The Portland daily press., 1897-11-06
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W. G. T. U. WEEKLY MEETINGS.

An unusually large and interesting
meeting of the W. G. T. U. was held at
their rooms So Oak street yesterday after
noon, with Mrs. W. Fl. Hobbs In the
chair. The subject of the meeting was
the "Growth of Temperance, which
was shown by careful comparison Of the
various temperance organizations, begin
ing in 1885, when the laws Of Massachu.
sets and Connecticut. In 1885, DIR. Rush
of Philadelphia, man well-known at
that time for his advocacy Of temperance
principles, published volume of medical
essays, one of which attracted immediate
attention by it's attitude toward the tenn
perance question. Societies began to
spring up advocating abstinence from
distilled liquors; beer, wine and cider
being allowed. 1t is interesting to trace
the growth of public sentiment as
shown in these organizations. In 1889
we have the farmers pledge; in 1908, a
society with the striking name Of the
James Billy Clark society. From these
little local bodies there grew state So
cieties for the suppression of intemper-
duC6, Uu6 uT5t Quc VI WAlCn Was UnO 4Ol1-
perance Society of Massachusetts,, orga-
nized in 1913. The American Society for
the Promotion of Temperance was orga-
nized in 1926, followed by the Washing
tonian movement in 1910, the Sons of
Temperance in 1S42, the Good Templars
in 1851. In that same year was enacted
the Maine law. In 1866 the movement
had spread until 1t had become national
in its character, and the first National
Temperance Society was formed. 1t is
interesting to note that this society was
based on total abstinence from not only
all distilled liquors, but from every form
of intoxicating drink. This society is a
most important one with headquarters
in New York. 1t is in the hands of 30
managers, who are non-sectarian and
non-partisan. 1t has ice-presidents in
each state. 1t owns a large publishing
house with catalogue Of 2100 books,
from little leafet up to the 10O0-page
page volume. Its organ is the National
Temperance Advooategwhioh wages war
against the cigarette and other forms of
tobacco. In 1869 the Prohibition party
was organized whose work is SO familiar
that it will not need recapitulation.
In 1872 the Catholic community was
aroused to the.necessity of organizing an
aggressive temperance movement and the
Catholic Total Abstinence society was
formed. In 1874 the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union came into being and
is the largest temperance organization
in the world, having in round numbers
5, 600, GOO of members. This grew out of
the celebrated Woman's Crusade move
ment of the West, and was, as Miss Will
lard expresses it, "the sober second
thought of the Crusade In every part
of the world it is known. 1t has it's 40
departments of work, all under the care
of able superintendent. 1t is the best
organized society in the country, if not
in the world. the meeting was made
additionally interesting by two very
young misses who sung the oldest tenn
perance song ever published. 1t was
literary curiosity.
The same subject, "The Growth Of
Temperance Work." will be continued at
these meetings, announcements of which
will be given in the daily papers. All
are earnestly invited to attend them and
all the meetings of the Union.