FRATERNAL DELEGATES.

Of this number thirteen were present at the twentieth convention, held at Syracuse in 1893; among them being the first chairman, Mrs. Butler; the first secretary, Mrs. N.B. Foot; and Mrs. Esther McNeil, our venerable crusader, of Fredonia.

The keynote for the future was struck at the first convention, as will be seen in the report of the committee appointed to recommend topics for discussion. These represented the foundation principles of the organization, and were as follows:

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.

How should holly-tree inns or coffee-rooms be managed? What is their history?

Is it a part of woman's work in the temperance cause to attend to the enforcing of the license laws?

How can we arouse the young women to think as they never have upon this subject, and to realize that there is a practical obligation resting upon them?

How can we make professing Christians feel their responsibilities?

What is the most judicious way of awakening the clergy to more zealous effort in the cause of temperance, and securing the cooperation of the church as a body?

How can we work most effectually among the children?

Can domestic wines be made and used consistently by Christian women, or with safety to their families? Is it not encouraging intemperance?

Can we, as temperance women, use wine and cider for culinary purposes with consistency or safety?

Pending these discussions a constitution was drafted. This was adopted, and a state society called "The Christian Woman's State League" was formed.

The following officers were elected for the first year:

President—Mrs. Allen Butler, Syracuse.

Vice-Presidents—Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, Brooklyn; Mrs. Helen E. Brown, New York; Mrs. Dr. Kenyon,
Buffalo; Mrs. L. B. Ayers, Penn Yan; Mrs. B. F. Hall, Auburn.

Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. Dr. Greeley, Syracuse.

Recording Secretary—Mrs. Mary T. Burt, Auburn.

Treasurer—Mrs. T. S. Truair, Syracuse.

During the first year two quarterly meetings were held—one at Brooklyn in February, and one at Buffalo in May. At the Brooklyn meeting the constitution was somewhat modified, and the name changed to the present one—"The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York."

The first legislative work of the society was the memorializing of President Grant and Governor Dix. This memorial was prepared by Mrs. B. C. Rude, of Wellsville, Miss M. E. Armstrong, of Fayetteville, and Mrs. M. B. O'Donnell, of Lowville.

FIRST MEMORIAL.

The memorial to Governor Dix was presented directly by the State League; that to President Grant was referred to the national society soon to be formed.

Twenty-two delegates were appointed to attend the convention called at Cleveland, Ohio, November 18, 19, and 20, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a national society. The State of New York was honored in this convention by the appointment of Mrs. Mary T. Burt as secretary of the organizing convention, and by the election of Mrs. Mary C. Johnson as recording secretary, and Mrs. Dr. Kenyon as one of the vice-presidents for the first year.

The following resolutions were adopted at the first meeting, and must have been drafted with a prophet's ken, as they have been largely fulfilled in the years that have passed:

RESOLUTIONS.

This first convention was marked by deep spiritual power. No step was taken without the manifest guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The sweet gale, or Dutch myrtle, grows in moorland fens. It is a humble plant, but fragrant; where it grows abundantly the miasma of the bog is neutralized by its balsamic odors and antiseptic qualities, disease is displaced and health established. So the sweet fragrance of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York, planted at Syracuse, has been carried by prayer and faith to all New York, "giving beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

MRS. ALLEN BUTLER.

(FIRST PRESIDENT)

Lucy Wood was born in Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York, in 1820. Her educational advantages were those offered by the public schools of her native county. Having decided musical tastes she improved the opportunities offered at the city of Albany for their cultivation, early dedicating her gift of song to the causes she loved. She became a Christian when thirteen years old, and by a long and useful Christian life has adorned her profession. In 1841 she was united in marriage with Allen Butler, and soon after removed to Syracuse, then a village of about six thousand inhabitants. During her life of more than half a century in Syracuse she has been identified with many of the Christian and benevolent institutions of the city, as well as those of her own church, to which she is devotedly attached.

