In the beginning of the decade of years which are known as the ‘forties,’ there were gathering forces of a distinctively moral movement which had for its object the regeneration of society. Re-proclamation of an old truth in new form took aggressive phase of agitation against the evils of intemperance with a view to lessen them. The instrument employed was the ever truthful and laudable agency of moral suasion. In due time there came into the purview of such as were enlisted heart and soul in this noble effort, the additional agency of suppression by means of legal enactment. This first and new demonstration gathered momentum until 1856, when it seems to have spent its force in electing Myron A. Clark, of Canandaigua, to the governorship of New York. A glance at the early endeavors which led to the upheaval of society and had a widespread effect for good, enables us to see the sway of the agitation in that part of the state where dwelt the honorable subject of this memorial. The movement had taken form in the concrete by virtue of an organization named the Washingtonian Society. To the influences of this society we are indebted, indirectly at least, for the new firmament which spread above this land in woman’s emancipation, and for its bright peculiar star, Amelia Bloomer. This came about in a simple and matter-of-fact way. Local societies, of which there was one in Seneca Falls, were doing their specific work. Mr. Bloomer was already in the newspaper field as editor of the village press. To his editorial duties he joined the duties of maintaining a paper called the _Water Bucket_, as the organ of the local society. Another element came in the shape of a religious awakening, following the Washingtonian movement, and growing out of it. While the air was ringing with eloquent words of precept, there was forced upon the mind that which was equally eloquent, viz., personal example. Mr. and Mrs. Bloomer were baptized and confirmed by Bishop Delancey in the parish church of Seneca Falls in the year 1842. Henceforth, to the _rationale_ of the movement was added the religious motive.