Home and foreign missions have claimed her interest, and she is associational director of the women's Baptist home mission work for the county, under appointment of the Women's Home Mission Board at Chicago.

In 1863 she was married to Mr. W. H. Gardenier, a lawyer, and has one son. Mrs. Gardenier is an experienced and very successful teacher, having filled that important and influential role for many years. During all these years her pupils have been largely boys and young men, over whom she has a peculiar and happy faculty. Her influence upon the lives of the hundreds of boys who have sat under her teaching cannot be estimated.

She has for many years been interested in temperance. Her first public work was done in connection with the Good Templars, having joined the order at its organization. When the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized she became a member of the local union of her city, and has since that time been prominently connected with the temperance work of the city and county. She assisted in organizing the county Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and served as its secretary seven years. She organized many of the unions of the County, and to her enthusiasm and zeal much of the early success of the county work is attributed.

At the Binghamton convention, in 1887, she was presented with a beautiful gold watch and chain as a slight recognition of her faithful and untiring services.

Mrs. Gardenier is noted not only for her gifts as a "recorder" but for her wit, which, expressing itself with the utmost good will, awards extreme delight to her hearers. Her addresses are marked by forcible and original illustrations which remain in the memory and challenge thought long after the occasion of their delivery.

At Round Lake, in the summer of 1884, under the scientific temperance instruction law of 1884, Mrs. Gardenier gave the first illustrated lesson in the state upon the nature and effects of alcohol upon the human system, and has since presented the subject of scientific temperance instruction at a number of the teachers' institutes in the state.

In addition to her temperance work, she is deeply interested in the humane work and other public philanthropies.

A member of the committee to prepare the history of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, much time during the past few months has been devoted to searching the records and statistics of the past twenty years, twelve of which bear witness to the faithfulness, love, and zeal of our recording secretary.

M. T. B.



CHAPTER VII.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL.

Our work is many-sided, but among all the rest the social side has not been neglected. When department work was first taken up, in 1880, a department called "Drawing-Room Meetings" was placed in charge of Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, of Brooklyn, who for two years was the superintendent. The following year Mrs. Margaret Bottome, of New York, now at the head of the order of King's Daughters and Sons, was the superintendent. In 1883 the department was changed to Parlor Meetings and united with Mothers' Meetings, Mrs. Dr. Horace Eaton being given the superintendency. She was succeeded by Mrs. Van Benschoten, of Newark, who filled the position for two years. In 1886 the two departments were divided, and Mrs. A. M. Wickes, of Attica, was given that of Parlor Meetings, holding it until the present time. In the convention of 1893 a beautiful chocolate pot was presented to the union at Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, for having held more parlor meetings during the year than any other union in the state.

Ten years ago the Department of State and County Fairs was adopted, and Mrs. H. R. Edgett, of Fairport, was made the superintendent. She has given ten years of faithful service to this line of work. In 1889 a committee was appointed to consider the work at the state fair, and, if deemed practicable, the state was to engage in the work. Mrs. Mary T. Burt, Mrs. Ellen L. Tenney, and Mrs. Edgett were made such a committee. Correspondence was immediately opened with the officers of the agricultural society as to the feasibility of erecting a building on the permanent fair grounds at Syracuse, and shortly after a circular-letter was sent out, asking for contributions for the same. Arrangements were made to commence the work there at once, not waiting for the building to be erected, and the fall of 1890 found our standard raised for the first time on the state fair grounds. The building is not yet accomplished, but with $2,065.99 already set aside for it, it is certainly an assured fact, and but for the illness of Mrs. Burt would no doubt have been erected during the summer of 1894.

The heroic labors of Mrs. Burt during these years deserve more than a passing notice. Upon her rested the burdens of the work. Her courage in encountering difficulties, her patient endurance of fatigue and exposure, and her wonderful executive ability, made her a wonder to all. The sun has not always shone during the state fair, and through storm and sunshine—mostly storm—she has stood at her post, thinking no sacrifice too great if thereby our cause be advanced. Mrs. Mary D. Ferguson, of Syracuse, has always stood bravely by, aiding in every way possible.

