we deprecate the introduction of any side question.

After another long discussion, the amendment carried by a vote of 73 to 54.

The following resolution is of interest as bearing upon present-day problems: -

Resolved, That while we recognize with gratitude the action of our National Government in banishing from the army and navy (as rations) alcoholic stimulants, confining them to the medicine chest, we earnestly pray that the social custom of drinking among ofiicers and those in authority may be speedily discontinued by individual enlightenment of conscience and knowledge of the danger involved.