Frail in health, her interest in a cause often exceeded the strength to work for it. This was the apparent condition of things when the crusade with whirlwind power swept over the land. A life-long advocate of total abstinence, her interest in the cause could not be restrained, and gently her Heavenly Father led her in this work, first to a little gathering of temperance women, at which, after much importunity, she conducted the exercises. Some months later she became the chosen leader of these women. It was from this consecrated band, over the signature of Mrs. Butler with others, that the call for the first state convention of temperance women was made.

Who more appropriately than she could call that convention to order? And when the State League, afterwards the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was organized, it was no surprise that Mrs. Allen Butler was elected president, a position she retained for five years. These were years of anxiety but 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?"

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, WITH CHANGES.

he 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 of the Seneca Collegiate Institute, also of the Binghamton Academy, and was afterward preceptress of Oxford Academy until her marriage with Rev. F.G. Hibbard, D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Hibbard was elected president of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Poughkeepsie in 1879, which office she filled for three years, serving most faithfully and laying down the work only because of the press of home duties. These years were years of peace and harmony, and in giving of self to the cause she was also receiving a blessedness in return. It was during these busy years that she organized temperance work among the Indians on the reservation in Western New York. She has many gifts and graces, and has kept even pace with her husband (who is the author of several theological works of standing authority) in both literary and spiritual attainments, and "her gifts make room for her." She has been obliged to lay aside all public work and devote herself to caring for her husband, whose ill health demands most of her time, but she still gives her sympathies and her prayers to and for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union—the workers and the work.

ORGANIZATION.

t the first annual meeting, held at Ilion, a committee on organization of state was appointed, consisting of Mrs. Dr. Kenyon, of Buffalo; Mrs. Dr. Clary, of Auburn; Mrs. O'Donnell, of Lowville; Mrs. Truair and Miss Noble, of Syracuse. This committee formed plans, and organizers were appointed. Miss Elizabeth Greenwood, of Brooklyn, was the first one who reported work done.

At this time those who did organizing work were called state agents. Miss Greenwood, in her first report, suggested the change from state agent to state organizer, which suggestion was acted upon and the name changed.

For the first few years organization was effected by congressional districts, but later on this was changed to organization by counties, and has remained so up to the present time.

Department work was first taken up in 1878, six departments being considered. Those having the work in charge were known as chairmen of standing committees. In 1880 this was changed to the present name—superintendent of department.

In 1882 the manner of representation to the national convention was changed from congressional districts to grouping of counties.

For a number of years organization was made the leading line of work, and in 1888 only three counties remained unorganized. Many of our county workers did valiant service in the line of organizing in their own localities, but the grand result reached in this year was due largely to the untiring energy and activity of our state organizers. Mrs. Burt, in her annual address for 1888, refers to their work in the following glowing words of commendation:

While paying this tribute to our organizers we do not forget her who stood at the head of our state work during these years, planning, directing, counseling, and encouraging. In Mary T. Burt we have a living embodiment of "there's no such word as fail." For twelve years she has led the white ribbon host of the Empire State, and if she can point with pride to these her co-workers, saying, "Where will you find their equal?" we can point with pride to our state president, and say, Where will you find her equal? Self has been forgotten, and with a courage born of her convictions she has grandly carried forward the work, standing always for the best interests of the state. And what is the result? In this year of 1894 there is not a county in our state, except one,[3] but what has a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union within its borders.

Owing to various circumstances and conditions, the work in one or two counties has at different periods been suspended for a short time, usually to be taken up again with renewed vigor. Our total membership is more than twenty-two thousand, with an honorary membership of nearly five thousand.

In 1881 annual blanks were sent out for the first time, thus making it easier to secure correct reports of membership and of work done.

At the first annual meeting a form of pledge was appended to the constitution recommended for local societies, which read as follows:

This form was used for a few years only, and in 1878 we find it changed to the following:

In 1879 the words "as a beverage" were omitted, and the above pledge, with this change, is the one which is recommended to all local unions, and has stood so from 1879 until the present day.

JUVENILE WORK.

