with the medical profession, with Parliament, corporations and companies, and with ministers of religion. In 1883, they presented a petition in favor of Sunday closing, containing 184,000 signatures. They have issued a cookery book, and a number of miscellaneous books and papers. Mrs. Lucas, sister of Hon. John Bright, has been president of this society for the past few years, and her stirring appeals to the women of England, have roused many to a sense of their responsibility, and kept them thoroughly alive and earnest in the work. Mrs. Lucas' meetings, public as well as others, are always well attended, and the greatest interest is manifested by her audiences in the subject which she presents with much tenderness and power. Other lady speakers, from the ranks of the W.C.T.U. in England, do good service in addressing meetings, both public and private, and the urgent invitations for help in forming societies are so numerous, that the constant demand is for more workers. One of the great needs of the Association has been (as the secretary stated from year to year) a paid organizer, whose time should be at the disposal of the society to visit the various branches and places where new Unions might be formed.
The officers of this Association are in part:--President, Mrs. Lucas, No. 7 Charlotte street, Bradford Square, London, Eng.; Secretary, Mrs. Bradley, 16 Memorial Hall, Farringdon. W. London.
Besides this society there are other associations in England composed of women only, who are doing good work for temperance, notably "The Liverpool Ladies' Temperance Association" organized in 1864. The special object of this society is "To reclaim women of every grade of society, who have fallen into habits of intemperance, and to prevent those from falling who are already in circumstances of danger, by visitation, watchful care, and by every means which can be devised; also to spread Temperance principles in every possible way." They have six or more Missionaries constantly at work, and a "General Superintendent, who acts as secretary, and, with the assistance of ladies of the Committee, takes charge of special cases, which from the social position of the parties, require to be carefully and delicately dealt with." This society is doing its work more quietly, perhaps, than many others, but a work very much needed, and a service requiring much thought and patience, Christian sympathy and tact. President, Mrs. D. Parrel, 24 Waverley Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool, Eng.; Secretary, Mrs. H. Spring, Office--No. 2 Y.M.C.A. Buildings, 60 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.
The Woman's Union of the Church of England Temperance Society, with Rev. Canon Ellison as President, is also in a flourishing condition. Eighty-five branches have been formed, also a "Servants' Branch," a "Branch for young women engaged in houses of business," and a "Branch for girls at restaurants and railway refreshment bars."
Drawing-room meetings have been held with great success, some in the mansion of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, and in the drawing-rooms of Lord and Lady Brabazon.
The Working Women's Teetotal League, which has also been in operation for about eight years, has for its object to spread teetotalism amongst working-class women. Many thousands of pledges have been taken, and benefit societies have been formed under the guidance and supervision of this society.
The Manchester W.C.T. Association is also doing a good work among the young, and in rescuing women from the thraldom of drink.
The large and crowded cities of Great Britain present opportunities and demands for work of this nature, with which our younger country is not so familiar, but the motto of the B.W.T. Association bears a message to us equally strong "The Master is come and calleth for thee."
CHAPTER IV.
OUR CANADIAN W.C.T.U.
_History and Present Condition._
ONTARIO.
The first union in Canada, of which we have any record, was formed in Owen Sound, Ont. In the spring of 1874, shortly after the first note of the crusade had been sounded, a few earnest Christian ladies of that place, stirred by the report of what God was doing through their sisters in the Western States, meet to devise some plan, by which they could do something if not to prevent, at least to lessen the evils of intemperance in their town. At this meeting, held on the 20th of May, a W.C.T.U. was organized under the presidency of Mrs. Doyle. The first work done by this Union was the general circulation of the pledge, and petitioning the council against granting saloon licenses, also asking that the number of tavern licenses be lessened, which request was granted. Petitions were also sent to the legislature at Toronto, asking for amendments to the license act, and the resolution to submit the Dunkin act to the people of that county was the result of the persistent efforts of the W.C.T.U. In the campaign for this purpose these ladies nobly assisted and
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