February 2, 1900 - Annie Wittenmyer, WCTU President, Dies

February 2, 1900 marks the death of Annie Wittenmyer, the first president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WTCU), one of the most powerful Christian social reform movements in American history. This group of outspoken women was founded on deeply held Christian convictions against the destructive effects of alcohol on families and communities. The organization argued for anti-alcohol legislation as a means of safeguarding homes from the violence, poverty, and moral decline caused by alcohol. The WCTU’s first president, Annie Wittenmyer, served from 1874 to 1879. At its peak, the WCTU claimed over a thousand chapters across the United States and played a significant role in the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment. The success of the WCTU is especially remarkable because its accomplishments took place before women were granted the right to vote.

Although the Women’s Christian Temperance Union is no longer active, its legacy proves to Christians that faith can spark meaningful social action. The WCTU is an example to believers that Christian discipleship extends beyond personal belief and convicts believers to advocate for the well-being of families, communities, and the vulnerable. These women proved that Christians can influence society even without formal political power. 

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.