At the first meeting of the "State League," in 1874, one of the topics for discussion was, "How can we work most effectually among the children?" showing that in the very beginning they realized the fact that the hope of our final victory rests in the children, and the unions were urged to organize juvenile unions and Bands of Hope. The following year an interesting paper on juvenile work was read by Mrs. Bingham, of Rome, and a resolution adopted, which read:

A form of constitution and by-laws for juvenile societies was recommended at this time, such society to be auxiliary to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. A form of pledge was also recommended, as follows:

The pledge of to-day is the triple pledge against alcohol, tobacco, and profanity, and even as early as 1875 we find a mention of this pledge as the one used by the children's society of Ilion, which then numbered two hundred members. In 1875 Syracuse had a juvenile society called Cold Water Templars, which had two thousand members, and Brooklyn reported a Band of Hope with one thousand children pledged.

Carrying out the spirit of the suggestions and recommendations, children were organized under various names—Band of Hope, Band of Blue, Cold Water Temple, Juvenile Union, etc.,—and the work has been kept to the front during all these years, until now all juvenile societies connected with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union are marching under one name—the Loyal Temperance Legion.

In 1891 the president in her annual address referred to "that splendid child of ours, the Loyal Temperance Legion," and suggested a plan whereby it might become auxiliary to the state, thereby giving to the children a feeling of helpfulness and cooperation, and to the state an inspiration which the representatives of twenty-five thousand children would be sure to give.

In accordance with this suggestion, originally made by Mrs. Helen Rice, national superintendent, and Mrs. Harriet A. Metcalf, state superintendent, an organization was formed and called State Loyal Temperance Legion. This is composed of three hundred and eighty-eight companies. The year 1893 marks an era in Loyal Temperance Legion work, this being the year in which they began paying dues to the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, thereby being entitled to their own delegate to the state convention.

The juvenile work of our state has received the very best thought of those having it in charge. It was taken up as a department first in 1880, with Mrs. Frances D. Hall, of Plattsburg, as superintendent. In 1881 Mrs. Dr. Foster, of Clifton Springs, was appointed, each of these serving one year. In 1882 and 1883 Mrs. H. A. Perrigo, of Brockport, was the superintendent, and she was succeeded by Mrs. Jennie M. Pierson, of Auburn, who held the office for two years. In 1886 Mrs. Perrigo was again appointed, and she has been the superintendent from that time until now, with just a change of name from Perrigo to Metcalf. Two annual meetings have been held since the organization of a State Loyal Temperance Legion—one at Syracuse and one at Cortland. That the children might be rooted and grounded in the total abstinence faith, a thorough course of study in the Lesson Manuals was prepared, and a plan evolved by which members of the legions who passed the examinations should receive diplomas. One hundred and forty have graduated and thirty-eight have won seals.

YOUNG WOMAN'S WORK.

As an answer to the question asked at the meeting of 1874, "How can we arouse the young women to think as they never have upon this subject?" Miss Willard was secured to address the young women at the following convention, held at Ilion, and so marked was the effect upon her hearers that a Young Ladies' Temperance Union was organized that afternoon, with Miss Jessie Remington, of Ilion, as president.

In 1879 a standing committee for "Young Ladies' Societies" was appointed, with Mrs. Frances Barnes as chairman. In 1880 this was changed to a department, and Mrs. S. R. Gray, of Albany, made the superintendent. In 1882 Miss Mary McClees was made superintendent of this line of work. In 1884 kitchen garden work was added, Miss Emilie Underhill having charge of the department. During her years of service we find an addition to her name, that of Burgess having been added, and as Emilie Underhill Burgess she continued as superintendent of the department until the convention of 1887, kitchen garden work being dropped in the meantime.

She was succeeded by Mrs. C.J.A. Jump, of Albany, who holds the position at this time. The work accomplished by this "faithful few" cannot be estimated, for who can measure the influence of the young women who during all these years have been learning the lessons which should fit them for better service in the Master's vineyard, and who during these years have answered for themselves the question which opens this department of organization work?

In 1892 a change was made, taking this from the regular department work and making it the Young Woman's Branch, with Mrs. Jump as secretary, and about fifteen hundred young women in our state march under our white banner and demand "a white life for two."

