Two Decades Part 5

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 pa.s.sage 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."

"Touch not, taste not, handle not."

"Inducing Corporations and Employers to require Total Abstinence in their Employees" was the name of the department as adopted in 1880--Mrs.

Peter Stryker, of Saratoga, superintendent. After two years of service she was succeeded by Mrs. V. A. Willard, of Belmont, who continued the work for one year; then Mrs. Homer A. Nelson, of Poughkeepsie, was given the superintendency, which she retained until 1887. The work of the department was then suspended for one year, but resumed as "Capital and Labor"--Mrs. Nelson again the superintendent. In 1889 work among railroad employees was added. In 1890 the name was again changed to "Temperance and Labor"--Mrs. M. M. Van Benschoten, of Newark, superintendent. In 1891 Mrs. Ella A. Boole, of West New Brighton, was made the superintendent, and has continued until the present. The department has wonderfully developed through her influence.

"Influencing Physicians not to Prescribe Alcoholics in Medicine" was the original name of the present Department of Non-Alcoholics in Medicine.

This department was first adopted in 1883, with Mrs. Rev. J. Butler, of Fairport, as superintendent. During her four years of service the work was well organized. The "Physician's Pledge" was circulated, and much sentiment created against alcoholic prescriptions. Mrs. E. G. Moore, of Medina, who succeeded her, secured the presentation of the subject before medical a.s.sociations. Susan A. Everett, M.D., of New York, was superintendent for one year. In 1889 Mrs. M. M. Allen, of Bellona, was appointed superintendent, a position occupied by her at the present time. Through her efficiency and zeal knowledge upon the subject has increased until now the consensus of opinion is that alcoholic medicines are unnecessary.

"Visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children."

"Heredity," as the department now stands in our lines of work, is a scientific subject, and should be studied as such. To accomplish this has been the aim of the superintendents having the work in charge. This department was adopted in 1883, with Mrs. Mary E. Niles, of Hornellsville, as superintendent. In the same year Elvira V. Ranier, M.D., of Oswego, was made superintendent of "Hygiene," also a new department. In 1884 these departments were united, Mrs. Niles still remaining superintendent. The next year Hygiene as a special work was discontinued. The Heredity work remained in charge of its first superintendent until 1888, when Sarah Morris, M.D., of Buffalo, had the work for one year. In 1889 the department of Health, which had been adopted in 1886, with Mrs. Mary G. Underhill, of Poughkeepsie, as its superintendent, was united with Heredity, and Gertrude G. Bishop, M.D., of Brooklyn, appointed superintendent. The following year the Health Department was discontinued. Mrs. E. T. Howland, now Rev. Elizabeth T.

Howland, was appointed the superintendent of Heredity. She continued the work two years, and was succeeded by Mrs. Ella B. Hallock, of Southold.

"Physical Culture," now "Physical Education," an evolution of the departments of Health and Hygiene, was made a distinct department of work in 1890, with Mrs. Bertha Morris Smith, of Elmira, as superintendent, a position she has retained until the present. Mrs.

Smith is an enthusiast in her department. The national leaflet, "A New Field for Educators," was written by her in the interests of this department.

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

"The Press," or "Influencing the Press," as the department was first known, was adopted as a department in 1880. Miss Margaret E. Winslow served as superintendent from 1880 to 1886, with the exception of 1882, when Mrs. O. N. Fletcher, of Sherman, acted in that capacity. Miss Abbie E. Hufstader, of Yorkshire Center, had the superintendency in 1887, and Miss S. J. Vosburg, of Rochester, in 1888 and 1889. She was succeeded by Mrs. May Morgan McKoon, of Long Eddy, who has prosecuted the work with vigor until the present time. Listen to the report echoes of this department:

1882--"The press goes _everywhere_; let us then walk boldly and steadily into this ever-opening door."

1892--"The greatest single force in society to-day is the press." "As a man readeth in his newspaper, so is he." "Its utterances carry a dictum unequaled by that of either the pulpit or bench." "It molds public opinion." "Use the press!"

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of G.o.d? If any man defile the temple of G.o.d, him shall G.o.d destroy."

With this motto "Narcotics" was adopted as a department of State work in 1887, with Mrs. Helen L. Bullock, of Elmira, as superintendent. She no sooner entered upon the work than measures were inaugurated to secure a law prohibiting the use of tobacco by the young. In 1889 such a law was pa.s.sed. Were it rigidly enforced, fewer cases of insanity and less deaths would result from excessive cigarette smoking. During her superintendency Mrs. Bullock wrote the national leaflet, "The Tobacco Toboggan," and delivered her narcotic lecture, "Our Dangerous Inheritance," many times. In 1891-92 Mrs. E. G. Tiffany, of Dansville, was superintendent of the department. In 1893 Mrs. Emma G. Dietrick, of Lockport, succeeded her.

"Franchise" was adopted as a department of state work in 1886, Miss Mary B. Cushman, of Lockport, being the first superintendent. In 1888 Mrs.

