50 years of Temperance Campaigning in Cambridge, Part 1

Summary: 

Half a century of anti-alcohol campaigning celebrated on Parker’s Piece and The Guildhall.

In October 1907 several thousand people – mainly from local non-conformist churches and chapels (though a number of Anglian ones are mentioned), gathered on Parker’s Piece to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Temperance Movement in and around Cambridge.  An extensive article that tells both the history and development of that movement, as well as what happened on the day, I’ve broke this into several parts. From the Cambridge Independent Press from the British Newspaper Archive.

“Tuesday was indeed a memorable day for enthusiasts in the cause of Temperance in Cambridge and the neighbouring district. It was the occasion of the celebration of the jubilee of organised Temperance work in Cambridge, and members every branch of the movement in the locality united in great public demonstration.

“In the afternoon there was a parade and review of Bands of Hope and Temperance Societies, in which the children played a leading part, on Parker’s Piece, and in the evening a crowded public meeting was held in the Guildhall. In every respect the celebrations were a striking success and a remarkable testimony to the strength of the Temperance movement in the neighbourhood.

“The societies taking part were the

• Church of England Temperance Society,
• Cambs. Band of Hope Union,
• British Women’s Temperance Association,
• Independent Order of Good Templars,
• Sons of Temperance,
• Independent Order Rechabites,
• University Temperance Society,
• Young Abstainers’ Union,
• United Temperance Council,
• Nelson street Adult Temperance Society,
• The Cambridgeshire Abstainers’ Cycling Union.

“A practical outcome the gatherings has been the formation of a Temperance choir, which should be of great service to the various societies in the district. Altogether the organisation of the celebrations was highly creditable those responsible for the arrangements. Special mention should made of the enthusiastic and untiring work of Miss Flossie Legerton, of the Band of Hope Union, as hon. secretary.

“The other officials, all of whom worked untiringly for the successor the gatherings were

• Chairman, Professor Sims Woodhead.
• Treasurer—Miss Knowles.

Executive Committee-

• Miss S. Lever and Mr. F. Collinson (C.B H.U.).
• Rev. Dr. Stokes and Mr. W. Copleston (C E.T.S.),
• Mrs. Aldren Wright, (B.W.T.A)
• Mr. Alphonso Smith (LO.G.T.).
• Mr. W. J. Traylen (Sons of Temperance).
• Mr. G Parr (Rechabites),
• Dr. [Alex] Wood (University Temperance Society), [featured in this post]
• Mr. J. Sanders (U.T.C.),
• Mrs. R. Almond (Y.A.U.), and Mr. U. C. Coulson (Nelson-street Adult Temperance Society). General Committee (together with the above) –
• Mr. A. E. Steam (C.B.H.U.),
• the Master of Magdalene (C.E.T.S.).
• Mrs. Arnold Ingle (R.W.T.A.).
• Mr. G. E. Bigg I.O.G.T.),
• Mr H. R. Hodgson (Sons of Temperance) ,
• Mr. J. Carrodus (Rechabites),
• Mr. H. G. Wood (University Temperance Society), and
• Mrs. Sims Woodhead (Y.A.U.)

AN HISTORICAL SURVEY.

“In connection with the Jubilee a pamphlet has been published giving a history of fifty years of Temperance work in Cambridge, and it is an interesting record of the progress of the movement locally. It. appears that the earliest record of active temperance work in Cambridge supplied by the Independent Order Rechabites. A branch of the order was instituted in Cambridge in January, 1841. The Rechabites did a splendid work in the district until 1843, when the Illegal Assemblies Act was passed, owing the Chartist agitation, which was then at its height. Thereupon the Cambridge branch and many other branches the Order divided their funds and disbanded. Not till 1905 did Cambridge see the revival of the Rechabites Order.

“After 1841 there appears to no record of any work until 1857, when the Primitive Methodists held their annual conference Cambridge. In connection with the conference, temperance meetings were held on Parker’s Piece and elsewhere. As a result interest in temperance work was revived, and during the autumn and winter of 1857, weekly meetings were held Zion Chapel.

“In a room under the old chapel, which was used as a vestry, the Cambridge Temperance Society was formed, and meetings were held in Zion Vestry, the Ragged School, St. Peter’s-street, Primitive Methodist Chapel, and other places, where permission could obtained—a very difficult matter at that time.