(OUR PRESIDENT)

Mrs. Mary Towne Burt, the third president of the New York State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, has occupied that position now for twelve years. If antecedents and previous faithful service are any indication of desert, then indeed she "came to the kingdom" worthily, and we need not wonder that she holds her place easily, nor that the work flourishes abundantly under her administration. Gifted with a fine presence, a pleasing address, and a well-balanced judgment, she is a fitting leader for the largest state delegation in the national convention. It is equally a pleasure to see her preside over our state convention of capable women, which often outnumbers the national organization, if it does not have so wide-reaching an influence. Her ability as a presiding officer has often been complimented by competent judges, and a quiet confidence in the fairness and impartiality of her rulings pervades the atmosphere of the assemblage and greatly aids the transaction of business, while many a pleasant little episode is graciously received and made to facilitate the progress of the programme.

Born of English parentage in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, she was at the tender age of four years bereft of the care of a cultured father, who had been educated for the clerical ranks of the Church of England. Her mother, with whom she had a rare sympathy, was spared to an advanced age to encourage every good work by her sympathy and prayers. Her youth was spent in Auburn, New York, where she received rare educational advantages at Brown's Institute, and where in 1865 she was married to Edward Burt, of one of the oldest families in the state.

When her only child was yet a lad the crusade tocsin found her ready to respond, in accordance with her own convictions and her mother's faithful teachings. She gave a public address in the opera house at Auburn, and served for two years as the first president of the local union in that place, and at the first meeting of the national union, at Cleveland, she was one of the secretaries. In 1875 she was first the publisher and then the managing editor of the national paper, Our Union, her home at this time being in Brooklyn. From 1878 to 1880 she was corresponding secretary of the national union, with her office in the Bible House, New York City.

She has been identified with the New York State union since its inception. As its recording secretary for the first seven years of its existence, she had much to do with shaping its aims and its policy. After serving one year as corresponding secretary, she was elected president in 1882, at the convention in Oswego. At that time the state union had a membership of about three thousand, with but thirteen of the sixty counties organized. During the years of her presidency all the remaining counties but one have been organized, and the membership has gone up to twenty-two thousand. In her first annual address she recommended a change in the form of the executive committee, substituting for the three previously elected by ballot, in addition to the general officers, the vice-presidents of the state, who were the presidents of the county unions. This changed the possible numbers of the executive committee from seven to sixty-four. Other measures recommended by her have been the publication of a state paper, the opening of state headquarters in New York City, securing permanent headquarters, putting up a building on the permanent state fair grounds at Syracuse, creating the departments of Non-Alcoholics in Medicine and Rescue Work for Girls, the memorializing of the Democratic and Republican parties in behalf of prohibition and for the enfranchisement of woman, and petitioning the constitutional convention of 1894 for the last two purposes.

For some years she has had charge of the legislative interests. In 1885-87 she was superintendent of the Department of Social Purity, and at once entered upon a vigorous campaign to raise "the age of consent" for young girls. In 1887 this effort was successful, the legislature raising the age from ten years to sixteen years. In 1891-92 she led in the legislative work that resulted in the closing of the New York State exhibit at the World's Fair on the Sabbath, and in the passage of the bill prohibiting the employment of barmaids in saloons. She also led in the protest against the excise bill which resulted in the modification of some of its worst features, and in the protest against the infamous bill to legalize the social evil, preventing its introduction into the legislature.

As an organizer she has been indefatigable. "Heat, cold, and wet and dry" were all equally braved by her in the task of meeting the women of many a locality and explaining the methods of this beneficent work, while her discriminating eye quickly selected those best fitted to lead off to success. On all occasions she has fostered a love for sincere temperance work, which has been of the greatest advantage to the stability and straightforwardness of the organization in all parts of the state. She has presided at the organization of a large proportion of the county unions. The personal acquaintance with the active members thus gained has greatly aided her in the selection of superintendents and committees, so far as it falls to the lot of the president to make such selections.

