Why and how: a hand-book for the use of the W.C.T. unions in Canada | Page 7

stood side by side with other and older temperance organizations laboring for the general good.
Picton Union was formed in the autumn of the same year, and the ladies of that Union aided largely in securing the passage of the Dunkin act in that county (P. E.). From this time unions were formed here and there, but there was no bond of union, no provincial society for Ontario until, in 1877, October 23rd and 24th, a conference of the existing unions was held in Toronto, and it was there decided to organize a Provincial Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Delegates were present from twenty-five unions, more than two-thirds of the local unions thus showing their interest in the object for which they had met. At this conference Mrs. Letitia Youmans presided, and at its close the officers elected were: President, Mrs. L. Youmans; Vice- presidents, one from each county; Cor. Sec., Miss Phelps, St. Catharines; Rec. Sec., Miss Alien, Kingston; Treasurer Mrs. Judge Jones, Brantford. For five years Mrs. Youmans was the beloved president of this provincial union, during which time she travelled extensively through Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces (as well as in the United States), organizing unions, and doing very much by her earnest and eloquent addresses to convince the public mind of the unrighteousness of the liquor traffic, and the necessity for its overthrow.
During the last few years Ontario has shared in the general growth of temperance sentiment, and in common with other temperance organizations the W.C.T.U. has received an increase in membership, and has obtained a surer, warmer place in the hearts of the people. Recently, owing, no doubt, to the agitation of the Scott Act contest in many counties, and owing, too, to the earnestness and energy of many of the county superintendents of the Provincial Union, the number of societies has been more than doubled. The Ontario Provincial Union now comprises ninety-six unions, with a membership of about 2,600. The attention of this Provincial Union has been largely directed to the importance of introducing scientific instruction in our public schools. Dr. Richardson's "Temperance Lesson Book," and other text books on this subject, have been widely circulated in teachers' conventions and elsewhere; petitions have been presented to school boards, literature on the subject has been widely distributed, and during the spring months, while the Hon. Minister of Education was visiting the public schools at different points, he was waited upon in many places by deputations from the W.C.T. Unions, asking that temperance text books be introduced into the schools of Ontario.
The committee to whose care this branch of the work is committed, also had an interview with Hon. Mr. Ross, Minister of Education, and presented a petition from the W.C.T. Unions, and other temperance societies, asking that scientific instruction in temperance be given to the children of the public schools. The Hon. Minister informed the deputation that a book on "Physiology and Hygiene," having special reference to the effect of alcohol on the human system, was now in course of preparation, and would be introduced in the course of study for next year.
Medical conventions and assemblies have been approached, and correspondence had with synods, conferences and assemblies, on the medical uses of alcohol, and the use of the unfermented juice of the grape at the Lord's table. Many thousands of tracts have been sent out from the literature department of this Union (which department is just in its infancy), and a large number of newspapers supplied regularly with temperance items.
General Officers of the Ontario W.C.T.U.--President, Mrs. A. Chisholm, 218 Albert Street, Ottawa; Ex-President, Mrs. Letitia Youmans, Picton; First Vice-President, Mrs. Tilton, Ottawa; Second Vice-President, Mrs. Cowan, Toronto; Recording Secretary, Miss Orchard, Galt; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Fawcett, Maple; Treasurer, Mrs. Brethour, Milton.
Three Y.W.C.T. Unions in Ontario, at Hamilton, Ottawa, and Essex Centre, are doing good work in this temperance warfare. "Boys' night schools," "girls' sewing schools," and "bands of hope" are successfully carried on under their supervision. There are eleven departments of work in connection with this provincial union, corresponding to some of those so successfully controlled by the N. W. C. T. U.
Plan of Work and Lecture Department, Mrs. Tilton, Convener. Literature, Mrs. Pratt, Convener, Hamilton. Prison and Jail Work, Mrs. Rutherford, Convener, Toronto. Legislative, Mrs. Youmans, Picton. Press, Miss M. Phelps, Convener, St. Catharines. Unfermented Wine at the Lord's table. Miss Wilmot, Convener, Milton. County Fairs. S. S. Temperance Work and Juvenile Unions, Mrs. Andrews, Convener. Presenting Claims of Temperance to Influential Bodies, Mrs. M. Fawcett, Maple. Scientific Instruction in Temperance, Miss Orchard, Owen Sound. Y.W.C.T.U. Work, Miss Scott, Ottawa.
QUEBEC.
In the year 1877, a W.C.T.U. was organized at Stanstead, P.Q., by Mrs. Charles W. Pierce, of Boston, who, for a few months, also filled the office of president. This Union was composed of members from