Two Decades Part 1

Two Decades.

by Frances W. Graham and Georgeanna M. Gardenier.

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 s.h.i.+bboleth 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d shall ring the s.h.i.+p 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 a hand-to-hand conflict, and have done much to suppress; which has felt the influence of our work in hundreds of directions, and whose law-makers declare that it is good, and good only, has not yet awarded us the right. But long before we reach our second majority the piece of paper that "does the freeman's will as lightning does the will of G.o.d"

will be placed in the hand of woman, and sin and impurity, like the shadows, will flee away.

And for those who are still in the stress of the battle, for those who will come after us, and for those who will kindly read these pages, "May G.o.d bless us each and every one."

MARY T. BURT.

NEW YORK, November 9, 1894.

MRS. ESTHER McNEIL.

(VETERAN CRUSADER)

Esther Lord was born in Carlisle, Schoharie county, New York, in the year 1812. Her father was a Connecticut Yankee, her mother a native of Ma.s.sachusetts. When Esther was ten years of age her father died, leaving ten children. We know little of the struggles through which they pa.s.sed before reaching manhood and womanhood.

In 1832 she was married to James McNeil, of Carlisle, and together they enlisted under the Was.h.i.+ngtonian movement to fight the demon drink.

About a month after her marriage she became a Christian, and, with a new heart, G.o.d gave her the desire to be of use to others, and she offered herself to the Lord to care for homeless children. Although she has never been blessed with children of her own, yet the mother heart has not been empty. In 1868 she with her husband moved to Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, with eight homeless children to be put to school. Two years later her husband, who was a member of the State Temperance Society, died, and in this same year one of her dear girls died.

In 1873 she entered the list of crusaders, and became a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized December 22, 1873. This union has continued to be the leading union in the county, holding weekly meetings, and loyal always to county, state, and national organizations. Mrs. McNeil was the first county president, and for the past seventeen years has been the local president in Fredonia. Although now past eighty-two years of age, yet at the twenty-first annual convention she led the "Crusaders' Hour" with great acceptance.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MRS. ESTHER McNEIL.]

PROLOGUE.

When history shall have recorded the events of America's nineteenth century, prominent among them will be the "Woman's Crusade," a movement whose strength, please G.o.d, will not be spent until the last legalized saloon has disappeared from this fair land.

Hillsboro, Ohio, claims the birthplace, and December 23, 1873, as the birthday of this momentous event. True, from this place and day the influence deepened and widened, spreading to other localities with wonderful rapidity; but to Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, is accorded the honor of inaugurating the work, December 15, 1873. How was this brought about? The story in brief is this:

On Sat.u.r.day evening, December 13, Dr. Dio Lewis, of Boston, had delivered a popular lecture in Fredonia, and upon invitation of the Good Templars remained to deliver a temperance lecture at a union service Sunday night. The audience was large, but there was no indication of unusual results from the meeting. The speaker presented the truth so forcibly, and recommended plans of procedure so practical, that the audience caught his spirit. At the close of the lecture it was evident something was going to be done, and that right speedily. Dr. Lewis outlined a plan of work which he had seen tried with success in his own village when a youth, and later in other places. The thoughtful ones saw its feasibility, and numbers spoke upon the question. Rev. Lester Williams, pastor of the Baptist Church, said he believed in striking while the iron was hot, and asked all the ladies who sympathized with the proposition to hold a meeting of consultation relative to the work to rise. Nearly every woman was upon her feet. A list of fifty names was secured of those who were ready to act, and a committee consisting of Mrs. A. L. Benton, Mrs. Dr. Fuller, and Mrs. J. P. Armstrong, Jr., was appointed to draw up an appeal to be presented to the various liquor dealers of the town.

A meeting was called at the Baptist Church for Monday morning, December 15, at ten o'clock, to adopt the appeal and inaugurate the work. The past few days had been dark and gloomy, but Monday was bright and beautiful. Mr. Williams remarked that in it they could see the smile of G.o.d upon the movement. About three hundred people gathered at the appointed hour--men and women. The following appeal was submitted and adopted:

APPEAL.

In the name of G.o.d and humanity we make our appeal:

Knowing, as we do, that the sale of intoxicating liquors is the parent of every misery, prolific of all woe in this life and the next, potent alone in evil, blighting every fair hope, desolating families, the chief incentive to crime, we, the mothers, wives, and daughters, representing the moral and religious sentiment of our town, to save the loved members of our households from the temptation of strong drink, from acquiring an appet.i.te for it, and to rescue, if possible, those that have already acquired it, earnestly request that you will pledge yourself to cease the traffic here in these drinks, forthwith and forever. We will also add the hope that you will abolish your gaming tables.

The women then retired to the room below, organized for work, and arranged a line of march. The men meanwhile prayed and planned, twenty-three of them pledging to pay the percentage of $1,000 placed opposite their names for carrying on the work.

At half-past twelve o'clock the procession marched out of the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Baptist Church, over one hundred being in line. These were the wives of Fredonia's most respected citizens, venerable and revered matrons, as well as many young women. Headed by Mrs. Judge Barker and Mrs. Rev. Lester Williams, they quietly walked across the park straight to the Taylor House saloon. The band of women filed in, nearly filling the place. Mrs. Barker immediately made known their mission. Mrs.

Williams read to the proprietor the appeal. A hymn was sung to Pleyel's sweet air, and all joined in the Lord's prayer, after which Mrs.

Tremaine, a venerable and gifted woman, offered a prayer full of Christian tenderness. Mr. Taylor was then asked if he would not accede to their appeal. He finally said, "If the rest will close their places, I'll close mine." His brother and partner did not consent so readily.

The ladies asked him to consider the matter, promising to call the next day for his decision. The proprietor replied "That he would be pleased to see them every day," and politely bowed the ladies out. This visit was a sample of those made until every saloon, hotel, and drug store had been visited. This work was continued daily, and during the week union prayer-meetings were held every night. One drug store responded to the appeal; one hotel closed its bar; the visits became distasteful to one dealer, and he locked the women out.

The _Fredonia Censor_, a weekly paper, in its issue of Wednesday, December 17, 1873, contained the following headlines:

_A TEMPERANCE REVIVAL._

_Enthusiastic Meeting Sunday Evening--Every Place where Liquor is Sold in Fredonia Visited by a Band of One Hundred Women on Monday--They Appeal to the Proprietors to Stop the Traffic--A Season of Prayer and Hymns in Rum Shops._

On Monday afternoon, December 21, the women met to perfect a permanent organization, which they did by adopting the following pledge and name:

PLEDGE.

We, the undersigned women of Fredonia, feeling that G.o.d has laid upon us a work to do for temperance, do hereby pledge ourselves to _united_ and _continuous_ effort to suppress the traffic in intoxicating liquors in our village _until this work be accomplished_; and that we will stand ready for united effort upon any renewal of the traffic. We will also do what we can to alleviate the woes of drunkards' families, and to rescue from drunkenness those who are pursuing its ways.

NAME.

This society shall be known as _The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Fredonia_.

Two hundred and eight members were enrolled, sixty-four of whom were young women. The first officers were: Mrs. George Barker, President; Mrs. D. R. Barker, Vice-President; Mrs. L. A. Barmore, Secretary; Mrs.

L. L. Riggs, Treasurer.

Thus was the wonderful movement called "The Crusade" begun, and the first local Woman's Christian Temperance Union organized.