Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1910-09-23
What Is the ". c. 7. U.?

1t is an organization of Christian
women banded together for the protec-
ton Of the home, the abolition of the
liquor traffic and the triumph of Christ s
golden rule in custom and in law.
The organization of the national W.
G. T. U. was in November, 1874, in
Cleveland, Ohio, and it was incorporated
in March, 1888, at Washington, D. G..
Its growth las been wonderful, for it is
now organized in every state and terri
tory in the union, including the District
Of Columbia and Hawaii, and locally in
about lO, 900 towns and cities. 1t is the
largest society composed exclusively Of
women and conducted entirely by them
The basis Of membership is that each
member is required to sign the pledge,
which is ss follows:
II hereby solemnlY promise, God
helping me, to abstain from all distilled,
fermented and malt hqnors, including
wine, beer aud cidsr. As . beverage, and
to employ all proper means to discour-
age the use Of and traffic In the came, {"
and to pay the ANIMAL membership dnes,
which in this state are sixty cents, or
five cents per month.
The national motto of this great or
gsnization is, "For God and Home and
Native Land" and the badge, the little
knot of white ribbon, which is symbolic
not only Of purity and peace, but it in
cludes all, the correlated reforms that
center in the protection of the home.
The noontlde hour is the trysting
hour, when each white ribboner the
world over is expected TO lift her heart
to God in prayer for His blessing on the
work and workers and the abolition of
the liquor system and the overthrow of
its allies.
What is the scope of the national ".
G. 7. U? some might ask. It exists for
the purpose # educating the young,
forming better putac sentiment, re-
forming the drinking classes and secur-
ing the entire adjustment of the liquor
traffic.
Men have place in our organization,
but only as honorary members" since
we believe that the need which called
for a separate organization still exists.
If in the future woman is to take her
place side by side with man in all of
life's relations, she must fit herself for
that position. To him has been given
the training of the ages; to her, little
more than quarter of . century. To
be companion and helpmate she needs
to understan the great problems Of the
day, to be able to look into them, dis
cuss them with him and be in touch
with all his lines Of work and govern
ment and through her finer nature,
more delicate and sensitive penetration,
help him to find the way to higher
ideals, and through her refining inf1u-
ence carry him TO the accomplishment
of deeds for the uplifting and better
ment of mankind
Some of the principal results which
the organization has been instrumental
in securing are statutory prohibition
and constitutional amendments and the
snactment Of other reform laws. 1t
began the movement for scientific tenn
perxnce education in the public schools,
having been instrumental in securing
laws to that end in all the states. Its
efforts 70 influence college students and
10 train and organize them for . philan-
thropic life; its evaneelistic work among
uon-churchgoers, railway employees,
soldiers, lumbermen, miners, and espe-
ciaIIy for the drinking men of all
classes, have proved its comprehensive
nees aud the tirelessness Of its energy.
It's efforts % reach the pauper and the
prisoner, TO establish reformatories and
homes for che wretched victims Of in
abriety and their suffering children, and
i-s Temperance F(oyer Mission, mnst
an zeal to every heart.
When every Christian woman shall
wear the white ribbon the day of vic
{ nv over the liquor traffic with the long
line Of crimes following in it's wake
shall be ut hand.
MINNIE WYNN QUIGLEY,
Cor. Sec.