Two Decades: A History of the First Twenty Years' Work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New YorkGraham, Frances W.
History
Two Decades: A History of the First Twenty Years' Work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York
Graham, Frances W.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. State of New York
The pledge of to-day is the triple pledge against alcohol, tobacco, and
profanity, and even as early as 1875 we find a mention of this pledge as
the one used by the children's society of Ilion, which then numbered two
hundred members. In 1875 Syracuse had a juvenile society called Cold
Water Templars, which had two thousand members, and Brooklyn reported a
Band of Hope with one thousand children pledged.
Carrying out the spirit of the suggestions and recommendations, children
were organized under various names--Band of Hope, Band of Blue, Cold
Water Temple, Juvenile Union, etc.,--and the work has been kept to the
front during all these years, until now all juvenile societies connected
with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union are marching under one
name--the Loyal Temperance Legion.
In 1891 the president in her annual address referred to "that splendid
child of ours, the Loyal Temperance Legion," and suggested a plan
whereby it might become auxiliary to the state, thereby giving to the
children a feeling of helpfulness and cooperation, and to the state an
inspiration which the representatives of twenty-five thousand children
would be sure to give.
In accordance with this suggestion, originally made by Mrs.
Helen Rice, national superintendent, and Mrs. Harriet A. Metcalf,
state superintendent, an organization was formed and called
State Loyal Temperance Legion. This is composed of three
hundred and eighty-eight companies. The year 1893 marks an
era in Loyal Temperance Legion work, this being the year in
which they began paying dues to the State Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, thereby being entitled to their own delegate
to the state convention.
The juvenile work of our state has received the very best thought of
those having it in charge. It was taken up as a department first in
1880, with Mrs. Frances D. Hall, of Plattsburg, as superintendent. In
1881 Mrs. Dr. Foster, of Clifton Springs, was appointed, each of these
serving one year. In 1882 and 1883 Mrs. H. A. Perrigo, of Brockport, was
the superintendent, and she was succeeded by Mrs. Jennie M. Pierson, of
Auburn, who held the office for two years. In 1886 Mrs. Perrigo was
again appointed, and she has been the superintendent from that time
until now, with just a change of name from Perrigo to Metcalf. Two
annual meetings have been held since the organization of a State Loyal
Temperance Legion--one at Syracuse and one at Cortland. That the
children might be rooted and grounded in the total abstinence faith, a
thorough course of study in the Lesson Manuals was prepared, and a plan
evolved by which members of the legions who passed the examinations
should receive diplomas. One hundred and forty have graduated and
thirty-eight have won seals.
* * * * *
YOUNG WOMAN'S WORK.
"That our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the
similitude of a palace"--Psalm cxliv., 12.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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