The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-22
Great Work of the
Crusaders Of "A.
QUARTER CENTURY
" Mother Clifford Hopes to
See Liquor Traffic Killed.

After a quarter of a century of active
life begun under the most unpromising
circumstances and brought to a sue
cessful fruition only after the most
persistent effort, the Christian Crus-
aders of "a yesterday celebrated their
silver anniversary with exercises be-
fitting such an occasion. The entire
day was given up to the exercises and
all Of the meetings were largely attend
ed by those who still are interested in
the work started SO many years ago by
brave band OF faithful women.
The exercises We're held yesterday in
the vestry Of Grace NJ. r. Church,
which was the home of the movement
in this city in March, 1874 The sur
vivors of the original band. about fifty
IN number met in the same room in
which the organization was perfected
which has resulted in accomplishing so
much good for the cause of temperance
throughout the country.
The morning and afternoon meetings
We're IN charge OF the president, Mrs
NJ. J. Churchill, and were informal and
social In their nature. The occasion
was marked by the presence of Mrs
Susan E. Clifford, or as she is lovingly
called by all members of the band
Mother Clifford" Mrs. Clifford was
the first president of the organization.
ana was instrumental in the successful
work that was undertaken and pursued
fer many years by the ladies in this
ana other cities throughout the couu-
try. Although over eighty years of
age, she is yet active, and at the meet
Ing last evening told in an interesting
aud pathetic manner of the early days
OF the Praying Women's Temperance
Cpton, as the organization was orig
lnaRly known.
The vestry of the church had been
tastefully and appropriately decorated
for the occasion with tropical plants
and flowers. Over the platform was a
motto, silver letters on a dark ground,
Crusaders. 1874-1S99. The anniversary
meeting held in the evening was full Of
interest to all White Ribboners, and to
the members of the Reform Club. which
was the outgrowth of the movement
The exercises were opened with singing
by quartet composed of Mr.. and Mrs
Edmund r. Cummins, Mrs. A w.
Gould and W. T. Knapp, OF THE friend
that watteth night This was followed
by readings of the 146th Psalm, the
Crusaders psalm, by the entire assem-
blage. Mother Clifford then offered a
prayer Of thanksgiving and praise for
the work that had been accomplished
in the intervening years of the organic
alton existence. Mr. Cummins then
sang The clang of the forge"
The most interesting part of the pro-
gram was the reading of the historical
address by the secretary, Mrs Helen
De Camp, who traced minutely the
stages of the society's growth from the
very beginning to the passing of the
18th milestone. In March 1874. a COM
pany of women met in Grace church
for the purpose of discussing the pro-
Ject of forming an active organization
to make an attack upon the vice of in
temperance Previous to this meeting
there had been one of ministers The
first gathering after the formation Of
the order was held in the Friends meet
ing house on Oxford street This wa
followed on March 2, 1874, by a mass
meeting in Mechanics hall where pledg-
ca We're drawn up and sent to all class
es and conditions of people in the city,
many being sent even to saloon keepers
One week from that time the name
Praying Women's Temperance Union"
was adopted, which. was the forerunner
Of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union of today.
On the 18th Of March following, bands
were organized to begin active work,
and from this meeting they went out
into the saloons of the city, and there
held their meetings and pursued their
relentless work in the cause of temper
oiiNC' W lllliu Tie IITSJ year, over three
hundred saloons had been visited, and
many OF the owners had been induced
10 forSake the traffic and seek q nobler
calling One Of the tIme-honored Gus
toms that had to be combatted at that
Tune was the practice of serving liquor
to frenen, and the women inaugurated
the practice Of serving in its place hot
c0tfee. cheese and sandwiches March
Is, 1879. marked the first appearance in
this city OF Miss Frances Willard, and
in November Of the same year, the
white ribbon movement was begun,
which has spread until today it encom-
passes the globe.
In moEe recent years the organization
has been less active, although the 23d
and 24th anniversaries have been mark
ed with appropriate celebrations. The
meetings Of the union have :>een held
at the residences of the members, and
also at the county Jail, at the Welcome
Mission and like places, where their
good work might be appreciated, In
closing her address, Mrs. De Camp
thanked the press Of the city for the
many courtesies which had been ex-
tended to the union during the past
quarter of a century
Letters Of congratulatory nature
We're read from many of the original
members who We're prevented from be-
ing present, and also from Hon Alfred
S. Roe. Mrs. Caroline G. Earle, the first
secretary of the organization, who is
at present in the west, and who is pre-
pairing a history of the union. Mr.
Cummings sang In rose garden"
Mrs. Susan e. Clifford of Princeton
Mother Clifford then spoke in a rem
inscent vein Of the early days of the
union and Of the brave women who
composed the Crusaders who made
such a stubborn fight against the evil
of the saloon.
the movement from the start, and the
vote at the election directly following
the organization of the union, was an
overwhelming victory for the temper
aHce cause in this city and in many
Be Sure To Demand and See That You Cate 1