Dodge County GaArchives History .....History of W. C. T. U. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 11:34 am

THE W. C. T. U.

  THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION was organized April, 1903, with
seventy-five active and twenty-five honorary members.; by Mrs. Ada Wallace
Unruh, of Portland, Oregon. Officers elected were: President, Mrs. M. H.
Edwards; Vice-President, Mrs. J. F. DeLacey; Recording Secretary, Mrs. J. M.
Bohannon; Treasurer, Mrs. Mather Wynne.

  The first social meeting of the Union, held at the Uplands Hotel in the winter
of .1904, was a pronounced success. Every family in the town of Eastman received
a written invitation to this affair.

  From the day of organization the Union flourished and progressed. The
organization was so virile and effective from the very first that wise heads
predicted state prohibition would be the result, and so it proved. From this
union came the State president, Mrs. Mary Harris Armor, and State corresponding
secretary, Mrs. M. H. Edwards, who instigated and led the victorious fight for
state-wide prohibition in 1908.

  For the children a flourishing Loyal Temperance Legion led by Mrs. E. H.
Bacon, Mrs. W. A. Burks, Mrs. W. B. Daniel and others was organized. The
membership of this Legion numbered over a hundred children, some of whom
appeared on State convention programs as delegates and participants in
declamation contests. One hundred dollars was contributed annually by the Union
for promotion of the temperance cause in the State and Nation. The departmental
work was stressed, especially the educational feature, and the work of the
department of Flower Mission and Relief.

  In the fall of 1903 Eastman entertained the State convention. Mrs. Jennie Hart
Sibley, of Union Point, was at this time the State president. For many years
Eastman Union was the honor Union of the State. The following ladies served as
State departmental superintendents: Mrs. E. H. Bacon, Mrs. J. F. DeLacey, Mrs.
T. H. Edwards, Mrs. James Bishop, Mrs. M. H. Edwards.

  Due to the work and influence of members of this Union the town and county
were spared the erection of that monstrosity known as a dispensary. As a
constructive measure in the field of education Dr. E. 0. Taylor, of Boston,
Mass., was invited to visit the town and delivered his five famous lectures on
Scientific Temperance Instruction in the spring of 1904.

  The Union has always had the benefit of the moral support and encouragement of
the churches, and in turn it has co-operated with civic and patriotic
organizations in advancing, not only community interests but even those of a
national and world-wide nature. Red Cross work, the purchase of Liberty Bonds,
the support of a French war orphan, and contributions to Near East Relief Fund
are some of the Union's outstanding contributions. This Union's greatest gift to
the temperance cause has been that intrepid, flaming evangel for sobriety and
righteousness, Mary Harris Armor. One of the most forward steps for civic
improvement has been the promotion of shrubbery planting, flower growing, and
general cultural improvement of home grounds, city parks and cemetery lots. The
Union, through its departmental work, seeks to emphasize educational work
showing the evil effects of alcohol and narcotics upon body, brain and morals,
and stresses relief work, child welfare, health, peace and international
relations as well as other features. The work for the children continues through
the Loyal Temperance Legion.

  Since organization the following have served as presidents: Mrs. M. H.
Edwards, Mrs. J. M. Bohannon, Mrs. Dudley Smith, Mrs. Alice P. Harrell and Mrs.
Roy Pennington.

  At some later date a Union was organized at Chauncey, Dodge County. Mrs. Jack
Willis is at this time President of that Union; Mrs. D. B. Phillips, Treasurer.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY
OF
DODGE COUNTY

COPYRIGHT    1932
By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB

Printed by
FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA.




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