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Drawing-room meetings have been held with great success, some in the mansion of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, and in the drawing-rooms of Lord and Lady Brabazon.

The Working Women's Teetotal League, which has also been in operation for about eight years, has for its object to spread teetotalism amongst working-class women. Many thousands of pledges have been taken, and benefit societies have been formed under the guidance and supervision of this society.

The Manchester W.C.T. Association is also doing a good work among the young, and in rescuing women from the thraldom of drink.

The large and crowded cities of Great Britain present opportunities and demands for work of this nature, with which our younger country is not so familiar, but the motto of the B.W.T. Association bears a message to us equally strong "The Master is come and calleth for thee."

OUR CANADIAN W.C.T.U.

ONTARIO.

The first union in Canada, of which we have any record, was formed in Owen Sound, Ont. In the spring of 1874, shortly after the first note of the crusade had been sounded, a few earnest Christian ladies of that place, stirred by the report of what God was doing through their sisters in the Western States, meet to devise some plan, by which they could do something if not to prevent, at least to lessen the evils of intemperance in their town. At this meeting, held on the 20th of May, a W.C.T.U. was organized under the presidency of Mrs. Doyle. The first work done by this Union was the general circulation of the pledge, and petitioning the council against granting saloon licenses, also asking that the number of tavern licenses be lessened, which request was granted. Petitions were also sent to the legislature at Toronto, asking for amendments to the license act, and the resolution to submit the Dunkin act to the people of that county was the result of the persistent efforts of the W.C.T.U. In the campaign for this purpose these ladies nobly assisted and 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 . 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 , 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 , 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 three villages, viz.: Stanstead Plain, Rock Island, P.Q., and Derby Line, Vermont. Public meetings were held from time to time by this Union, prominent lecturers engaged, and a lively interest in temperance matters was manifested by the general public. Very much of the success of this Union is due to the counsel and instruction given by Miss Willard during her visit to Stanstead in 1878.

The next Union formed was the Huntingdon Union, but it was not until the winter of 1882-83 that the W.C.T.U. work may be said to have gained a foothold in this Province. During this winter, Mrs. Youmans visited many places in the Province by invitation of the late Rev. Thomas Gales and prominent Christian ladies, giving public addresses and urging the ladies to more active work in this particular branch of Christian endeavor. The result of her labors was the formation of sixteen Unions and a general quickening and awakening to temperance truth.

These Unions were soon at work. The education of the children in temperance principles received their special attention. Public temperance meetings were promoted, literature distributed, free reading rooms established, petitions circulated against license, temperance picnics, cottage and other meetings held, and a great amount of individual work done that has greatly aided and strengthened the cause of temperance in the Province. A Y.W.C.T.U. was formed at Point St. Charles, which is engaged in active work and will be found to be a social power whose weight and influence for good cannot well be estimated.

On the 16th and 17th October, 1883, a meeting of delegates from local Unions was held in Montreal for the purpose of organizing a Provincial Union for the Province of Quebec. Thirty-five delegates were present; encouraging reports were given from the different Unions represented, showing a total membership of about 1,000, and a Provincial Union was at once organized with the following officers:-- President, Mrs. Middleton, Quebec; first Vice-President, Mrs. Dunkin, Knowlton; second Vice-President, Mrs. Walker, Montreal; Corresponding Secretary. Miss Lamb, Quebec; Recording Secretary, Mrs. R. W. McLachlan, Montreal; Treasurer, Mrs. A. M. McKenzie Forbes, Montreal.

In the organization of this Provincial Union, Mrs. E. McLaughlin, of Boston, Miss Anna Gordon and Mrs. S. W. Foster, of Knowlton, rendered valuable assistance.

The departments of work arranged by this Provincial Union, are as follows:--

Each County Vice-President is, to a certain extent, responsible for the work in her county, and in this Province as well as in Ontario, they have proved themselves to be a band of faithful and efficient workers. In the short time which has elapsed since the formation of the Provincial W.C.T.U., and the election of county vice-president, with the assistance of their president, twenty new Unions have been added, making, in all, thirty-seven Unions, with a total membership of about 2,300. Of this number, more than 1,300 are in the City of Montreal. In this particular Union the fee is optional, which may account, in some measure, for the seeming disproportion in members.

THE MARITIME PROVINCES.

The first local union in the Province of New Brunswick was organized in the town of Moncton, in December, 1875, Mrs. J. E. Brown being president. Work among the children has largely engaged the attention of this society, while they have been faithful and persevering in their efforts to educate the public mind by means of lectures and distribution of temperance literature. They have also visited those engaged in selling liquors, and have reasoned with them, to some purpose, on the unrighteousness of their course.

Unions were formed shortly after in St. John, Fredericton, Portland, Carleton and St. Stephen's. In all these places much work has been done, and general temperance sentiment very materially advanced.