A paper was issued, called The Fair White Ribbon, and fifteen thousand copies distributed freely on the grounds. For two years the paper was edited by Mrs. H. R. Edgett, when, her health failing, Mrs. Ferguson acted as editor and publisher. Advertisements were secured by Mrs. Ferguson, and a handsome profit of $139 was the result the second year, and $147 the third year; while the good accomplished through the presence and efforts of our standard-bearers on the grounds cannot be measured. In 1891 the Department of Coffee Houses was added to the social lines, and Mrs. S. W. Stoddard, of Horseheads, was placed at the head of the department. No change has been made in the superintendency, and a new impetus has been given to this work since it has been made a department.

* * * * *

POLITICAL.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has frequently been called a political institution. While we smile over the accusation, knowing how small a part woman can occupy in the politics of this country, yet with great earnestness we back up the smile with the thought that when we are a political institution—or, more properly speaking, a voting institution—the backbone of the liquor power will be broken, the saloon must go, and the era of happy hearts and happy homes will be ushered in. That we have always taken an interest in politics is true, and always on the right side. Away back in 1876 we find the following:

Resolved, That, in view of the present political crisis, we as Christian women effectively urge upon all voters with whom we have influence that they cast their votes only for total abstinence candidates.

In 1883 our convention received the following telegram from Syracuse:

To the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New York State:

Prohibitory party convention sends greeting. Where you lead with prayers, we will follow with votes.

DWIGHT WILLIAMS, Chairman of Committee.

The reply sent is found in Joshua i., 9.

The convention of 1884 adopted the following resolution, only twelve voting against it:

Resolved, That we express our endorsement of the action of our beloved president, Miss Willard, and of the national executive committee, in regard to the Prohibition party, as being in harmony with the resolution passed in the national convention at Detroit.

In this same year our president attended the nominating convention at Pittsburgh, as delegate from the Prohibition convention.

In 1885, Mrs. Burt in her annual address referred to what is known as the St. Louis resolution, which reads as follows:

We refer to the history of ten years of persistent moral suasion work as fully establishing our claim to be called a non-political society, but one which steadily follows the white banner of prohibition wherever it may be displayed. We have, however, as individuals, always aimed ourselves, in local and state political contests, with those voters whose efforts and ballots have been given to the removal of the dram-shop and its attendant evils, and at this time, while recognizing that our action as a national society is not binding upon states or individuals, we reaffirm the positions taken by the society, both at Louisville in 1882 and at Detroit in 1883, pledging our influence to that party, by whatever name called, which shall furnish us the best embodiment of prohibition principles, and will most surely protect our homes. And as we now know which national party gives as the desired embodiment of the principles for which our ten years' labor has been expended, we will continue to lend our influence to the national political organization which declares in its platform for national prohibition and home protection. In this, as in all progressive effort, we will endeavor to meet argument with argument, misjudgment with patience, denunciation with kindness, and all difficulties and dangers with prayer.

Mrs. Burt adds:

And distasteful though the word "politics" may be to many in connection with our work, we can none of us ignore the fact that the strength of the saloon system, which is an open menace to our homes, is vested in political power....

Political action with regard to woman's temperance work may be decried, our influence as an organization may be withheld, but the fact will remain that the party which boldly declares for the prohibition of the liquor traffic—the men who, standing solemnly before God, say, "My voice shall be given and my vote shall be cast against the legislation of this iniquity,"—deserves the sympathy, prayers, and influence of all women, and will receive the blessing of God.

During the years that have followed these eventful ones we have always come up to the standard, and have given no uncertain sound on this question, and in closing this chapter we cannot do better than to quote again from Mrs. Burt's address of 1886:

And in the years to come I believe it will be a fact over which the union will rejoice, that when the battle waged the fiercest, when shot and shell rained the thickest, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the state, true to the genius of its organization, stepped boldly forth and extended sympathy and influence to our brothers who were struggling so bravely for the right, saying, "Here I stand—I can do no other; so help me God."



MRS. ELLEN LEGRO TENNEY.

(TREASURER)

Mrs. Tenney was born in New Hampshire. Early in life she manifested decided literary and musical tastes—in childhood preferring study to play, and books to dolls. Mathematics, music, and the languages were her especial delight; and to these she applied herself with such assiduity that at fourteen Greek, Latin, French, German, Spanish, and Italian had been added to her English course; at sixteen she commenced to play the organ in church.

Mrs. Tenney was not only a graduate of the Rhode Island Normal School, but later a teacher in the same institution; she also taught in Elmwood Literary Institute, near Concord, N. H., and in Professor Lincoln's Young Ladies' School, in Providence, R.I.

In 1886 she married Professor Jonathan Tenney, Ph.D. Since that time her home has been at Albany, N.Y., where she is surrounded by a wide circle of friends. She is a member of the executive committee of the Congregational Woman's Home Missionary Union of the State of New York, and president of the Hudson River Association. In addition to societies of general interest, she has been actively associated with the philanthropic, musical, and literary interests of her own city, occupying many positions of trust in connection with them.

At the state convention of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New York held at Binghamton in 1886, Mrs. Tenney was elected treasurer of the state organization, and at each successive convention has been re-elected. Her taste for mathematics serves her well in this important relation. As a treasurer she is the peer of any—prompt, reliable, accurate. We never question her figures; the rest of us may make mistakes—the treasurer never does. She looks after the minutest details of everything, and to her watchfulness much of the financial prosperity of the state union is due.

In 1889 a widow's sorrow came to Mrs. Tenney by the death of her noble husband. Two sons survived him—boys of ten and thirteen years, whose education and training since that time have devolved upon her.

Her organ voluntaries at the annual conventions evince a master's skill and delight all who listen.

The Granite State may well be proud of its gifted daughter, and the Empire State, especially the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, rejoices in her possession.



CHAPTER VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS.

"Gather up the fragments, that nothing may be lost."

Various matters of importance came up at different times during these years for consideration, discussion, and settlement, and in this chapter our aim will be to touch upon these points. The chapter will not be as smooth, perhaps, as a chapter in a story-book, because of necessity many subjects must be introduced, yet our history would not be complete without it. We have searched the records faithfully, and find many items of interest which should be recorded here. No attempt will be made to weave them into narrative style, as space will not permit.

In 1880 twenty-five dollars were appropriated toward a testimonial to Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes in recognition of her efficient service in the position which she had taken with regard to temperance.

In this same year women were first recognized as voters at school elections.

At the ninth annual meeting, held at Oswego, Mrs. Burt was elected president; and in her first annual address she recommended the establishing of a state paper. The recommendation was adapted, and in December of that year the first number was issued. The paper was called Woman's Christian Temperance Work. This proved to be too lengthy a name, and so it was shortened to Our Work. Miss Margaret E. Winslow was editor and Mrs. C. C. Alford publisher, and through their efforts over thirteen hundred subscribers were secured before it reached its first birthday. In 1887 the name was changed to Woman's Temperance Work, its present name. This motto for the state paper was chosen when the paper was first decided upon: "O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

In 1884 the establishment of headquarters was recommended, and in 1886 the recommendation was adopted, and rented headquarters were secured in New York City, with Mrs. R. A. Thurston, of Poughkeepsie, as office secretary, her duties to include the publication of the state paper. Mrs. Thurston was also made organizing secretary, and did valiant work as such for several years. New York is the only state which has had an organizing secretary—a fact which is worthy of note. Previous to Mrs. Thurston's appointment, Mrs. E. H. Griffith, of Fairport, had done splendid work as organizing secretary, in connection with her work as state corresponding secretary. In 1887 Mrs. C. C. Shaffer, of Newburgh, was made office secretary, and in 1888 Mrs. Ella C. Viele was appointed, and continued as editor and publisher for two years. She was succeeded by Miss Julia E. Dailey, of Rochester, in 1891, who still holds the office, doing faithful work.

