Ann Jane Carlile, a Temperance Pioneer (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ANN JANE CARLILE: a temperance flMoneer. j] HE prominent position which the Temperance efforts of women have secured in recent years is one of the most striking characteristics of our time; and while every earnest worker cannot but rejoice at the increasing activity of women in our great cause, it is only just to remember that all along the story of the Temperance Reformation " honourable women," not a few, have ever been ready to spend and be spent in its service. Sixty years ago there was a much stronger prejudice against women taking part in public work than is now the case; and when our sisters stand upon the platform to-day, they should (and no doubt many of them do) feel deeply grateful to that noble band of women who years ago braved the contemptuous criticism of the pulpit and press, and thus brought about that enlightened change in public opinion which marks the present time. Cold indeed must be the heart which is not thrilled by the record of the pioneer work done by Mrs. Ann Jane Carlile among women and children; by Mrs. Clara Lucas Balfour on the platform; by Mrs. Julia B. Wightman in the parish of St. Alkmnnd, Shrewsbury; by Mrs. Bayly in demonstrating at the Kensington potteries the best method of mending " Ragged Homes "; by Mrs. Hind Smith in starting public-houses without the drink; by Lady Hope when, as Miss Cotton, she found a way to reach rough lads and men through a coffee-room; to say nothing of the noble efforts of Mrs. Daniells and her daughter among the soldiers, and Miss Agnes Weston among the sailors. Then, too, we must never cease to remember that some of the most epoch-making books in Temperance literature were produced by early women workers: " Danes- bury House," by Mrs. Henry Wood, which is still the most popular of all our Tem...