OUR CANADIAN W.C.T.U.
_History and Present Condition._
ONTARIO.
The first union in Canada, of which we have any record, was formed
in Owen Sound, Ont. In the spring of 1874, shortly after the first
note of the crusade had been sounded, a few earnest Christian ladies
of that place, stirred by the report of what God was doing through
their sisters in the Western States, meet to devise some plan, by
which they could do something if not to prevent, at least to lessen
the evils of intemperance in their town. At this meeting, held on the
20th of May, a W.C.T.U. was organized under the presidency of Mrs.
Doyle. The first work done by this Union was the general circulation
of the pledge, and petitioning the council against granting saloon
licenses, also asking that the number of tavern licenses be lessened,
which request was granted. Petitions were also sent to the
legislature at Toronto, asking for amendments to the license act, and
the resolution to submit the Dunkin act to the people of that county
was the result of the persistent efforts of the W.C.T.U. In the
campaign for this purpose these ladies nobly assisted and stood side
by side with other and older temperance organizations laboring for
the general good.
Picton Union was formed in the autumn of the same year, and the
ladies of that Union aided largely in securing the passage of the
Dunkin act in that county (P. E.). From this time unions were formed
here and there, but there was no bond of union, no provincial society
for Ontario until, in 1877, October 23rd and 24th, a conference of
the existing unions was held in Toronto, and it was there decided to
organize a Provincial Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Delegates
were present from twenty-five unions, more than two-thirds of the
local unions thus showing their interest in the object for which they
had met. At this conference Mrs. Letitia Youmans presided, and at its
close the officers elected were: President, Mrs. L. Youmans; Vice-
presidents, one from each county; Cor. Sec., Miss Phelps, St.
Catharines; Rec. Sec., Miss Alien, Kingston; Treasurer Mrs. Judge
Jones, Brantford. For five years Mrs. Youmans was the beloved
president of this provincial union, during which time she travelled
extensively through Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces (as
well as in the United States), organizing unions, and doing very much
by her earnest and eloquent addresses to convince the public mind of
the unrighteousness of the liquor traffic, and the necessity for its
overthrow.
During the last few years Ontario has shared in the general growth
of temperance sentiment, and in common with other temperance
organizations the W.C.T.U. has received an increase in membership,
and has obtained a surer, warmer place in the hearts of the people.
Recently, owing, no doubt, to the agitation of the Scott Act contest
in many counties, and owing, too, to the earnestness and energy of
many of the county superintendents of the Provincial Union, the
number of societies has been more than doubled. The Ontario
Provincial Union now comprises ninety-six unions, with a membership
of about 2,600. The attention of this Provincial Union has been
largely directed to the importance of introducing scientific
instruction in our public schools. Dr. Richardson's "Temperance
Lesson Book," and other text books on this subject, have been widely
circulated in teachers' conventions and elsewhere; petitions have
been presented to school boards, literature on the subject has been
widely distributed, and during the spring months, while the Hon.
Minister of Education was visiting the public schools at different
points, he was waited upon in many places by deputations from the
W.C.T. Unions, asking that temperance text books be introduced into
the schools of Ontario.
The committee to whose care this branch of the work is committed,
also had an interview with Hon. Mr. Ross, Minister of Education, and
presented a petition from the W.C.T. Unions, and other temperance
societies, asking that scientific instruction in temperance be given
to the children of the public schools. The Hon. Minister informed the
deputation that a book on "Physiology and Hygiene," having special
reference to the effect of alcohol on the human system, was now in
course of preparation, and would be introduced in the course of study
for next year.
Medical conventions and assemblies have been approached, and
correspondence had with synods, conferences and assemblies, on the
medical uses of alcohol, and the use of the unfermented juice of the
grape at the Lord's table. Many thousands of tracts have been sent
out from the literature department of this Union (which department is
just in its infancy), and a large number of newspapers supplied
regularly with temperance items.
General Officers of the Ontario W.C.T.U.--President, Mrs. A.
Chisholm, 218 Albert Street, Ottawa; Ex-President, Mrs. Letitia
Youmans, Picton; First Vice-President, Mrs. Tilton, Ottawa; Second
Vice-President, Mrs. Cowan, Toronto; Recording Secretary, Miss
Orchard, Galt; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Fawcett, Maple;
Treasurer, Mrs. Brethour, Milton.
Three Y.W.C.T. Unions in Ontario, at Hamilton, Ottawa, and Essex
Centre, are doing good work in this temperance warfare. "Boys' night
schools," "girls' sewing schools," and "bands of hope" are
successfully carried on under their supervision. There are eleven
departments of work in connection with this provincial union,
corresponding to some of those so successfully controlled by the N.
W. C. T. U.
Plan of Work and Lecture Department, Mrs. Tilton, Convener.
Literature, Mrs. Pratt, Convener, Hamilton.
Prison and Jail Work, Mrs. Rutherford, Convener, Toronto.
Legislative, Mrs. Youmans, Picton.
Press, Miss M. Phelps, Convener, St. Catharines.
Unfermented Wine at the Lord's table. Miss Wilmot, Convener, Milton.
County Fairs.
S. S. Temperance Work and Juvenile Unions, Mrs. Andrews, Convener.
Presenting Claims of Temperance to Influential Bodies, Mrs. M.
Fawcett, Maple.
Scientific Instruction in Temperance, Miss Orchard, Owen Sound.
Y.W.C.T.U. Work, Miss Scott, Ottawa.
QUEBEC.
In the year 1877, a W.C.T.U. was organized at Stanstead, P.Q., by
Mrs. Charles W. Pierce, of Boston, who, for a few months, also filled
the office of president. This Union was composed of members from
three villages, viz.: Stanstead Plain, Rock Island, P.Q., and Derby
Line, Vermont. Public meetings were held from time to time by this
Union, prominent lecturers engaged, and a lively interest in
temperance matters was manifested by the general public. Very much of
the success of this Union is due to the counsel and instruction given
by Miss Willard during her visit to Stanstead in 1878.
The next Union formed was the Huntingdon Union, but it was not until
the winter of 1882-83 that the W.C.T.U. work may be said to have
gained a foothold in this Province. During this winter, Mrs. Youmans
visited many places in the Province by invitation of the late Rev.
Thomas Gales and prominent Christian ladies, giving public addresses
and urging the ladies to more active work in this particular branch
of Christian endeavor. The result of her labors was the formation of
sixteen Unions and a general quickening and awakening to temperance
truth.
These Unions were soon at work. The education of the children in
temperance principles received their special attention. Public
temperance meetings were promoted, literature distributed, free
reading rooms established, petitions circulated against license,
temperance picnics, cottage and other meetings held, and a great
amount of individual work done that has greatly aided and
strengthened the cause of temperance in the Province. A Y.W.C.T.U.
was formed at Point St. Charles, which is engaged in active work and
will be found to be a social power whose weight and influence for
good cannot well be estimated.
On the 16th and 17th October, 1883, a meeting of delegates from
local Unions was held in Montreal for the purpose of organizing a
Provincial Union for the Province of Quebec. Thirty-five delegates
were present; encouraging reports were given from the different
Unions represented, showing a total membership of about 1,000, and a
Provincial Union was at once organized with the following officers:--
President, Mrs. Middleton, Quebec; first Vice-President, Mrs. Dunkin,
Knowlton; second Vice-President, Mrs. Walker, Montreal; Corresponding
Secretary. Miss Lamb, Quebec; Recording Secretary, Mrs. R. W.
McLachlan, Montreal; Treasurer, Mrs. A. M. McKenzie Forbes, Montreal.
In the organization of this Provincial Union, Mrs. E. McLaughlin, of
Boston, Miss Anna Gordon (Miss Willard's secretary) and Mrs. S. W.
Foster, of Knowlton, rendered valuable assistance.
The departments of work arranged by this Provincial Union, are as
follows:--
Heredity and Hygiene, Mrs. D. V. Lucas, Supt., Montreal.
Scientific Work, Mrs. Norton, Montreal.
Juvenile and S.S. Work, Miss Rhynas, Montreal.
Temperance Literature, and Influencing the Press, Mrs. Jack,
Chateauguay Basin.
Evangelistic Work, Miss Knowles, East Farnham.
Prison and Police Work, Mrs. Dean, Quebec.
Work among Intemperate Women, Mrs. Barker, Knowlton.
Social Work, Mrs. C. T. Williams, Montreal.
Legislation, Mrs. Geggie, Quebec.
Each County Vice-President is, to a certain extent, responsible for
the work in her county, and in this Province as well as in Ontario,
they have proved themselves to be a band of faithful and efficient
workers. In the short time which has elapsed since the formation of
the Provincial W.C.T.U., and the election of county vice-president,
with the assistance of their president, twenty new Unions have been
added, making, in all, thirty-seven Unions, with a total membership
of about 2,300. Of this number, more than 1,300 are in the City of
Montreal. In this particular Union the fee is optional, which may
account, in some measure, for the seeming disproportion in members.
THE MARITIME PROVINCES.
The first local union in the Province of New Brunswick was organized
in the town of Moncton, in December, 1875, Mrs. (Rev.) J. E. Brown
being president. Work among the children has largely engaged the
attention of this society, while they have been faithful and
persevering in their efforts to educate the public mind by means of
lectures and distribution of temperance literature. They have also
visited those engaged in selling liquors, and have reasoned with
them, to some purpose, on the unrighteousness of their course.
Unions were formed shortly after in St. John, Fredericton, Portland,
Carleton and St. Stephen's. In all these places much work has been
done, and general temperance sentiment very materially advanced.
In October, 1879, in compliance with a call issued by the
Fredericton Union, the delegates of the local Unions in that Province
met to form a Provincial Union. Twenty delegates and visitors were
present, representing five Unions, and the Prov. Union was at once
organized, the following officers being elected:
President, Mrs. Dunham, Portland, N.B.; Vice-Presidents, Mrs.,
March, St. John, Mrs. McWilliams, Carleton, Mrs. Cunard, Portland,
Mrs. Philips, Fredericton, Mrs. Wade, Woodstock; Secretary, Mrs.
