Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-05-02
A QUARTER CENTURY
OF THE ". C. I. U.
INTERESTING HISTORY OF THE
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Contributed by the Superintendent of
the Press Department.

The WOman's Christian Temperance
Union of Phoenix was organized in
1884 on the first day of May.
The tenth anniversary was observ-
ed by public meeting. The follow
ing account appeared in The Arizona
Republican of Thursday, May 8, 1894.
ION May l, 1884, the Women's
Christian Temperance Union was or
ganized. and the event was duly Gel
ebrated on Tuesday evening at the
Baptist church. The house was deco
rated with a magnificent arrangement
of the choices of flowers, contributed
by the many friends of the union.
Notwithstanding two large May day
picnics had been held at parks near
the city and most of the citizens had
attended one or the other of these
picnics and others had been to a cele-
ebration at Tempe and another at
traction existed at the same time in
the shape of bands of music and
fireworks, and a torch light process
sion celebrating a successful election
by one of the political parties, the
church was filled with the best citi-
zens Of the city, fully half of whom
were gentlemen.
NO better compliment could have
been paid the noble women of the w.
c. T. L. of Phoenix than the large
audience present Tuesday night, and
at the close of the meeting many
were the words of congratulation ex-
tended TO the officers present.
Mrs. Matte Quinn president of the
union presided. Mrs. Anna Battin,
vice president, conducted the musical
part of the program. Ms. May Por-
ter was at the organ, and the ever
faithful Redewill brothers furnished
some of the choicest music as accom-
paniment to the organ"
The article is too long to reproduce
entirely but glancing thorugh we no.
tice the following names and numbers
on the program:
Mrs. Eliza Ingalls, read a history of
the union; Mrs. NJ Quinn read 4
paper; Mrs. L. c. Hughes, president
of the territorial union read a paper
Governor Hughes gave an address
and the Hon. J. a. Marshall gave a
recitation.
On May ., 1899, Mrs. Lillian NJ. n.
Stevens, president of the national w.
c. T. u. and Miss Anna Gordon, vice
president, visited Phoenix, and meet
ings and a reception were again held
in the little old Baptist church on
South Second Ave. This was not
planned as a celebration of the fif-
teenth anniversary, but it was called
our birthday party" and the union
delighted to entertain the honored
guests on that occasion. Mrs. A B.
Buckley was then president, and Mrs.
Anna Battin. Mrs. a. J. Sturger and
Mrs. A. V. Van DOren were the senior
members.
1t is a matter for regret that the
union cannot celebrate its twenty
fifth anniversary in a manner befit-
ting the occasion: but the illness of
some Of the members made it seem
impracticable to attempt public
demonstration. However, a short his
tory of the organization and work of
the union may be interesting.
In March, 1884, Mrs. E A. ingalls,
received a letter from Mrs. Clenden-
ming. wife of Col. Clendenning of
Whipple Barracks, Prescott, Arizona,
on the Importance of organizing a w
called for April 10th. The meeting
was called to order by Mrs ingalls,.
Mrs. Harriet p. Hine was chosen to
preside, and Mrs. NJ z. Millay was
elected secretary. No organization
was effected until May 1st, when the
following officers We're elected: Pres
ident, Mrs. Judge Pinney; vice presi-
dents, Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Ruth Whar-
ton, Mrs. A. Montgomery, Mrs. Rev.
Chapman: vice president at Large,
Mrs. H. p. Hine; treasurer, Miss Dole,
secretary, Mrs. McNul-
ty; recording secretary, Mrs. w f.
Millay. Mrs. Pinney did not qualify
and Mrs. ingalls, was elected presi-
dent.
The union rented rooms in the old
GarGinar building and opened free
reading room.
Occasionally free entertainments or
socials were given for the benefit of
young men in the city without homes. !
On account of high rent the rooms
were closed, and were not reopened
until 1887. They were then open only
a few months.
When the union was first organ