In 1888 the president recommended that steps be taken to secure permanent headquarters. A committee was appointed to consider the recommendation and plans were presented for raising funds. The committee was continued with instructions to keep the matter before the people.

Evidently the white-ribboners believe not only in "praying," but in "watching" also, for in 1884 Mrs. Burt was presented with a beautiful gold watch as a testimonial of her years of service, first as recording secretary, then as corresponding secretary, and after that as president. In 1886 Miss Julia Colman was "watched" in the same manner, this being the tenth anniversary of her superintendency of the Literature Department; and in 1888, at Binghamton, the convention "set a watch" upon Mrs. G. M. Gardenier, the recording secretary. An elegant gold chain was added by the executive committee. These facts show on the "face" of them that all "hands" approve of "watchfulness."

In 1888 a handbook was prepared by a committee composed of Mrs. Ella A. Boole, Mrs. Helen L. Bullock, and Mrs. E. H. Griffith, which proved very helpful to the workers. The following year it was revised and enlarged, thus making it applicable to other states.

At Auburn two receptions were given the convention—one by the Young Men's Christian Association, and one in the historic home of William H. Seward.

In Elmira the convention was invited to visit the art gallery of Mr. M. H. Arnot.

While the twenty-first annual convention does not properly belong to a twenty-years history, still we feel it is fitting to mention here that we celebrated our majority by "going home" to Chautauqua county, the meeting being held at Jamestown; and while it is not the intention to report that meeting here, we desire to record the fact that, by vote of this convention, New York State claims as its own the honor of the first crusade, and of the first Woman's Christian Temperance Union ever organized. Never have we been more royally entertained than in Jamestown. The Woman's and Young Woman's Christian Associations, the Political Equality Club, and the Woman's Relief Corps gave us an elegant reception the first day, and on the day following the close of the convention, through the generosity of the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union, we were taken up the lake on a steamer to the far-famed Chautauqua Assembly grounds, the place from which was issued the "crusade call" to the women of the country to convene at Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1874.

NATIONAL BANNERS.

In 1887 New York State received, through the president, a handsome banner presented by the national union at Nashville as a reward for the largest membership of any state in the Union, and in 1890 we received the beautiful prize banner awarded by Miss Willard at Atlanta to the state making the largest increase in membership, New York being first in the Middle States. At the Denver convention, in 1892, New York was again awarded the national prize banner for the largest percentage of increase in membership.

In 1893 our state received two other national banners—one from Miss Lucia F. Kimball, national superintendent of Sunday-school Work, for returning the largest number of signed autograph pledge cards for the World's Fair, and the other from Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, national superintendent of the Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction, for having the largest number of local superintendents of this department of any State in the Union.

STATE BANNERS.

In 1889 Mrs. Ella C. Viele, publisher of our state paper, Woman's Temperance Work, presented a banner to the county having the largest subscription list from January to September. Dutchess county captured the prize, holding it until 1892, when Steuben received it; but in 1893 Dutchess county came to the front and again claimed it for its own.

PRESIDENT'S PRIZE BANNERS.

Through the generosity of our president, the state has five banners which are awarded each year to the counties showing the greatest increase in membership. The state is divided into four tiers—northern, southern, eastern, and western—and a banner goes to the county in each division which has rolled up the greatest increase. The fifth banner is for the Y's, and is awarded to the county which has gained most in Y. membership, regardless of location.

The Loyal Temperance Legion also has a beautiful banner, which was first presented in 1891 to Suffolk county for having gained most in the number of Loyal Temperance Legions during the year.

These banners are each held for one year, being then brought to the annual meeting and "passed along" or held over again, as the case may be.

EXHIBITS.

In 1885 our state was represented at the World's Exposition at New Orleans by a beautiful banner, and that we were worthily represented is shown by the fact that to this banner was awarded the first honorable mention.

The exhibit sent by our state to the Columbian Exposition, and which was placed in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union exhibit, was a beautiful banner, five feet wide by seven feet in length, of dark blue silk, telling in large gilt letters the name of our organization, with legend of our membership, W. and Y., and honorary members; also the number of members of the Loyal Temperance Legion, the location of headquarters, and name of state paper. It also gave the laws which have been secured through the state's instrumentality. A sketch of the state work was also prepared for the historical work published by the Chicago World Book Company, and for the encyclopaedia published by the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Commission.

SUMMER MEETINGS.

In 1883 our state for the first time held summer meetings—one at Thousand Island Park and one at Round Lake, both being well attended.

In April, 1884, a conference under state auspices was held in the Broadway Tabernacle, New York City. At this meeting Hannah Whithall Smith gave a Bible reading in the afternoon, and Frances E. Willard an address in the evening, to large audiences. In July of this same year a grove meeting was held at Round Lake, and in August the state, with Wyoming county, occupied a day at Silver Lake.

On August 9 and 10 in 1887 a meeting was held at Sacandaga Park, in Fulton county.

In May, 1889, the state held a conference of two days in the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association building, New York City, and a school of methods held at Griffin Institute, Round Lake, August 7 to 9, was a success in every way. In July a two-days' conference was held at Prohibition Park, Staten Island.

In July of 1890 a three-days' meeting was held at Round Lake, and in the summer of 1891 a meeting was again held at Prohibition Park—these meetings all being under state auspices.

In the fall of 1888 the state had the honor of entertaining the national convention, although most of the responsibility, financial and otherwise, rested upon New York City and the neighboring counties. Right royally was this convention entertained. The Metropolitan Opera House was secured for the meetings at a cost of $2,500 for the five days. Nearly $900 was paid to the caterer, and $200 more for the privilege of serving lunch, beside incidental expenses. Mrs. Burt and her corps of assistants did heroic work in the planning and carrying forward to a successful finish the arrangements for the entertainment of this great gathering.

This chapter would hardly be complete if we failed to mention the beautiful welcome which our state extended to our national president, Frances E. Willard, on her return from England after an absence of nearly two years. This meeting was held in Calvary Baptist Church, on West Fifty-seventh street, New York City, and when we say that the arrangements were all in the hands of Mrs. Mary T. Burt and Mrs. Frances J. Barnes, that is sufficient guarantee that they were perfect. Mrs. Burt presided over the meeting. Mrs. Boole and Mrs. Tenney of the state officers were present, beside many from other states. The "Greeting" was beautifully illuminated and engrossed upon parchment, and framed in white and gold. In the upper left-hand corner, delicately done in water colors, was the graceful figure of a woman twining the white ribbon around the world. Greetings came from all directions—by word, by letter, and by telegram—and everything conspired to make this one of the most delightful gatherings ever held under state auspices.

In 1893 the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York received a legacy of $2,000 from Mrs. Helen S. Houghtaling, of New York City, who, although not a member of our organization, became interested in our work through her niece, Miss Evelena Brandow, president of Greene County Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and through reading our state paper, she being a regular subscriber to the same.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT,

1874-1894.

========================================================== RECEIPTS, YEAR. including balance DISBURSEMENTS. NATIONAL DUES. of previous year. -+ + -+ - 1875 $ 338.97 $ 338.97 $ 43.12 1876 448.06 448.06 54.12 1877 372.66 301.16 52.51 1878 517.28 309.31 74.57 1879 645.52 423.92 68.00 1880 745.07 475.91 94.14 1881 836.66 486.45 113.50 1882 1,097.31 593.57 133.23 1883 1,435.79 959.57 204.06 1884 1,816.44 1,549.92 270.47 1885 1,729.91 1,653.97 300.88 1886 2,289.82 1,845.13 458.85 1887 2,682.18 2,631.75 923.93 1888 6,249.18 5,738.52 2,004.82 1889 6,843.67 6,759.86 2,161.30 1890 6,687.59 5,998.30 2,091.03 1891 7,779.58 7,461.64 2,084.91 1892 7,453.17 6,635.59 2,200.36 1893 7,906.21 6,289.93 2,133.95 1894 9,695.89 6,063.11 1,921.67

OFFICERS OF STATE W.C.T.U.