In October, 1879, in compliance with a call issued by the Fredericton Union, the delegates of the local Unions in that Province met to form a Provincial Union. Twenty delegates and visitors were present, representing five Unions, and the Prov. Union was at once organized, the following officers being elected:

President, Mrs. Dunham, Portland, N.B.; Vice-Presidents, Mrs., March, St. John, Mrs. McWilliams, Carleton, Mrs. Cunard, Portland, Mrs. Philips, Fredericton, Mrs. Wade, Woodstock; Secretary, Mrs. Steadman, Fredericton; Treasurer, Miss Lockhart, St. John; Auditor, Miss Carr, Carleton.

Since that time the work in this Province has gone steadily forward, some new Unions have been added, and a deeper interest in temperance shown, by many who were formerly indifferent.

President, Mrs. Dr. Todd, St. Stephen. Vice-Presidents, one from each Local Union. Secretary, Miss Ella L. Thorne, Fredericton, N.B.; Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Denistadt, Moncton, N.B.; Auditor, Mrs. W. W. Turnbull, St John, N.B.; Treasurer, Miss Jane Lockhart, St. John, N.B.

There are ten Unions in these Provinces. The exact number of members is not furnished, but if we may judge by the work accomplished, there must be very many workers in behalf of this cause in these Eastern Provinces.

The lines of work followed have been similar to those laid down by the other Provincial Unions. The ladies of St John Union have, however, with the assistance of other Unions, and private subscriptions, erected a drinking fountain in their city at a cost of about 0. This is the first fountain erected by W.C.T.U. in Canada.

The Portland Union has built a hall for its own use, where all Union meetings are held.

Coffee houses and temperance hotels have been established, libraries have been opened, and much attention paid to the scientific instruction in temperance to the children of the public schools.

The Provincial Union of British Columbia was formed in 1883, and comprised two local Unions, one in Victoria, organized at the same time as Provincial, and the other in New Westminster. Total membership 120. In addition to the branches of work undertaken by the other provincial Unions, this society has declared in favor of the ballot for women.

President, Mrs., Pollard, Victoria, B.C., Cor. Sec. Mrs. D. A. Jenkins, Victoria, B.C.

In Manitoba two local Unions have been organized. One in Winnipeg, Mrs. Monk, president, Mrs. Somerset, Secretary; and one Union in Brandon, President, Mrs. Davidson; Secretary, Mrs. Bliss. These are just beginning the good work, but at the end of another year, will have, doubtless, a record to give of many useful measures planned and executed, by means of which reformatory, educational, preventive and legislative work will have been effectually accomplished. Our Canadian women gratefully acknowledge the aid given us by many of our sisters across the border, who have greatly assisted us from time to time with wise counsel and stirring words of appeal. Especially do they remember the inspiration and fresh courage that came to them with the presence and influence of Miss Willard. The formation of the Dominion Union was largely due to her counsel, and to her visit and eloquent addresses we owe the British Columbia Union, provincial and local. Mrs. Emily McLaughlin has also won the hearts of all with whom she came in contact during her visits in Canada, and a large accession to the membership of the Unions has always followed her powerful and persuasive utterances.

THE DOMINION W.C.T.U.

For some months previous to the meeting of the Ontario Provincial Union in October, 1883, a correspondence had been carried on between some of the leading temperance women in the different Provinces, regarding the advisability of forming a Dominion Union. All were in favor of taking this step if any additional good could be gained, or if it would be of benefit to any. With this feeling, and acting upon the advice of Miss Willard, president of the N.W.C.T.U., who was present at the meeting, the Ontario convention appointed a committee consisting of Mrs. Chisholm and Mrs. Strachan, to confer with the executive of the Quebec Provincial Union, for the purpose of forming a Dominion Union, At the interview with the Quebec Provincial Executive, it was stated that from private letters received from other Provinces, there would be no difficulty in the way of organizing the proposed Union. It was also suggested that, in the event of such organization, no meeting should be called before 1885, as some of the Provincial Unions had so recently been formed, and would need all the thought and care that could be given them for a time, at least.

After some questions and explanations, with a little discussion, it was decided that a Dominion Union be organized. A constitution was drawn up, similar to the one in use by the N.W.C.T.U., of the United States, and the following officers elected: President, Mrs. L. Youmans, Picton, Ont.; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. A. C. Chisholm, Ottawa, Ont.; Mrs. Middleton, Quebec; Mrs. Dr. Todd, Fredericton, N.B.; Mrs. Rev. Pollard, Victoria, B.C.; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Major Tilton, Ottawa, Ont.; Recording Secretary, Miss Renaud, Montreal, P.Q.; Treasurer, Mrs. Judge Steadman, Fredericton, N. B.

The aim of this Union will be to unite more closely in their work, the Christian temperance women of the different Provinces, and to devise plans for the general good, these to be largely carried out by the Provincial Unions. Its first meeting will be held during the session of Parliament at Ottawa in 1885.

WHY WOMEN SHOULD WORK.

