Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1885 — W. C. T. U. [ARTICLE]

W. C. T. U.

ORGIN ANB OBJE'TS. Mis; Frances E. Willard a-ks the übiication of the following from the

last annual leafl.t of the W. C- T. U : .The National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union- with its thii ty-eigi t auxiliary «ute ano nine Territorial unions, lie-ides that of the District of Columbia, is the largest society ever composed exclusively of women and conducted entiraly by them it is now organized i n every State and Territory of the Nation, and locally in all important towns and cities. Great Britain, Canada, and Australia have also organ ized, and Mrs. M. C. Leavitt, of Massachusetts, is making a preliminary reconnaissance for a woild’.-* W. G.T. U. As a general estimate (the returns altogether incomplete) we think the number of local unions in the United States abou ! 10(KM), with a membership ot about 15 i 000, besides numerous juvenile organizations. The society is the lineal d scendant of tba great tern peiauce crusade ot 1873-4. and is a union oi G..iistian women ot all churches for the purpi seof educatiing the young; forming a belter public sentiment; reforming the drinking classes trans* framing, bv the power of divine grace, tuoee who are tndayed by alcohol, and reinoAing the dramshop irmn our streets by law. PLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL W. C. T. U. I hereby solemnly promise, God helping me, to asbiain from all distilled, fermemed, and malt liquors, including wine and cider and to emoiov all pro;/ er means to discourage the use of and traffic in the tame-