In other enterprises she has shown similar ability. The erection of a permanent building on the state fair grounds at Syracuse is eminently suitable, in view of the fact that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union had secured the passage in the state legislature of a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors on the state and county fair grounds within its jurisdiction, the carrying out of which policy has totally changed the character and conduct of agricultural fairs in the Empire State. For several years Mrs. Burt has taken an active interest in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union work at the state fair grounds at Syracuse, greatly to the detriment of her health by overtaxing her physical strength. This course certainly gives the workers an inspiration to undertakings they would never think of braving but for the courage of their leader.

Of a similar character were the skill and dash that secured the Metropolitan Opera House for the meeting of the national convention in 1888. It was said that "the women did it," but it was done so quietly and literally by such rising betimes in the morning that very few know that the skillful marshaling of the few available forces would after all have ended in failure had it not been for the quick wit and personal responsibility of the head hostess of the occasion, the president of the New York State Union.

For thirteen years Mrs. Burt served the state without salary, giving to its work the best her life afforded freely and without price. With such leaders, under God, and with the true end kept steadily in view, Christian women ought not to fail in their great temperance work. It matters comparatively little with what branch of the evangelical church they are associated, but we are persuaded that none of us will esteem our president less when knowing that she has grown in trust and devoutness in this work while in the communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

EDUCATIONAL.

he educational work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union has been one of its prominent sources of usefulness. The trend of so many departments has been along this line, that to enter into the details of each would exceed the limit of this historical record.

In a memorial presented to the state legislature in 1877 appeared a clause asking that it be made obligatory by law for all teachers to instruct their pupils in temperance. This was the inception of the Scientific Temperance Instruction Department of the New York State Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

This was made a regular department of work in 1880, with Mrs. Mary T. Burt as superintendent. Mrs. E. H. Griffith, of Fairport, succeeded her the following year and laid some foundation for the work. Miss Elizabeth W. Greenwood, of Brooklyn, then became superintendent, continuing as such from 1882 to 1886, and to her must be accorded the honor of doing the hard work of the department. Her preliminary work consisted in visiting and presenting the subject before the various normal schools of the state. This aroused public interest and created a sentiment which made the subsequent work comparatively easy. At the convention held at Poughkeepsie in 1883 it was decided to make the securing of a scientific temperance instruction law a leading line of work for the ensuing year, and Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, of Boston, national superintendent, was invited to assist the state superintendent in the campaign.

This was faithfully done. And what of the result? In spite of opposition and discouragement, after six months of unparalleled labor came the greatest temperance victory the state had ever gained—the passage of the scientific temperance education law. The money for carrying on this expensive campaign was secured largely through the personal solicitation of Miss Greenwood and the secretary of the department, Mrs. C.C. Alford, of Brooklyn.

After this law was enacted the state superintendent of public instruction delayed the introduction of new text-books (which, if introduced, must remain five years) until the books then under revision, and to be endorsed by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, were ready. The first books introduced were Professor Steele's "Hygiene and Physiology," Mrs. Hunt's "Hygiene for Young People," and the "Child's Health Primer." Mrs. G.M. Gardenier, of Oswego, gave the first public scientific temperance lesson after the passage of the law at Round Lake, July 5, 1884; subject, "Alcohol and the Brain." This was during a series of meetings held under the auspices of the state organization.

In 1886 Mrs. Marion S. Tifft, of Pine Valley, succeeded Miss Greenwood, serving two years. In 1889 Mrs. Lytie Perkins Davies was made superintendent, faithfully performing the duties and advancing the work until 1894.

In 1888 "Higher Education" was made a department of work, Mrs. Anna E. Rice and Miss Julia E. Dailey each serving one year as superintendent, when the department was merged with that of Scientific Temperance Instruction. "Commission of Inquiry and Statistics of the Liquor Traffic" was made a department of state work in 1880, and continued until 1887. It had three superintendents—Mrs. Horace Eaton, of Palmyra, who served one year; Mrs. A. G. Nichols, of Kingston, was her successor, serving two years; and Mrs. A. T. Stewart, of Peekskill, who retained the superintendency four years. Statistics are called dry, but these faithful women did not find them so. Mrs. Nichols said in reference to her report of the department: "A wail as of a lost spirit goes surging through it; moans of woe sound through it; tears and blood flow through it."