“Eventually it was decided to hire a room, if possible.unconnected with any particular religious denomination, in the hope of getting more in touch with the general public. A room was secured in Hobson-street, known Gage’s Assembly Room adjoining the Bushel and Strike” public house.

The Cambridge Temperance Society continued to meet in Gage’s Assembly Room for some time, until a larger and better room was hired. This was known as the Black Bear Assembly Room, which occupied part of the ground on which the present Corn Exchange is erected in Wheeler-street and Slaughterhouse-lane. This served the purpose of the society for a time, until an alteration was completed to the Guildhall, when the present large assembly room and new Free Library were erected, and other improvements effected.

“The Town Council then moved the Library to the new premises from the Friends’ Meeting House, Jesus lane, and the Committee, who were on the look out for some better place in which to carry on the work, made application for the Meeting House and rented it from the Society of Friends 1882. For many years after this, the Jesus Lane Hall served the headquarters of the Temperance Movement.

THE BAND OF HOPE MOVEMENT.

“…was the Cambridge Temperance Society which first organised the Band of Hope movement. A representative of the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union, came to give a lantern exhibition [sort of like a ‘ye olde PowerPoint presentation] and lecture on behalf of the cause at the Guildhall in February, 1858, and an outcome permission was obtained to use the Boys’ British School, Fitzroy street, on Friday evenings for the first Band of Hope. The second Band was commenced on December 28th, 1880, in a room in Princes street, New Town, lent by the Primitive Methodists, who used it for services long before Panton street Chapel was built. The third Band was started in room in Brewery-yard, Magdalene-street, in 1861, and after some lapse of time found shelter in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, St. Peter’s-street, and is now being carried on some members the Bidwell family, who were among its first members.

“About this time some members of the Cambridge Total Abstinence Society hired a loft in yard in a James street, where the Band of Hope was continued. It was in this room that the first Cambridge Contingent Choir to the great Band of Hope Union festival concerts the Crystal Palace, conducted by Mr. Fred Smith, was formed In 1883 the Band of Hope Union for Cambridgeshire was formed of twelve Bands of Hope.

THE LIFE BOAT CREW MOVEMENT.

“In the autumn of Mr. Smythe, of Norwich, visited Cambridge, and introduced a new Society. “The Temperance Life-boat Crew.” The idea was taken up the younger members of the Cambridge Temperance Society, and proved to be means of adding many to its numbers, and arousing much interest in its work. The first crew was formed November 20th, 1865. In April, 1886. it was proposed to form a brass hand, but the Committee were informed that the playing of brass instruments was not allowed in the Jesus-lane Hall, and consequently the crews moved out and found shelter in a cellar at No. 1, Parsonage-street, belonging to Mrs. Phillips, an earnest worker and member of the Grace Darling crew. The Ragged School was secured for band practices.

“On January 26th, 1869, the following were elected as the Grace Darling crew:

• Mrs. Flatters,
• Mrs. J. Creek,
• Mrs. G. Lever.
• Miss Harlow,
• Miss E. Twinn,
• Mrs. Phillips,
• Miss C. Miller
• Miss Beldham,
• Miss Wilkin.

“This list interesting, as it was practically the first Women’s Temperance Society formed in Cambridge. The crews continued to carry on their work, as separate Societies, but uniting for public and aggressive work, until 1869, when the name was altered to the “Cambridge Total Abstinence Society.”

THE GOOD TEMPLARS.

In 1871 the Independent Order of Good Templars was introduced into Cambridge, at the invitation of some of the C.T S. Committee, the “Loyal Cambridge Lodge” being instituted in the Temperance Hall, Jesus-lane, on October 31st. This new move had the effect of infusing fresh life and vigour into the temperance movement.

“In 1873 some of this number “ swarmed” to the room in James-street. and on February 14th the “Deus Vult ” Lodge, No. 2437, was instituted. By this time most of the Total Abstinence Society members had joined the Order. Some of the Charter members’ names are still on the books as subscribers. Chesterton Providence Lodge was the next to instituted, and is still working. The District Lodge was formed in January, 1879. In 1875 the Good Templars and the Cambridge Temperance Society joined forces at the Old Independent Chapel in Downing place, and in 1881 the Cambridge Temperance Society was finally merged an and their property transferred to the Good Templars.

