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 (Miss Willard's secretary) and Mrs. S. W.
Foster, of Knowlton, rendered valuable assistance.
The departments of work arranged by this Provincial Union, are as follows:—
Heredity and Hygiene, Mrs. D. V. Lucas, Supt., Montreal.
Scientific Work, Mrs. Norton, Montreal.
Juvenile and S.S. Work, Miss Rhynas, Montreal.
Temperance Literature, and Influencing the Press, Mrs. Jack,
Chateauguay Basin.
Evangelistic Work, Miss Knowles, East Farnham.
Prison and Police Work, Mrs. Dean, Quebec.
Work among Intemperate Women, Mrs. Barker, Knowlton.
Social Work, Mrs. C. T. Williams, Montreal.
Legislation, Mrs. Geggie, Quebec.
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.