Category: Organizations

Women and Temperance: Essential for Establishing Prohibition

women and temperance

Women and temperance were closely linked. The temperance movement relied heavily on their enthusiastic support. And they were essential to the establishment of National Prohibition (1920-1933).                                 OVERVIEW I.    Martha Washingtonians II.   Daughters of Temperance III.  Woman’s New …

Read more

Martha Washingtonians: Ladies’ Temperance Benevolent Society

Martha Washingtonians

People tended to call the the Ladies’ Temperance Benevolent Society the Martha Washingtonians. It rolls off the tongue so much easier. Six temperance activists, not all women, formed the Martha Washingtonians in New York City. They did so on May 12, 1841. Although not all of the organizers were women, only women could be members. …

Read more

Independent Order of Good Samaritans & Daughters of Samaria

Order of Good Samaritans

Temperance activists formed the Independent Order of Good Samaritans in New York City in 1847. It admitted African-Americans to membership. Thus, it was the first fraternal group in the US “to recognize the humanity in man, no matter what his color.” The next year the Order admitted women. Then it became the Independent Order of …

Read more

Daughters of Temperance & Original Daughters of Temperance

Susan B. Anthony

The Daughters of Temperance was formed as a result of the Sons of Temperance. But not as one might suspect. Read on to discover the real reason. Sons of Temperance As a young woman, Susan B. Anthony joined a temperance society. It was the Daughters Union. That was an auxiliary of the Sons of Temperance.  In …

Read more

Alcoholism and Denial: a Serious Problem Faced by Alcoholics

alcoholism and denial

Almost everyone has heard that alcoholism and denial are related. And probably everyone has heard the old “Have you stopped beating your wife” trick question. Answering either yes or no damns the respondent. Similarly, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-step program also supports a “heads I win, tails you lose” trick question. Question: “Are you alcoholic?” …

Read more

Swedish Experience with Alcohol: We Should Learn from Sweden

Frank Ward has lived in Sweden for decades. He has seen the the Swedish experience with alcohol up close. Here he reflects on the changes he has witnessed over time.1 He points out that “During my lifetime I have followed one nation’s progress from near-prohibition to a more tolerant approach. When I arrived in Stockholm in …

Read more

Organizations Against Underage Drinking: Learn about Them

Here is a list of what appear to be grassroots organizations against underage drinking. In reality, all of these groups were organized and supported by the temperance-oriented Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. They’re part of its nation-wide program to influence alcohol policy at both the state and federal levels. Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking. Texans Standing Tall …

Read more

Power Over Alcohol (Learn How to Strengthen Your Power!)

Temperance Magazines or Journals

You really do have personal power over alcohol. But AA teaches that we don’t. And those who believe it really do have less power as a result. It’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. Yet remember that you do have power over it. Here’s proof. A federal agency (NIAAA) conducted nation-wide research. It looked only at people who …

Read more

Alcohol Rehabs and Money: Money Over Helping People

The alcohol and drug treatment industry is enormous and highly profitable. But it’s very competitive. To lure customers, many rehabs and retreats use falsehoods and deception. When it comes to alcohol rehabs and money, it’s often more about money. Helping people is of minor concern. There’s little regulation and deception is common. So it’s a …

Read more