WILLINGHAM STARTED BY A “CHEAP JACK”

“The Willingham Temperance Society had an interesting origin. On November 3. 1871, Mr. Freeman, a “cheap Jack,” stopped plying his ordinary trade and gave a temperance address the open air. His remarks were much appreciated that he was to repeat the lecture under cover, and thirty pledges were signed, and the Society started.

UNIVERSITY ORGANISATION.

“In 1871, three undergraduates of Trinity College, with the assistance of the Rev. A. E. Humphreys, then Fellow and Lecturer of Trimly College, set on foot the Cambridge University Temperance Union, which in 1874 affiliated itself to the Diocesan Branch of the C.E.T.S.

“This branch, however, became extinct in the early [eighteen] nineties, and period ensued in which no organised work was done. A fresh start was made in the winter of 1895 organisation took the title of the “Cambridge University Temperance Association”  and was governed by a committee of twelve, half nominated by the Diocean Branch of the C.E.T.S. and half by the Cambridge United Temperance Council, and, in spite of the departure from Cambridge of all the original members, has continued to exist. Recently the settlement in Cambridge of Professor Sims Woodhead and the Rev. S. A. Donaldson, Master of Magdalene, has given a great impetus to its work.

HAND IN HAND

“The Cambridge University and Town Coffee Palace Company was formed in 1874, under the title of The Cambridge Hand in Hand Public and Lodging House Company.” the present name being taken in 1881. Shortly after the incorporation of the Company, the “ George and Dragon ” public house, on Newmarket-road, was put up to auction, acquired by Mr. Lilley, and by him conveyed to the Company.

“The original plan on which the Company started was to extinguish objectionable or superfluous houses by buying them up, but this was found to be too costly, involving, as it did, a large capital outlay with, and then an annual drain on the Company’s resources. The Company has now four establishments—

• The George and Dragon, Newmarket Road,
• the Mill Road Coffee Tavern,
• the Norfolk Hotel, Hills Road, and
• the Central Temperance Hotel and Three Tuns, Market-hill.

“It has paid dividends ever since the new policy was adopted.

C.E.T.S.

“The Church of England Temperance Society was reconstructed on the dual basis in 1873, and Ely was one of the first dioceses in the country form a branch. ln 1875 the C.E. Temperance Association was formed, and the new society soon made their influence felt in official quarters. In 1877, in co-operation with the various Cambridge Temperance Societies, they approached the magistrates concerning the extension of licenses at Midsummer and Stourbridge Fairs, pointing out that the magistrates had no power to grant any licenses for drinking hours to keep open after 10 pm., and a result of their objection, the applications for extended licenses were withdrawn.

“In the same year canvass of all the householders in the Borough was taken on the subject of Sunday closing ; 6,876 voting papers were issued ; 5,051 were duly returned; 3,730 voters were in favour of either entire Sunday closing or a large restriction in the hours of opening.

“There are now in the Cambridge Town Association 23 branches in 10 parishes, the membership being 2,253 —1,255 junior and adult. Adding other branches in the county of Cambridge, the total number of branches 67 in 41 parishes, with a membership of junior. 1,382 adult, or total for the county of 3,707. In 1880 the C.E.T.S. Choral Society was formed.

“The Rob Roy Boat Club also came into existence this time, one of its principles being that no intoxicants were allowed to be used by members when down the river. In 1896 the Ely Diocesan C E.T.S. established the Police Court Mission in Cambridge and Luton; and 3 years later, in conjunction with four other Eastern Dioceses, opened Home for Inebriate Women Terrington, near King’s Lynn.

OTHER MOVEMENTS.

“In 1877 the Cambridge Total Abstinence Union was formed. The Society devoted its energies to uniting men and women in temperance work without regard to creed or party. The Union continued to hold public meetings, circulate literature, provide speakers, and engage in other activities until 1880, when it ceased to exist as a separate organisation. It had separate Women’s Committee, several of whose members afterwards joined the B.W.T.A. About this time several other Societies came into prominence. The Young Abstainers’ Union, which is a society for the promotion of temperance among the upper and middle classes, was founded in 1879. In 1880 the Blue Ribbon Movement came into existence, an organisation called the Cambridge Gospel Temperance Mission (Blue Ribbon Army) being formed.

“The first meeting in connection with the British Women’s Temperance Association was held Zion Chapel, in the same year, when society was formed called the Cambridge Women’s Christian Total Abstinence Society.” In 1905 the B.W.T.A., through the generosity of two gentlemen, were able secure a coffee palace which had been closed, and, under the name of the Ribbon,” this house has done, and is doing, increasingly useful temperance work.

“Yet another society was formed the commencement of 1889—the John Wesley Division of the Sons of Temperance—which in the following spring extended its work to various parts of the county. Attached to these Adult visions were Cadet Sections, formed to protect the children and train them for future service in the Order. It was soon felt, however, that the name of “John Wesley” might have a misleading effect, and prevent many from joining the Order, under the mistaken idea that it was Wesleyan organisation. As the Order is entirely unsectarian, the name of the 1st Division was changed to “The Excelsior.” Between 1898 and 1902 two new Divisions were instituted in Cambridge, The Hope of Cambridge ” and “The King’s Own,” and a division called “Haverhill’s Hope” was established in that town.

“In 1893 a Total Abstinence Society was formed in connection with the Friends’ Adult School, and the Cambs. Abstainers’Cycling Union was started in 1905, its object being to extend the movement and establish societies in outlying villages. The United Temperance Council, consisting of representatives of all temperance organisations within the Parliamentary Borough, was formed in 1893, and the Cambridge Licensing Reform Committee had its origin in 1902.

“Reference is also made to the difficulties which the promoters of the movement had to contend with in the early days—opposition, insult, and even physical violence which they encountered. Nowhere, we are told, was the struggle fiercer than in Cambridge, and nowhere did there exist more stalwart champions of the new reform.

“Among those deserving to be held in honour, mention is made of

• Mr. George Collin, the original secretary of the Cambridge Temperance Society.
• Mr, John Burford,
• Mr. Charles Dixon.
• Mr. G. Lever,
• Mr. J. Gillings,
• Mr. Peter Stevenson,
• the late Mr. Wm. Fowler, who represented Cambridge in Parliament for eleven years, and
• Mr. E. C. Brambley, who organised the meeting in the Guildhall, which the late Sir Wilfrid Lawson, M.P., and Cardinal Manning were prevented by disorderly mob from addressing.

THE REVIEW ON PARKER’S PIECE.

“With regard to Tuesday’s celebrations, the parade and review of Bands of Hope and Temperance Societies on Parker’s Piece in the afternoon was an admirably conceived affair, and attracted a considerable amount of attention from the general public

“Between 3,000 and 4,000 members of all ages and all classes, and representing no fewer than 54 branches, took part, and nothing occurred to mar the complete success of the demonstration. The heavy rain of the early morning threatened spoil the gathering, but fortunately the weather cleared up beautifully before the afternoon, and not since the children’s tea, held in connection with the Coronation celebrations, has such a large assembly of children been marshalled on Parker’s Piece.

“The following were the Temperance Societies and Bands of Hope represented, with the names of their secretaries :

• Abbey Branch—260—Mrs. A. W. Swann.
• Christ Church—135—Miss Robinson.
• Chesterton Wesleyan—70—Mr. L. B. Jolley.
• I.O.G.T. (District Excelsior)—60—Mr. P. Booth.
• Hills-road Wesleyan—60—Mr A. J. Watson.
• Dry Drayton—20—Mr. A. J. Tebbit.
• Barnabas’—140—Miss E. M. Saint.
• New Cherryhinton [the Free Church on Cherry Hinton Rd] —50—Mr. W. N. Edwards.
• Chesterton Baptist—33—Miss L. Clark.
• Fulbourn—12—Mr. H. F. Chaplin.
• Zion Baptist —150 —Miss S. Lever.
• Salvation Array—30—Major Cheadle.
• B.W.T.A.— 200 – Mrs. Ingle.
• Y.A.U.—50—Miss Almond.
• Romsey Town Wesleyan—50—Mr. J. E. Musk.
• Mill-road Baptist—70—Miss Ayres.
• Histon—200—Mrs John Chivers and Miss Paige.
• St. Andrew-the-Great—60—Rev. J. Morgan.
• Barton—6—Mrs J. Stanton.
• Haslingfield—33—Mrs. Mills.
• Grantchester C.E.T.S.—44—Rev M. Sutton.
• Chesterton B. W.T.A. —36—Miss Canham.
• St. Matthew’s—245—Mr. H. J. Kerridge.
• St Columba’s Mission—140—Dr. A. Wood.
• St. Paul’s—180—Rev. H. