THE WOMEN'S WHISKY WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 90, 3 April 1876, Page 4

THE WOMEN'S WHISKY WAR.

{Home News, Feb. 10) The first meeting in connection with ( the agitation to bring about a woman's • whisky war in this .country was held on' January 25, at the Lecture-hall of the Temperanoe League, in the Strand. Mr John Kemps ter presided. A large nuaiber.of ladies were present, some of wnom represented different temperance societies in London and itis immediate viciriity. Mrs Lucas, (sister of Mr John Bright M.P;), had written a letter of apology, in which' she expressed her best wishes fbr the results of the meeting, and said she would accept ; any work with which the committee might think proper to entrust her. Miss Mason, of the Christian Workers' Temperance Union, was also preseht, and took an active part in the proceedings. There were also present several clergymen and Nonconformist Ministers, who desired to show their interest in: Mother Stewart's work. The Rev. . John, Morgan addressed the Committee at great, length, and submitted that for th|e present a temporary committee only should be formed until they can see their way to some permanant combioation7 which would comprise the entire system of temperance . societies throughout this country. This.proposal appeared to meet the views of the majority, of those present, and the different 1 members of the Committee were named. Mr John Kemps ter was elected chairman. Mrs Dawson Burn's . was appointed Secretary." She regarded her asf'a temporary one, and looked forward to some influential ladies taking upon themselves the work which tbey were now only attempting to develop. Agitation, she said, was necessary, and numerous meetings would be held in different parts of Kondoh during a month, after which Mother Stewart intended to go to Liverpool, and to visit other important townsin England. Tbe Committee is to be termed Mother Stewart's Londou Committee. The chairman explained that printed circulars had been forwarded, in reply to enqu r ries respecting Mother Stewart's and Sister Watson's engagements, so that she and Sister Watson should be put to no expense. In response; to the circulars numerous applications, had been made by clergymen, Nonconformist ministers, temperance managers, both male and female, and the public would be informed by advertisements of the different meetings. Mother Stewart then addressed the ladies and gentlemen present on the kind of work wnich she was desirous of bringing about in what she might call the English women's " whisky war." Her wish was to enlist the' assistance of Christian workers of every denomination; iThe evil was a national one, and it should be dealt with as such. She herself cquld not be expected to do the entire work ia this vast metropolis. The following were her' suggestions :— She proposed that leagues should be formed throughout ff the metropolis in the* different places of worship. A beginning had just been 1 made at Barnsbury Chape).: This, herfirst appearance in-public, bad had such wonderful results, and caused, so much enthusiasm, that she had every confidence that at future meetings the same enthusiasm would prevail, es-7 rpecially amongst the women. Thiß was a woman's work, and she Would recommend that meetings of women alone, to the exclusion of men, should.' now and then be held. Woolen belonging to the different associations, either for tbe promotion of temperance or Christianity, . should combine in leagues, and attack one particular quarter of this mighty city, visit the families of the poor, tbe .wives of drunkards especially, and endeavor to make them join the holy crusade; make them sign the pledge, and give every one good advice. Publicans mny be also brought to reasonable arrangements to. induce

them not to eucourage tbe vice of drunkenness, and even children might be employed in this crusade. Prayermeetings should be held by these different leagues at regularly appointed places, and she would suggest Thursday in each weeb, that being a Bpecial day generally employed for tbat purpose in America. A thrill would pervade this land, and gradually spread over the whole world—women would of tbeir own accord form 'processions, aod tbe work, having onc-a,? been thoroughly undertaken, would bring about wonderful results as in America. Petitions should be numerously signed to Parliament, so that some restrictions might be imposed on the sale of liquor. Mother Stewart sat down amidst repeated cheers, and the assembly soon after separated.