Two Decades | Page 8

of great advancement in temperance.
This was due not only to her thorough consecration and marked
executive ability, but to a life-long experience in other public
enterprises, all of which she brought to the temperance work.
She was present at Cleveland and assisted in organizing the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Through feebleness of body
she has been laid aside from active public work, but always as a
member of a local union has felt the heartbeat of the Woman's Christian

Temperance Union of New York State. At the "home-coming" in
Syracuse in 1893, to celebrate our twentieth anniversary, Mrs. Butler
was present. A Chautauqua salute greeted her upon presentation. After
looking over the large gathering she solemnly said, "What hath God
wrought?"
CHAPTER II.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, WITH CHANGES.
The first constitution was adopted at Syracuse in October, 1874, but
was somewhat modified at the meeting held at Brooklyn in February,
1875, when the name was changed from the "Christian Woman's State
League" to "Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New
York."
The first constitution provided for four general officers, five
vice-presidents, and an executive committee of seven, all of whom
were to be elected in such manner as might be determined from time to
time. A financial basis was established at this time by fixing the
auxiliary fee at twenty-five cents.
In 1878 a constitutional change was made reducing the number of
vice-presidents to three, and making the four general officers and three
others elected for that especial purpose the executive committee, these
to be nominated in open convention and elected by ballot. The terms of
auxiliaryship were changed from the twenty-five cent per member basis
to that of voluntary contributions to the state treasury by the local
unions.
In 1881 the electing of vice-presidents was discontinued, the presidents
of organized counties being made ex-officio vice-presidents of the state
union. The basis of representation was fixed at two delegates for each
local union. The financial basis of twenty-five cents per member was
again established. In 1882 the auxiliary fee was unfortunately reduced
to twenty cents per member, which has greatly crippled the work since
that time.

In 1883 a radical change was made in the formation of the executive
committee. Since 1878 it had been composed of the four general
officers and three others elected by the convention. In this year the
executive committee was made to consist of the four general officers
and the presidents of county unions, who were ex-officio
vice-presidents of the state union.
In 1885 the constitution was thoroughly revised. A first vice-president
was added to the general officers, and the time for the annual
convention was fixed for the last week of September or the first week
of October. The manner of election was also changed, the nominations
being made by informal ballot. The basis of representation to the state
convention was changed as follows One delegate for every local union
having fifty or less than fifty paying members, and one for every
additional fifty members. The time for election of officers was fixed for
the morning of the last day of the convention. A life membership fee of
twenty-five dollars and an honorary membership fee of five dollars
annually were established, and have added greatly to the financial
prosperity of the work. A clause requiring a year's notice of proposed
change to the constitution was introduced.
The society was incorporated in 1876 under the first order of electing
the executive committee. As this method had been changed, in order to
be legally entrenched for business purposes, in 1892 a change was
made in the constitution, making the five general officers the managers
or trustees, in harmony with the society's articles of incorporation. A
basis of representation at the state convention and auxiliaryship for the
Loyal Temperance Legion was also established, viz: "One delegate for
every thousand members of the Loyal Temperance Legion, such
delegates to be chosen from the superintendents of the Loyal
Temperance Legion, and to be an adult member of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. The basis of this representation shall be
the payment into the state treasury of one cent for every member of the
legion."
In 1893 the last change was made, which resumed the auxiliary fee of
twenty-five cents per member, as established in the first constitution, as

the basis of representation.

MRS. MARIA HYDE HIBBARD.
(SECOND PRESIDENT)
Maria Hyde was born in Oxford, Chenango County, New York, and
was educated at the Oxford Academy, now the oldest incorporated
academy in this state, having in June last celebrated its centennial. Born
and reared in an eminently high spiritual and intellectual atmosphere,
she was well qualified for the positions which she filled so acceptably.
She was preceptress in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, New
York, associate principal