Onward 1902 p 158

Abstract

The article on ‘Scientific Temperance Teaching in Schools’ shows the scale of this scheme in one region: in just over ten years, it had given temperance lessons to over a million ‘elder scholars.’

The Counties Union Autumnal Conferences will include a series of very practical and useful meetings.

During the fortnight preceding the actual Conference date, that is to say from Sept. 29th to and inclusive of Oct. 10th, Mr Peter Taylor will address a series of Band of Hope Rallies in Morecambe, where Mr. Joseph Morris, PH. D. F. C. S., will give Temperance Science Lessons in the Day Schools, and also Model Addresses at two preliminary Band of Hope Workers’ Conferences in the same town.

Mr David Macmillan will be busy with a series of meeting in the Furness and N. Lancashire district, whose Day Schools Mr. John A. Hutchin, Int. B.Sc. (Lond.), will also be addressing.

On Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 6th and 7th, at Barrow-in-Furness, there will be a Public Demonstration, also a Band of Hope rally and Workers’ Conference, in which Mr. John A. Hutchin and the General Secretary will take part.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8th, a Conference and Public Meeting will be held at Dalton-in-Furness, to be addressed among others by Mr. Robert Cameron, M.P., and Mr. Thos. E. Hallsworth, Hon. Secretary of the Counties Union. The latter gentleman will also take part in a Public Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9th, at Ulverston.

These preliminary meetings will be brought to a close by a Children’s Rally at Morecambe on Friday evening, October 10th.
On the actual Conference date, Saturday, Oct. 11th, 1902, at Morecambe, the proceedings will include
Meetings of the Executive of the Counties Union.
Autumnal Council Meeting at 3p.m. in the Green Street Wesleyan School, Morecambe, when Mr. W. N. Edwards, F. C. S. (U. K. B. H. U.), will give one of his highly instructive and interesting illustrated Lectures to workers.
Public Demonstration at 6.30p.m. in the Alhambra, when there will be a capital programme, including Addresses by Rev. Canon Hicks, M.A., President of the Two Counties Union, Mr. G. Toulmin, M.P. for Bury and Mr. S. Pope, LL.B., Barrister-at-Law.

The whole series of over 80 meetings will be brought to a close on Sunday, October 12th, 1902, by a number of Addresses to Sunday Schools, P. S. A.’s, etc., by Delegates remaining over for that purpose.

SPECIAL APPEAL
Scientific Temperance Teaching in Schools

For some twelve years past the Counties Union has retained the services of specially qualified Teachers to visit the Day and Evening Schools of the district, and, without charge, to give to the Scholars thereof definite illustrated teaching upon the “Nature, properties, and effects of Alcoholic liquors.”

So acceptable has this work proved to Scholars, Teachers, and Managers that the Lecturers (now numbering three for the Day Schools and one for the Evening Schools) have given 8,939 Lectures since the inauguration of the scheme in 1890, to 30,143 Teachers and 1,004,931 Elder Scholars, of whom 337,840 prepared Essay Reports of the Lectures for which, after examination, 131,041 Certificates of Merit were awarded.

Of the value of this work, done at a time and under conditions most favourable to the retention of the instructions imparted, it is impossible to speak too highly. On all sides it is approved as a “most effective, rational, and unobjectionable method of inculcating temperance principles.” Through it Access has been gained to every class of school, Higher Grade, Board, Church, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, British, Jews, etc., in all parts of Lancashire, Cheshire and N.W. Derbyshire, and many thousands of children have been reached who otherwise would not have come under the influence of direct temperance teaching.

The necessity for the work is only too apparent in view of the grip intemperance has upon the community. For it to be suspended, even for a time, would be little short of a calamity. Inasmuch, however, as The Funds raised for this work are now exhausted, such must be the case unless the necessary means are forthcoming to enable this excellent work, which all approve to be continued, with as much success as heretofore.

For years past the Counties Union has experienced great difficulty through Lack of Suitable Offices from and in which to carry on their work.

Some idea of the magnitude of the Union and its work will be gathered when it is remembered that the Union to-day comprises 76 associated Town and District Unions, with 1,564 Societies, and over 262,500 members. In addition to the four School Lecturers already referred to, it retains the services of three District Agents for work in the village and neglected areas, eight Deputational Lecturers for evening work in the Societies, in addition to an indoor staff of 10 persons, including a Publication Manager and Secretary, all of whom, along with a Great Army of Honorary Workers, are busily engaged in promoting Band of Hope work in all parts of the district from Barrow-in-Furness to Nantwich and from Todmorden to the Welsh Border.

For some years it ahs been evident that for the work of the Union to be satisfactorily carried on the Union must have a home of its own.