Gradually these active workers in the temperance cause, conscious of
having received a mighty power, a special baptism at the hands of
God, for a special work, began to look for something abiding in
organization when this unusual movement should have ceased, something
in which all Christian women could unite for work in this special
cause. In the winter and spring of 1873-74 this wonderful movement,
known as "The Woman's Crusade," took place. In August of the same
year many of these crusaders were gathered together at Chatauqua, to
spend a few days there in the tented grove, on the occasion of the
First National S. S. Assembly. As they talked over the work done, and
the work which the world still had need of, the thought came to one
of the band of the possibility of uniting all the women of that land
in temperance effort. Acting on this suggestion steps were at once
taken to form such an association. A public meeting was held on the
grounds, afterwards a prayer and a business meeting, at which latter
a committee of organization was formed, and a circular letter
authorized, asking "The Woman's Temperance League" of the North to
hold conventions for the purpose of electing delegates to an
organizing convention, to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 18th, 19th
and 20th, 1874. At this convention in November Mrs. Jennie F. Willing
presided, three hundred delegates and visitors were present, and amid
much enthusiasm the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union took
its place with the hosts of the Lord, to lead on to victory. Its
first officers were: President, Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer; Vice-
Presidents, one from every State; Rec. Sec., Mrs. Mary C. Johnson,
N.Y.; Cor. Sec., Miss Frances Willard; Treasurer, Mrs. W. A. Ingham,
Ohio. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, the preamble to which
read as follows: