First Woman's National Temperance Convention
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The First Woman's National Temperance Convention was a founding event in the establishment of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...
(WCTU). In November, 1874, a Woman's National Temperance Convention was held in
Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
,
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, at which Jennie Fowler Willing presided, and to whose efforts this national organization is chiefly due. At this convention a constitution was adopted, and a plan of organization projected, which was to reach every city, town, and hamlet in the United States. Appeals to the women and girls of America, a letter to other countries, and a memorial to
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
, were in order. A national temperance paper, to be edited and published by women, was projected, whose financial basis was per week, to be given by all the members of the Union. A special committee was appointed on temperance work, among the children. The permanent officers of the society then organized were,
Annie Turner Wittenmyer Sarah "Annie" Turner Wittenmyer (August 26, 1827 – February 2, 1900) was an American social reformer, relief worker Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-t ...
, President;
Frances Willard Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 an ...
, Corresponding Secretary; Mary Coffin Johnson, Recording Secretary; Mary Bigelow Ingham, Treasurer; with one vice-president from each of the States represented in the convention. The spirit of this assembly was shown in the closing resolutions adopted.


Background

In the spring of 1874, the women who had been crusading in half a dozen States, notably in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, called a convention for consultation, which resulted in State Temperance Leagues. The name was, however, soon changed to “Union," the latter word better emphasizing the non-sectarian spirit of the
Women's Crusade The Woman's Crusade was a temperance campaign in the United States in 1873-1874. It was a series of non-violent protests fighting against the dangers of alcoholism. Background Many women in Cleveland, Ohio were inspired by a speech given by Dio ...
. The idea of holding a national convention was formed during the "Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly" in August 1874, at Miller Park,
Chautauqua Lake Chautauqua Lake is located entirely within Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The lake is approximately long and wide at its greatest width. The surface area is approximately . The maximum depth is about . The shoreline is about of w ...
, New York. There were 2,000–3,000 people in attendance at this assembly, including the wives of
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
clergymen. While the women held a prayer meeting,
Martha McClellan Brown Martha McClellan Brown (April 16, 1838 – August 31, 1916) was a lecturer, educator, reformer, newspaper editor, and major leader in the temperance movement in Ohio. In 1861, Brown joined the fraternal organization International Organisation of G ...
came up with the idea of holding a temperance convention as she knelt in prayer next to Mrs. Russell, of Chicago, at Dr. John H. Vincent's camp-meeting. After bringing the idea before the prayer-meeting, prominent women, encouraged by men, moved forward in getting it before the women of the United States. Jennie Fowler Willing and Emily Huntington Miller were appointed to send out the invitations. Martha McClellan Brown, who became known as the "prime mover," and Mary Bigelow Ingham combined their efforts with those of Jennie Fowler Willing and Emily Huntington Miller. With temperance women from all over the U.S. embracing the idea,
state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...
conventions were held and delegates were appointed.


Representative gathering

The convention took place in the auditorium of Cleveland's Presbyterian church. This was a representative gathering, not only numerically and geographically, but in respect to character and to achievement.
Judith Ellen Foster Judith Ellen Horton Foster (November 3, 1840 – August 11, 1910) was an American lecturer, temperance worker, and lawyer. She is thought to be the first woman in Iowa who was actually engaged in practice and the fourth woman admitted to practic ...
, a lawyer from
Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
, served as chief of the Committee on Constitution, to set the attendees right on legal points in general. Dr. Harriet Schneider French, a physician of Philadelphia, spoke about the relation of alcohol to medicine. There were three or four editors, a large quantity of teachers, two college professors, and Quaker ministers who wore dove-colored bonnets. Besides these, there were three licensed Methodist preachers, business women, and gray-haired matrons.


Committees


Conference committee on temporary organization

The convention was called to order by Jennie Fowler Willing. The attendees were seated in delegations, according to their States and Congressional Districts, this being the most approved method by the attendees. They chose a committee on temporary organization, with one member from each State, which reported the following list of officers of the convention: * President—Jennie Fowler Willing * Vice-Presidents—
Abby Fisher Leavitt Abby Fisher Leavitt (1836 – May 23, 1897) was an American social reformer and one of the prominent figures of the Ohio Women's Crusade. Leavitt also served as Secretary of the Baptist Women's Foreign Missionary Society of Ohio and Treasurer of t ...
;
Zerelda G. Wallace Zerelda Gray Sanders Wallace (August 6, 1817 – March 19, 1901) was the First Lady of Indiana from 1837 to 1840, and a Temperance movement#United States, temperance activist, Women's suffrage in the United States, women's suffrage leader, and ...
; Mrs. J. Backus; Mrs. Matchett;
Elizabeth Eunice Marcy Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy (, Smith; December 22, 1821 – January 26, 1911) was an American author, activist, and social reformer of the long nineteenth century. She was known for her missionary, temperance, and philanthropic work. Early life a ...
; Susan A. Gifford;
Susan J. Swift Steele Susan J. Swift Steele (December 25, 1822 – September 4, 1895) was an American social reformer. She was affiliated with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), and the N ...
; Mary Torrans Lathrap; Helen E. Brown; Emma A. Wheeler;
Elizabeth Chamberlain Gibson Elizabeth Chamberlain Gibson (April 28, 1830 - December 22, 1916) was the wife of the Methodist missionary Otis Gibson. Life Eliza Chamberlain was born on April 28, 1830, at Brazier Falls, New York into a Quaker family. In her early years Eliz ...
; Lizzie Boyd * Secretaries— Auretta Hoyt; Mary Towne Burt * Treasurer—Mary Bigelow Ingham These women were duly elected. Some discussion arose as to the rights of those who had not brought credentials, but a resolution, offered by Annie Turner Wittenmyer settled the question: "Retained, That the several State delegates be allowed to add to their number from representatives from each State, to the number of Congressional Districts in that State."


Others

After the committee on temporary organization was formed, the convention addressed itself to business and developed a list of committees indicating its general character: * Committee on Credentials—Auretta Hoyt; Susan J. Swift Steele;
Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff (, Kneeland; pen name, H. N. K. Goff; October 10, 1828 - April 10, 1901) was an American temperance reformer and author. For many years, she was a contributor to the public press, and three books followed, ''Was it an ...
; Mary Bigelow Ingham; and Mrs. Joel Foster * On Business— Almira Brackett; Mrs. E. R. Backus; Mrs. E. A. Bowers; Emma A. Wheeler; Mrs. A. M. Noe; Caroline H. Smoke Stryker; Mrs. H. M. Wilkin; Abbie Fisher Leavitt; Lizzie Boyd; Emma Janes; Mrs. J. A. Brown; Mary Torrans Lathrap;
Fanny DuBois Chase Fanny DuBois Chase (, DuBois; pen name, Mrs. S. B. Chase; November 24, 1828 – December 6, 1902) was an American social reformer and author, prominent in temperance and missionary circles. She was the first National President of the Woman's Chris ...
* On Circular Letter to Foreign Nations—Mary Torrans Lathrap; Fanny DuBois Chase; Emma Janes. * On Resolutions—
Eliza Daniel Stewart Eliza Daniel Stewart (April 25, 1816 – August 6, 1908) was an American early temperance movement leader. She sometimes referred to herself as "Mother Stewart". Biography Eliza Daniel Stewart was born in Piketon, Ohio on April 25, 1816. Stewart ...
; Zerelda G. Wallace; Frances Willard; Mrs. Butler; Mrs. Collins; Mrs. Black; Martha McClellan Brown; Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff * On Constitution—Judith Ellen Foster; Lydia M. Boise; Mrs. M. M. Finch; Annie Turner Wittenmyer; Mrs. Runyon; Lizzie Boyd; Susan A. Gifford; Mercy Ann Mann Kenyon; Mrs. J. A. Brown; Mrs. M. Davis; Mrs. J. Dickey * On Finance—Abbie Fisher Leavitt; Caroline H. Smoke Stryker; Mrs. S. P. Robinson; Judith Ellen Foster; Mrs. M. Valentine * On Memorial to Congress—Annie Turner Wittenmyer; Zerelda G. Wallace; Frances Willard * On Constitution for National Temperance League—Mrs. M. M. Finch; Annie Turner Wittenmyer; Mrs. Runyon; Lydia M. Boise; Mrs. J. Dickey; Susan A. Gifford; Mrs. J. A. Brown; Mercy Ann Mann Kenyon; Judith Ellen Foster; Mrs. M. Davis; Lizzie Boyd * On Address to the Young Women of America—Mary Torrans Lathrap, Chair * On Letter to American Women—Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy; Mary Coffin Johnson; Abbie Fisher Leavitt * On Juvenile Organizations— Eliza Thompson; Frances Willard; Mrs. A. M. Noe * On Establishing a National Temperance Paper—Annie Turner Wittenmyer; Susan J. Swift Steele; Abbie Fisher Leavitt; Susan A. Gifford; Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy; Emma Janes; Mary Coffin Johnson


Resolutions

Resolutions were adopted, embodying a sufficiently exhaustive "confession of faith": Whereas, Much of the evil by which this country is cursed comes from the fact that the men in power whose duty it is to make and administer the laws are either themselves intemperate men or controlled largely by the liquor power; therefore, # Resolved, That the women of the United States, in this convention represented, do hereby express their unqualified disapprobation of the custom so prevalent in political parties of placing intemperate men in office. # Resolved, That we will appeal to the House of Representatives, by petition, for their concurrence with the Senate bill providing a commission of inquiry into the effects and results of the liquor traffic in this country. # Resolved, That we respectfully ask the President of the United States, Senators, Representatives in Congress, Governors of States, and all public men, with their wives and daughters, to give the temperance cause the strength of their conspicuous example by banishing all wines and other intoxicating liquors from their banquets and their private tables. # Resolved, That we will endeavor to secure the co-operation of great manufacturing firms in our effort to pledge their employees to total abstinence, and that we will ask these firms to consider the advantages to sobriety of paying their men on Monday rather than on Saturday evening. # Resolved, That we respectfully request the physicians to exercise extreme and conscientious care in administering intoxicating liquors as a beverage. # Resolved, That as the National Temperance Society, and Publishing House in New York—J. N. Stearns, Publishing Agent—presents the best variety of temperance literature in the world, consisting of books, tracts, The National Temperance Advocate and The Youth't Temperance Banner, we hereby recommend the ladies of America to encourage the dissemination of this literature in connection with their work. # Resolved, That all temperance organizations of our land be invited to co-operate with us in our efforts for the overthrow of intemperance. # Resolved, That all good temperance women, without regard to sect or nationality, are cordially invited to unite with us in our great battle against the wrong and for the right. # Resolved, That in the conflict of moral ideas, we look to the pulpit and the press as our strongest earthly allies, and that we will, by our influence as Christian women and by our prayers, strive to increase the interest in our cause already manifested by their powerful instrumentalities, gratefully recognized by us. # Resolved, That we will pray and labor for a general revival of religion throughout our land, knowing that only through the action of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the Church and the world will they be warmed to a vital interest in the temperance cause. # Resolved, That recognizing the fact that our cause is and will be combatted by mighty, determined, and relentless forces, we will, trusting in Him who is the Prince of Peace, meet argument with urgument, misjudgment with patience, denunciation with kindness, and all our difficulties and dangers with prayer.


Constitution and election of officers

A constitution was adopted and stated in part that this Association shall be known as the "Woman's National Christian Temperance Union." Thereafter, an election was held for the first officers of the WCTU. The newly elected officers were: * President—Annie Turner Wittenmyer * Vice-Presidents— Mary A. Gaines; Harriet Maria Haven; Susan A. Gifford; Mercy Ann Mann Kenyon; Fanny DuBois Chase; Eliza Thompson; Mrs. Rev. S. Reed; Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy; Susan J. Swift Steele; Zerelda G. Wallace; Mary Jane Aldrich; Caroline Batchelder Thompson * Corresponding Secretary—Frances Willard * Recording Secretary—Mary Coffin Johnson * Treasurer—Mary Bigelow Ingham


Mass meetings

Four mass-meetings were held during the convention. Dr. John Morgan Walden (Chief Knight of the new Crusade), presided at the first of these. It was an exceptional honor as no other man was allowed to speak throughout the whole convention. Abbie Fisher Leavitt conducted the second; Mrs. Dr. Donaldson, of
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
conducted the third; and Auretta Hoyt, carried on the fourth. Crowds filled these meetings, and Crusade hymns were interspersed with the music furnished by trained singers of Cleveland.


Notable people

* Mary Jane Aldrich * Mrs. J. Backus (Vermont) * Mrs. E. R. Backus (Springfield, Vermont) * Mrs. Black (Pennsylvania) * Lydia Marie Kellogg Boise / Lydia Marie Kellogg Boies (1815, Worthington, MA - 1898, Grand Rapids, Michigan) * Mrs. E. A. Bowers (Clinton, Massachusetts) * Lizzie Boyd (Wheeling, West Virginia) * Almira Brackett (Biddeford, Maine) * Helen E. Brown (New York state) * Mrs. J. A. Brown (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) *
Martha McClellan Brown Martha McClellan Brown (April 16, 1838 – August 31, 1916) was a lecturer, educator, reformer, newspaper editor, and major leader in the temperance movement in Ohio. In 1861, Brown joined the fraternal organization International Organisation of G ...
* Mary Towne Burt * Mrs. Butler (New York) *
Fanny DuBois Chase Fanny DuBois Chase (, DuBois; pen name, Mrs. S. B. Chase; November 24, 1828 – December 6, 1902) was an American social reformer and author, prominent in temperance and missionary circles. She was the first National President of the Woman's Chris ...
* Mrs. Collins (Pennsylvania) * Mrs. M. Davis (Vermont) * Mrs. J. Dickey (Illinois) * Mrs. Dr. Donaldson (Toledo, Ohio) * Mrs. M. M. Finch (Indiana) * Mrs. Joel Foster (Montpelier, Vermont) *
Judith Ellen Foster Judith Ellen Horton Foster (November 3, 1840 – August 11, 1910) was an American lecturer, temperance worker, and lawyer. She is thought to be the first woman in Iowa who was actually engaged in practice and the fourth woman admitted to practic ...
* Harriet Schneider French * Mary A. Gaines (Saco, Maine) *
Elizabeth Chamberlain Gibson Elizabeth Chamberlain Gibson (April 28, 1830 - December 22, 1916) was the wife of the Methodist missionary Otis Gibson. Life Eliza Chamberlain was born on April 28, 1830, at Brazier Falls, New York into a Quaker family. In her early years Eliz ...
* Susan A. Gifford (Worcester, Massachusetts) *
Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff (, Kneeland; pen name, H. N. K. Goff; October 10, 1828 - April 10, 1901) was an American temperance reformer and author. For many years, she was a contributor to the public press, and three books followed, ''Was it an ...
* Harriet Maria Haven (Mrs. Joel Mills Haven; Rutland, Vermont) * Emily Caroline Chandler Hodgin (Indiana) * Auretta Hoyt (Indianapolis, Indiana) * Mary Bigelow Ingham * Emma Janes (Oakland, California) * Mary Coffin Johnson * Mercy Ann Mann Kenyon (Mrs. Dr. Lorenzo Marcellus Kenyon of New York) * Mary Torrans Lathrap *
Abby Fisher Leavitt Abby Fisher Leavitt (1836 – May 23, 1897) was an American social reformer and one of the prominent figures of the Ohio Women's Crusade. Leavitt also served as Secretary of the Baptist Women's Foreign Missionary Society of Ohio and Treasurer of t ...
*
Elizabeth Eunice Marcy Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy (, Smith; December 22, 1821 – January 26, 1911) was an American author, activist, and social reformer of the long nineteenth century. She was known for her missionary, temperance, and philanthropic work. Early life a ...
* Mrs. Matchett (Pennsylvania) * Emily Huntington Miller * Mrs. A. M. Noe (Indianapolis, Indiana) * Mrs. Rev. S. Reed (Ann Arbor, Michigan) * Mrs. S. P. Robinson (Pennsylvania) * Mrs. Runyon (Ohio) * Mrs. Russell (Chicago, Illinois) *
Susan J. Swift Steele Susan J. Swift Steele (December 25, 1822 – September 4, 1895) was an American social reformer. She was affiliated with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), and the N ...
*
Eliza Daniel Stewart Eliza Daniel Stewart (April 25, 1816 – August 6, 1908) was an American early temperance movement leader. She sometimes referred to herself as "Mother Stewart". Biography Eliza Daniel Stewart was born in Piketon, Ohio on April 25, 1816. Stewart ...
* Caroline H. Smoke Stryker (Mrs. Peter Stryker; Rome, New York) * Caroline Batchelder Thompson (Mrs. Robert Thompson; San Francisco, California) * Eliza Thompson * Mrs. M. Valentine (Indiana) * John H. Vincent * John Morgan Walden *
Zerelda G. Wallace Zerelda Gray Sanders Wallace (August 6, 1817 – March 19, 1901) was the First Lady of Indiana from 1837 to 1840, and a Temperance movement#United States, temperance activist, Women's suffrage in the United States, women's suffrage leader, and ...
* Emma A. Wheeler (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) * Mrs. H. M. Wilkin (Paris, Illinois) *
Frances Willard Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 an ...
* Jennie Fowler Willing *
Annie Turner Wittenmyer Sarah "Annie" Turner Wittenmyer (August 26, 1827 – February 2, 1900) was an American social reformer, relief worker Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-t ...


References


Attribution

* *


Bibliography

* {{cite book, last1=Boies, first1=Betty Elaine, last2=Wells, first2=Violet Carol, title=Descendants of David Boies of Blandford, Massachusetts, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADk3AAAAMAAJ, year=1986, publisher=V.C. Wells Women's conferences Woman's Christian Temperance Union November 1874 events Events in Cleveland 1874 in Ohio History of women in Ohio