1874-1894.

PRESIDENTS.

MRS. ALLEN BUTLER, Syracuse, 1874-1879 MRS. DR. F. G. HIBBARD, Clifton Springs, 1879-1882 MRS. MARY T. BURT, New York City, 1882-1894

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENTS

MRS. A. M. WICKES, Attica, 1885-1886 MRS. MARY J. WEAVER, Batavia, 1886-1891 MRS. ELLA A. BOOLE, West New Brighton, 1891-1894

RECORDING SECRETARIES

MRS. MARY T. BURT, Auburn, 1874-1881 MRS. C. C. ALFORD, Brooklyn, 1881-1882 MRS. G. M. GARDENIER, Oswego, 1882-1894

CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES:

MRS. GEORGE H. GREELEY, Syracuse, 1874-1879 MRS. R. M. BINGHAM, Rome, 1879-1881 MRS. MARY T. BURT, Brooklyn, 1881-1882 MRS. E. H. GRIFFITH, Fairport, 1882-1885 MRS. ELLA A. BOOLE, New York, 1885-1891 MRS. FRANCES W. GRAHAM, Lockport, 1891-1894

TREASURERS:

MRS. T. S. TRUAIR, Syracuse, 1874-1879 MRS. SARAH A. McCLEES, Irvington, 1879-1881 MRS. E. M. J. DECKER, Victor, 1881-1886 MRS. C. C. ALFORD, Brooklyn, 1886-1887 MRS. ELLEN L. TENNEY, Albany, 1887-1894



ANNUAL MEETINGS.

SYRACUSE, 1874 ILION, 1875 SYRACUSE, 1876 BINGHAMTON, 1877 GENEVA, 1878 POUGHKEEPSIE, 1879 ITHACA, 1880 ROCHESTER, 1881 OSWEGO, 1882 POUGHKEEPSIE, 1883 HORNELLSVILLE, 1884 CORTLAND, 1885 ALBANY, 1886 BINGHAMTON, 1887 LOCKPORT, 1888 AUBURN, 1889 ELMIRA, 1890 NEW YORK, 1891 NEWBURGH, 1892 SYRACUSE, 1893 JAMESTOWN, 1894



Inscription on World's Fair Banner.

* * * * *

NEW YORK STATE

WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

ORGANIZED 1874.

HEADQUARTERS, 30 WEST 23D ST., NEW YORK.

* * * * *

818 WOMAN'S AND 102 YOUNG WOMAN'S UNIONS:

22,003 Members; 4,443 Honorary Members.

345 LOYAL TEMPERANCE LEGIONS:

20,584 Members.

* * * * *

LAWS SECURED:

Scientific temperance instruction—1884.

"Age of consent" raised from 10 to 16 years—1887.

Prohibiting sale of liquor on fair grounds of state—1888.

Prohibiting sale of cigarettes and tobacco to boys under 16 years of age—1890.

Forbidding employment of women and girls as barmaids—1892.

Forbidding opening of the state's exhibit at World's Fair on Sunday—1892.

* * * * *

SUCCESSFUL PROTEST:

Preventing introduction of the bill (into the Legislature) legalizing houses of prostitution—1892.

* * * * *

OFFICIAL ORGAN: "WOMAN'S TEMPERANCE WORK."

* * * * *

COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, A.D. 1893.

This brief History answers in part that oft-repeated question, "What is the Woman's Christian Temperance Union doing?"

THE END