The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is the oldest continuing non-sectarian women's organization in the US and worldwide. The women of Fredonia, New York are credited with being the first of the women's groups to visit the saloons. Subsequently, on December 22, 1873, they were the first local organization to adopt the name, Woman's Christian Temperance Union. A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... An organization (U.S. spelling) or organisation (U.K. spelling) is a formal group of people with one or more shared goals. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government CIA World Factbook Entry for United States House. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Fredonia is the name of some places in the United States of America: Fredonia (Biscoe), Arkansas Fredonia, Arizona Fredonia, Iowa Fredonia, Kansas Fredonia, Kentucky Fredonia, New York Fredonia, North Dakota Fredonia, Pennsylvania Fredonia, Wisconsin Fredonia (town), Wisconsin Fredonia Township, Michigan Fredonia is also: A variety of table grape, see Fredonia... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Saloon can mean: Any bar, especially in the American Wild West. ... December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... An organization (U.S. spelling) or organisation (U.K. spelling) is a formal group of people with one or more shared goals. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. ... Temperance may refer to: Temperance (virtue) Temperance movement Temperance (Tarot card) Temperance (band) See also Astrud Gilberto, for the album Temperance This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A union is a legal entity that, unlike a corporation, is governed democratically with one vote per member. ...

The purpose of the WCTU was to combat the influence of alcohol on families and society. Frances Willard, a noted feminist, was its second president. Combat, or fighting, is purposeful conflict between one or more persons, often involving violence and intended to establish dominance over the opposition. ... In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). ... For the song by the California punk band Pennywise, see Society (song). ... Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (1839-1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women suffragist. ... Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ...

They were inspired by the Greek writer Xenophon who defined temperance as "moderation in all things healthful; total abstinence from all things harmful." In other words, should something be good, it should not be indulged in to excess. Should something be bad for you, it should be avoided altogether -- thus their attempts to rid their societal surroundings of what they saw (and still see) as the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs, etc. The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... Xenophon (In Greek , c. ... Temperance may refer to: Temperance (virtue) Temperance movement Temperance (Tarot card) Temperance (band) See also Astrud Gilberto, for the album Temperance This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Abstinence is the act or habit of refraining from some tempting activity, usually sex, but also other activities such as alcohol or food consumption. ... Good. ... Bad is a concept used to describe undesirable circumstances or events. ... A society is a group of people living or working together. ... In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005 Tobacco (, L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, or to the dried and cured leaves. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational rather than medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ...

The WCTU also formed in Canada in 1874, in Ontario. In 1885 Letitia Youmans founded a nationwide organization which was to become the leading women's society in Canada's temperance movement. An Australian arm commenced operation in Australia in 1888, it was important in both the temperance and women's suffrage movements. In addition to campaigning against alcohol, the WCTU addressed social ills stemming from drunkenness such as domestic violence. It also campaigned for reforms that would improve the status of women in society, such as the right to vote. The WCTU was a major force in Prohibition-and was also influential in creating laws banning prostitution and recreational drugs in the United States. 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th) Land 917,741 km² Water 158,654 km² (14. ... 1885 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... An organization (U.S. spelling) or organisation (U.K. spelling) is a formal group of people with one or more shared goals. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... For the song by the California punk band Pennywise, see Society (song). ... Temperance may refer to: Temperance (virtue) Temperance movement Temperance (Tarot card) Temperance (band) See also Astrud Gilberto, for the album Temperance This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Temperance may refer to: Temperance (virtue) Temperance movement Temperance (Tarot card) Temperance (band) See also Astrud Gilberto, for the album Temperance This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The international movement for womens suffrage, led by suffragists (commonly called suffragettes), was a social, economic and political reform movement aimed at extending the suffrage (that is, the right to vote) to women, advocating equal suffrage (abolition of graded votes) rather than universal suffrage (abolition of discrimination due to... In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). ... // Latin root meaning The term social is derived from the Latin word socius, which as a noun means an associate, ally, companion, business partner or comrade and in the adjectival form socialis refers to a bond between people (such as marriage) or to their collective or connected existence. ... Drunkenness, in its most common usage, is the state of being intoxicated with alcohol (i. ... Domestic violence, by barest definition, is violence within a home. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... For the song by the California punk band Pennywise, see Society (song). ... A right is the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled or a thing to which one has a just claim. ... The Elections and Parties Series Democracy Representative democracy History of democracy Referenda Liberal democracy Representation Voting Voting systems Ideology Elections Elections by country Elections by calender Electoral systems Politics Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Related topics Political parties Parties by country Parties by name Parties by... Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol. ... This article is about law in society. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services, such as oral sex or sexual intercourse, for money. ... Many drugs are provided in tablet form. ...

Current issues for the WCTU include alcohol, which the organization recognizes as North America's number one drug problem, and illegal drugs. The WCTU has warned against the dangers of tobacco since 1875. They continue to this day in their fight against those substances which they see as harmful to society. In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). ... An organization (U.S. spelling) or organisation (U.K. spelling) is a formal group of people with one or more shared goals. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... A drug is any substance that can be used to modify a chemical process or processes in the body, for example to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, enhance a performance or ability, or to alter states of mind. ... Illegal, or unlawful, is either prohibitted or not authorized by law. ... Many drugs are provided in tablet form. ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005 Tobacco (, L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, or to the dried and cured leaves. ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A day (symbol: d) is a unit of time. ... For the song by the California punk band Pennywise, see Society (song). ...

The WCTU publishes a quarterly journal entitled The Union Signal. Publishing is the activity of putting information in the public arena. ... Quarterly means once a quarter (i. ... A journal (through French from late Latin diurnalis, daily) is a daily record of events or business. ...

External links

• WCTU Official Website
• WCTU of Southern California
• WCTU of Australia
• WCTU of Maine
• Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Victoria, Inc.
• The Frances Willard House Historical Association
• Religious Movements Homepage Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
• Friends (Quaker) United Meeting: WCTU in Our Heritage
• The Handbook of Texas: WCTU
• Address Before The Second Biennial Convention Of The World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union, by Frances Willard, President (October, 1893)
• Modern History Sourcebook: Woman's Christian Temperance Union: Growth of Membership and of Local, Auxiliary Unions, 1879-1921
• “We Sang Rock of Ages”: Frances Willard Battles Alcohol in the late 19th century, by Frances Willard