former time has there been such wide-spread interest in the temperance cause. The church and the state are moved by the question as they never have been before. In every department of social, political, and Christian life the temperance question is coming more and more to the front, and this is due, in no small measure, to the unwearied and energetic efforts of the Scottish Temperance League.

THE IRISH TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

BY DAVID FORTUNE, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

It is now (1876) about forty years since the total-abstinence movement was first introduced into Belfast and the North of Ireland, and a little later-viz., in 1838—the adhesion and eloquent advocacy of the Rev. Father Mathew gave an immense impetus to the cause, more especially amongst the Roman Catholic population of the south and west, so that within two years it is estimated about two millions of adherents had been obtained-a result which is probably without parallel in the history of temperance in any part of the world.

The number of gallons of Irish spirits on which duty was paid fell from twelve millions in 1839 to seven and one-half millions in 1841, and to five and one-quarter millions in 1843; whilst the committals for crime, which had been 12,049 in 1839, sank to 8,620 in 1843. This most eminent of temperance reformers died on the 8th of December, 1856, but for many years previously he had ceased to take a very active part in the good cause, and the footing which had been obtained in Ireland by his powerful advocacy was, to a large extent, lost.

In the year 1859 a few earnest philanthropists instituted in Belfast the Irish Temperance League, which has continued since to flourish and develop, and is now undoubtedly the foremost organization in Ireland in connection with the cause of temperance. Its object is broadly defined by its constitution to be "the suppression of drunkenness by moral suasion, legislative prohibition, and all other lawful means." Its president is Marriott R. Dalway, Esq., M.P.; chairman of Executive, H. Chas. Knight, Esq.; treasurer, Hugh I. Wright, Esq.; secretary, Mr. David Fortune; and its affairs are controlled by an Executive Committee, who meet weekly for the despatch of business. The headquar

ters and offices of the League are in Lombard Street, Belfast. It publishes a monthly organ of its own, entitled the Irish Temperance League Journal, commenced in the year 1863. The annual income from all sources is about £1,700. Three regular agents are employed, who address meetings for the promotion of temperance in its various phases, under the auspices of local societies and lodges, throughout the country. Special lecturers of eminence are also employed during the season as opportunity offers. In addition to its own Journal the League circulates temperance literature of a varied description and to a large extent.

The annual meetings are held in Belfast in the spring, generally during Easter week, and extend over several days. They are large and most inspiriting réunions, the Prohibition and Band of Hope meetings, which are held in the noble Ulster Hall, being specially interesting and enthusiastic.

The League has from its commencement advocated the entire legal suppression of the liquor-traffic, and has uniformly co-operated with the United Kingdom Alliance in supporting Sir Wilfrid Lawson's Permissive Prohibitory Liquor Bill. It has been highly successful in obtaining the votes of Irish members of Parliament for this measure, and particularly those representing the constituencies of Ulster, where the League's influence is most strongly felt. As an illustration of this the Parliamentary division in 1875 showed the following results :

The total closing of public-houses in Ireland on Sunday has for many years past been actively promoted by the Irish Temperance League, which works collaterally with the association established in Dublin for the attainment of this special object. The twenty-nine Ulster M.P.s gave

a unanimous support to this measure, and it can command the vote of a large majority of the members for all Ireland. Great hopes are entertained that it will be passed into law during the Parliamentary session of 1877.

The Irish Band of Hope Union, at one time existing as a separate organization, was incorporated with the League about the year 1860, and of the three agents now permanently employed one gives his entire time to this important department. Numerous meetings are held and choirs of children trained to sing temperance melodies.

Among the varied means employed by the League for the promotion of temperance, special mention may be made of the coffee-stands which have been erected in Belfast on the quay, and adjacent to the markets, for the supply of hot coffee and light refreshments at a low rate of charge. These stands are patronized by thousands weekly, chiefly of the industrial classes, and are undoubtedly a most im portant counter-attraction to the public-houses. It is at present in contemplation to erect a Temperance Institute in a central part of Belfast, which would embrace as a leading feature a café for ladies and gentlemen who now find it difficult to obtain temperance refreshments except in establishments where intoxicating liquors are also sold.

The League has about 110 local temperance societies connected with it by affiliation and subscription, some of them comprising a large number of members. It has upwards of a thousand immediate subscribers, whose contributions vary from one shilling to £100 per annum. Only those, however, who are personally total abstainers are allowed by the constitution to have any voice in the manage

ment.

WOMEN'S BRITISH CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION.

BY MRS. MARGARET E. PARKER, PRESIDENT, SCOTLAND.

ONE of the most important, if not the most important, event in the history of the temperance work in Great Britain has been the formation during this year of the Women's British Christian Temperance Association. Ever since the Woman's Crusade in America a great interest has been evoked in the old country, especially among the women of the churches. One of the first aggressive movements was in the town of Dundee, Scotland. A number of earnest women resolved to petition the magistrates to reduce the number of licensed public-houses for the sale of intoxicating drinks. Their petition was in the name of the wives, mothers, and sisters, and was signed by upwards of nine thousand of them. These signatures were obtained in six days; a deputation of about seventy ladies presented it, three of them supporting the prayer of the petition in forcible speeches. The result was that next day not a single new license was given, and many were withdrawn. Thus commenced the first Women's Temperance Prayer Union, and first one town and village and then another followed the example of Dundee in establishing Women's Temperance Unions, until nearly every town was doing something, and many Friendly Inns or British Workmen's Public-houses were planted. Still, there was no attempt at national organization, although it had been a cherished thought in many hearts. One of the ladies who had been foremost in the Dundee deputation had been in America last summer, and seen the efficient Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and, feeling assured that the time had come for a similar union in Great Britain, she ventured to issue a call, which was nobly responded to. A conference of about one hundred and fifty ladies, including influential