Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1889-
History
The Women's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) was founded on the national level in 1883. It was the first interdenominational woman's organization in Canada and in the world. The Moose Jaw Union of the W.C.T.U. was organized in 1889. The Union is renowned for its campaign against liquor, but it has always been a service organization, and was one of the major movements in working towards the franchise for women. The W.C.T.U. members are dedicated to the Christian principle of responsibility for the welfare of mankind, and the sacredness of human life. The motto is "For God and Home and Every Land." The pledge is one of total abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and narcotics, believing they contribute to the desecration of the home and the demoralization of the individual. Provincial conventions met annually, Canadian conventions met biennially, and World conventions triennially. The children and youth organizations are Little White Ribboners for children under 7 years of age, Loyal Temperance Legion for children 7 to 14 years of age, and the Youth Temperance Council for young people over 14 years. Women active in the Moose Jaw W.C.T.U. included Mrs. A.E. Peacock, Mrs. W. H. Beamish, Miss F.M. Johnstone, Mrs. E. Green, Mrs. A. Johnson, Mrs. H.F. Lanks, Mrs. A. Bricker, Mrs. C. Kjarsgaard, Mrs. Amy Lancaster, Mrs. Mildred Steele.