Steadman, Fredericton; Treasurer, Miss Lockhart, St. John; Auditor,
Miss Carr, Carleton.
Since that time the work in this Province has gone steadily forward,
some new Unions have been added, and a deeper interest in temperance
shown, by many who were formerly indifferent.
In September, 1883, the Annual Meeting of this Provincial Union was
again held in Fredericton, at which, invited delegates from N.S. and
P.E.I. were present. Here it was decided that for the best interests
of the Union work in those Eastern Provinces, the organization should
be made Maritime instead of Provincial, representing Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward's Island, as well as New Brunswick. This was done, and
the following officers were elected:
President, Mrs. Dr. Todd, St. Stephen. Vice-Presidents, one from
each Local Union. Secretary, Miss Ella L. Thorne, Fredericton, N.B.;
Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Denistadt, Moncton, N.B.; Auditor, Mrs. W.
W. Turnbull, St John, N.B.; Treasurer, Miss Jane Lockhart, St. John,
N.B.
There are ten Unions in these Provinces. The exact number of members
is not furnished, but if we may judge by the work accomplished, there
must be very many workers in behalf of this cause in these Eastern
Provinces.
The lines of work followed have been similar to those laid down by
the other Provincial Unions. The ladies of St John Union have,
however, with the assistance of other Unions, and private
subscriptions, erected a drinking fountain in their city at a cost of
about $850. This is the first fountain erected by W.C.T.U. in Canada.
The Portland Union has built a hall for its own use, where all Union
meetings are held.
Coffee houses and temperance hotels have been established, libraries
have been opened, and much attention paid to the scientific
instruction in temperance to the children of the public schools.
The Provincial Union of British Columbia was formed in 1883, and
comprised two local Unions, one in Victoria, organized at the same
time as Provincial, and the other in New Westminster. Total
membership 120. In addition to the branches of work undertaken by the
other provincial Unions, this society has declared in favor of the
ballot for women.
President, Mrs., (Rev.) Pollard, Victoria, B.C., Cor. Sec. Mrs. D.
A. Jenkins, Victoria, B.C.
In Manitoba two local Unions have been organized. One in Winnipeg,
Mrs. Monk, president, Mrs. Somerset, Secretary; and one Union in
Brandon, President, Mrs. Davidson; Secretary, Mrs. Bliss. These are
just beginning the good work, but at the end of another year, will
have, doubtless, a record to give of many useful measures planned and
executed, by means of which reformatory, educational, preventive and
legislative work will have been effectually accomplished. Our
Canadian women gratefully acknowledge the aid given us by many of our
sisters across the border, who have greatly assisted us from time to
time with wise counsel and stirring words of appeal. Especially do
they remember the inspiration and fresh courage that came to them
with the presence and influence of Miss Willard. The formation of the
Dominion Union was largely due to her counsel, and to her visit and
eloquent addresses we owe the British Columbia Union, provincial and
local. Mrs. Emily McLaughlin has also won the hearts of all with whom
she came in contact during her visits in Canada, and a large
accession to the membership of the Unions has always followed her
powerful and persuasive utterances.
THE DOMINION W.C.T.U.
For some months previous to the meeting of the Ontario Provincial
Union in October, 1883, a correspondence had been carried on between
some of the leading temperance women in the different Provinces,
regarding the advisability of forming a Dominion Union. All were in
favor of taking this step if any additional good could be gained, or
if it would be of benefit to any. With this feeling, and acting upon
the advice of Miss Willard, president of the N.W.C.T.U., who was
present at the meeting, the Ontario convention appointed a committee
consisting of Mrs. Chisholm and Mrs. Strachan, to confer with the
executive of the Quebec Provincial Union, for the purpose of forming
a Dominion Union, At the interview with the Quebec Provincial
Executive, it was stated that from private letters received from
other Provinces, there would be no difficulty in the way of
organizing the proposed Union. It was also suggested that, in the
event of such organization, no meeting should be called before 1885,
as some of the Provincial Unions had so recently been formed, and
would need all the thought and care that could be given them for a
time, at least.
After some questions and explanations, with a little discussion, it
was decided that a Dominion Union be organized. A constitution was
drawn up, similar to the one in use by the N.W.C.T.U., of the United
States, and the following officers elected: President, Mrs. L.
Youmans, Picton, Ont.; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. A. C. Chisholm, Ottawa,
Ont.; Mrs. Middleton, Quebec; Mrs. Dr. Todd, Fredericton, N.B.; Mrs.
Rev. Pollard, Victoria, B.C.; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Major
Tilton, Ottawa, Ont.; Recording Secretary, Miss Renaud, Montreal,
P.Q.; Treasurer, Mrs. Judge Steadman, Fredericton, N. B.
The aim of this Union will be to unite more closely in their work,
the Christian temperance women of the different Provinces, and to
devise plans for the general good, these to be largely carried out by
the Provincial Unions. Its first meeting will be held during the
session of Parliament at Ottawa in 1885.