Two Decades | Page 2

Thought of the Crusade" 19
Sketch of Mrs. Allen Butler, first President 27
CHAPTER II.
--Constitution and By-Laws, with changes 29
Sketch of Mrs. Maria Hyde Hibbard, second President 32
CHAPTER III.

--Organization 33
Sketch of Mrs. Mary Towne Burt, our President 40
CHAPTER IV.
--Educational 44
Sketch of Mrs. Ella A. Boole, First Vice-President 51
CHAPTER V.
--Evangelistic 53
Sketch of Mrs. Frances W. Graham, Corresponding Secretary 57
CHAPTER VI.
--Legislation and Petition 59
Sketch of Mrs. Georgeanna M. Gardenier, Recording Secretary 67
CHAPTER VII.
--Social and Political 70
Sketch of Mrs. Ellen L. Tenney, Treasurer 75
CHAPTER VIII.
--Miscellaneous 77
Financial Statement, 1874-1894 84
Officers, 1874-1894 85
Annual Meetings 86

World's Fair Banner 87

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Crusade Church Frontispiece
Mrs. Mary Towne Burt Facing page 5
Mrs. Esther McNeil " " 14
Mrs. Allen Butler " " 27
Mrs. Maria Hyde Hibbard " " 32
Mrs. Mary Towne Burt " " 40
Mrs. Ella A. Boole " " 51
Mrs. Frances W. Graham " " 57
Mrs. Georgeanna M. Gardenier " " 67
Mrs. Ellen L. Tenney " " 75

PREFACE.
Histories are strange things: they uncover so many hidden events, and
bring back so many lost memories. A history that traces the beginnings
of a reform movement, that weaves the shuttle of memory in and out of
the web of the past and presents a perfect woof of fact and incident, is a
treasury of knowledge that will not fail to delight and instruct. But the
compilation of such a history is no easy task, and especially is this true
of an organization with the many ramifications of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York.
The 14th of October, 1894, marked the twenty-first milestone in our

history, and the story that follows is the story of the hopes and fears,
the smiles and tears of the past twenty years, mingled with songs of
rejoicing for grand achievement. For twenty years this organization has
stood with undaunted front against the sin of the state as represented by
the legalized traffic in intoxicating liquors and by the awful vice that
would put a premium on woman's shame.
During this time it has uttered its shibboleth that that political party,
and that only, which declares in its platform for the complete
prohibition of the liquor traffic, can have its influence and its prayers.
There have been days of darkness and disaster, but by the grace of God
no weapon turned against the union has prospered, and every tongue
that has risen in judgment has been condemned. The growth of the
organization has been marvelous, for in twenty years it has grown from
a few hundred members to twenty-two thousand, and from a few
auxiliaries to over nine hundred, which cover as a network the entire
state. Its workers are indefatigable, and wage their peaceful war for
"sweeter manners, purer laws," with an earnestness that carries
conviction to the hearts of the people and the law-makers of the state.
And wherever there is a wrong to right, an evil to attack, or a hand to
help, there will you find a woman with a white ribbon on her breast.
The committee having this history in charge have searched faithfully
the records of twenty years. Some of the names recorded here have
never been heard by the workers of later years. Their owners have
crossed the boundary-line that separates this world from the next. But
living and dead speak with one voice of their love, service, and
consecration to the work; and out of these God has welded a union that
stands for all that is pure and good in government and the home, and
whose work for Him and for humanity will never cease until
"All the bells of God shall ring the ship of Temperance in."
We feel that the state is under many obligations to Mrs. Graham and
Mrs. Gardenier for so faithfully recording the work of these past years,
for while in one sense it has been a labor of love, yet the many hours
spent in earnest research for the necessary data must have been hours of
toil. And while we thank our beloved sisters for their work and interest,

our thoughts turn to the thousands of women whose lives have made
this history possible--those who have gone steadfastly forward in the
line of duty, thinking not of the world's applause, but doing all things
and bearing all things in the Master's name and for the Master's sake.
With this history we have reached our majority--twenty-one years. "Old
enough to vote," I hear some one say. Yes, quite. But the state, whose
children we are marshaling under the total abstinence banner of the
Loyal Temperance Legion; with whose vice and misery we are in