C. C. Ellerson, of New York City, succeeded her. In 1891 Miss Vinnie R.

Davis, of Orwell, was appointed superintendent, a position she still retains. Miss Davis has brought to the work rare gifts and great earnestness. The department has steadily advanced under her guidance. In the earlier years of the organization great conservatism existed in regard to this subject. Resolutions adverse to its consideration by local and state unions were pa.s.sed in 1876 and 1878. Since its adoption as a department the president in her annual addresses has continually sounded its keynote in utterances like these: "The ballot in woman's hand is a first necessity toward the solution of not only this great question but other moral reform questions of our day." "Justice and equity alike demand that the ballot be given to women."

In 1893 two hundred thousand women registered in the state to vote for school officers. Upon the eve of the election Judge Williams, of the supreme court, decided that such voting would be unconst.i.tutional; but in spite of the ruling over twenty thousand women did vote.

"Let all things be done decently and in order."

"School of Methods and Parliamentary Usage" became a department of state work in 1890, and has had but two superintendents--Miss Julia E. Dailey, of Rochester, who served one year, and Mrs. Helen L. Bullock, of Elmira, who succeeded her. The aim of this department is to educate the women along the lines of department work and the best manner of conducting meetings, following St. Paul's advice--"Study to show thyself approved unto G.o.d, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"

The Department of Mercy was adopted in 1891, with Miss C. Augusta Goodale, of Newburgh, as superintendent. The object of the department has been education along humane lines. Many children have become interested, and numerous Bands of Mercy, inculcating the laws of kindness, have been organized.

"Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, ... think on these things"--_Philipians_ iv, 8

The Department of Purity in Literature and Art, with Mrs. Harriet S.

Pritchard, of Brooklyn, as superintendent, was adopted in 1893, and gives promise of becoming one of wide-reaching influence.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mrs. Ella A. Boole]

MRS. ELLA ALEXANDER BOOLE.

(FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT)

Ella, eldest daughter of Colonel Isaac N. and Rebecca Alban Alexander, was born at Van Wert, Ohio. Although but a school-girl then, she was one of the original Ohio crusaders, and the temperance zeal kindled at that time with her has never grown cold.

In 1874 she was graduated from the high school of her native place as valedictorian of the cla.s.s. Four years later she completed her college course at the University of Wooster, Ohio, with a cla.s.s of thirty-one, only three of whom were young women. This time she was salutatorian.

During the university course she captured the prize in an oratorical contest, being the only lady among nine contestants. This was an earnest of the honor conferred upon her in 1888, when she was invited to deliver the oration before the alumni a.s.sociation of her _alma mater_, the first time in the history of the university that this honor had been conferred upon a woman.

After graduating from college and refusing many flattering positions, she became a teacher of Latin, Greek, and higher mathematics in the high school of Van Wert, and in 1881 the degree of Master of Arts was awarded her. As an educator she began her public work at teachers' inst.i.tutes.

In 1883 she was married to Rev. Wm. H. Boole, D.D., pastor of the South Second street Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., and found a wide and congenial field of usefulness in this new relation as a pastor's wife.

Mrs. Boole was elected corresponding secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New York State at the Cortland convention, in 1885, a position she filled with marked ability for six years. In 1891 she was elected to the office of first vice-president, a position she still retains. Mrs. Boole was chairman of the committee which prepared the handbook, which has been invaluable to the workers of the state.

Since 1888 Dr. and Mrs. Boole have devoted their time wholly to temperance and evangelistic work. No name is more familiar among temperance speakers than Mrs. Boole's, and no voice has been heard in this state more frequently or with greater acceptance than hers. Her lectures are a happy mingling of humor, pathos, and logic. They give no uncertain sound for total abstinence and prohibition, and never fail to interest.

This sketch would hardly be complete without mention of Albenia Alexander, now eight years old, only daughter of Mrs. Boole. "Benie" was presented to the state convention at Binghamton, and to the national convention at Nashville a few weeks later, as "the youngest white-ribb.o.n.e.r of us all."

CHAPTER V.

EVANGELISTIC.

"And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."

This was the first motto chosen for the Evangelistic Department, and has been the foundation-stone of the work. It will be impossible in this little book to mention the work which has been done--indeed, it could not be recorded--but one is our Master, even Christ, and He knows it all. We can only mention the different lines of work which have come under this head, with the names of those who have acted as superintendents.

The Evangelistic Department was placed in charge of Mrs. Mary E. Hartt, of Brooklyn, in 1880, who gave to it her best thought and energy. She continued in the work for eight years, laying it down only in response to the Master's call, "Come up higher." Mrs. Josephine Braman, of Brooklyn, succeeded Mrs. Hartt for her unexpired term, she being succeeded in turn by Mrs. Mary J. Weaver, of Batavia, in 1889, who has carried on the department work most efficiently since then.

For two years the Department of Systematic Giving was added to this, but in 1893 was made a department by itself, with Mrs. Nellie Hutchinson, of Owego, as superintendent.

In 1886 the Sabbath Observance Department was given to Mrs. Mary E.

Simpson, of Sherman, who was followed by Mrs. H. L. Wilc.o.x, of Rochester, each serving two years. Mrs. Margaret P. Buchanan, of New York City, was appointed in 1890, Mrs. James Baldwin, of Addison, in 1891, and in 1893 Miss Kate Manning, of Attica, was made superintendent.