This W.T.C.U. work opens up to women avenues of usefulness that for their own sakes they ought not to hesitate to enter. Thus engaged the circle widens and widens until the possibilities of usefulness are almost limitless. As the boundaries are set further on the thought and sympathy of women reach out gradually to their limit, broader views of life and of humanity are taken on, and a deep, great love for all God's suffering ones is added to the love of the heart for family and kindred. In this work is found something of real "fellowship with God," and we are enabled to understand something of His great love, even for the unlovable, and to rejoice as in the "presence of the angels of God," over His repentant, returning children.

"The hardest blow I ever received," said a devoted mother, occupying a high social position in our land, "was when my eldest boy turned to me in answer to my expostulation with him about taking too much wine, and said, 'Mother, you know I learned to drink at home.'" So many have said, "If I had only known then what I know now, how different my home would have been, I would not now have to reproach myself for the wrongdoing of husband or of sons." Recently a member of one of our Christian churches, a lady of wealth and refinement, whose home was a home of luxury, and on whose hospitable board the wine-glass was placed as a matter of custom, during the long years of married life, was called to pass through a very painful experience, a very Gethsemane. Her eldest son had grown to be "a little wild," would go from home occasionally for a day or two, causing his parents great anxiety concerning him. On this occasion nearly a week had passed since they had seen him, when a message came to the mother from one of the city policemen. She hurried with the messenger to the gaol, there to meet her darling boy, the one in whom her fondest hopes had been centred, and for whom her brightest dreams had been so many times thought out, the boy she ceased not thinking of other than true, loving and pure,--to find him battered, bruised, and bleeding, with clothes disordered and torn, a sad example of the transformation which strong drink can produce. Some one writes, "It is sad to be disappointed in those we love," but who can tell the agony of that mother's heart as she looked at her shattered idol, and cried out, "My son, why will you drink and break my heart?" I shall not soon forget his reply, "Because you gave it to me at home," nor can I forget that mother's face as there came over her soul the awful realization of all that the thoughtlessness of custom had done for her boy. As we passed out she said, "No more wine at our table, God helping me," but while children still at home may be kept, it is too late for the eldest born. To day he is a wanderer from home, and mother, and God. While human hearts and human prayers follow him, God's mercy alone can reach and save.

All over our country, homes are constantly sending out their young men into business, into society, and the home life is exchanged for something new, Day by day we are meeting these, receiving them into our homes, making them welcome to our parlors. What shall our influence be upon them? A young man comes to a city with good recommendations; he has high hopes, gets into a good business, is made much of in society. He is a pure man, such as mothers would choose as companion for their sons and daughters. How many hopes and prayers have come with him from the home hearth, and how glad and proud his best friends are to know that he is doing well. As he spends his evenings in our homes, those evenings that would otherwise be very dreary, what will the home do for him? Shall women, who rule society, use their influence to disappoint all the bright home dreaming, to check all his high aspirations, and to make it very easy for him to become a victim to this appetite for drink? Not that this is ever intentionally done, but the history of many men, given years after in many of our Gospel temperance meetings, proves that this is terribly true.

Many young men date their downfall from the first evening spent in society in a strange city, for while they could resist the temptations of young men companions, they have not been able to refuse the wine-glass at the hand of their hostess.

In view of all these facts, so sad, so pitiful, ought we not for our own sake, for the sake of innocent children in our homes, for the sake of other women's children and other homes, and for the sake of society at large, in order to lead men and women, as best we may, towards all that is pure and holy, and away from all that is debasing and evil, ought we not to give our influence and our active help to this temperance work?

HOW WOMEN MAY WORK.

Encourage the children to become members of a Band of Hope, and, if possible, go with them occasionally to their meetings, thus showing your interest in their particular work.

We are glad to think the custom of supplying farm hands with beer is not prevalent in this country, but there may be places here and there where this has been customary. Here farmer's wives may provide a substitute in oatmeal drink, cold tea or coffee. These are a few of the many ways in which women may work for temperance in the home.

Some of our ladies do not receive much company in this way, and have not this opportunity for helping on the right, but in quiet visits to and fro, their influence may accomplish much. To speak of a good temperance book to a friend, a book which we have just read, and in which we have been interested, to offer to lend it, saying you are sure she will be as interested in it as you have been,--this is not much, perhaps, but it is the sowing of the seed, which may produce fruit, such as we have not faith to think of, in the days to come.

Many of our best women are engaged in teaching these boys and girls, and thus have a grand opportunity for good work in the temperance cause. If a text book on this subject be not in use, there are still ways in which a conscientious teacher, thoroughly alive to its importance, may convey to the minds of her pupils much of the truth about alcohol. She may procure Dr. Richardson's Lesson Book, or Dr. Ridge's Primer, so largely in use in the schools of England, Dr. Steele's Physiology and Hygiene, or the book authorized by the Educational Department of Ontario, now in course of preparation, and from any of these prepare a lesson, occasionally, for her scholars. Different phases of the temperance question might be put before them, in a very simple form, as subjects for their compositions.

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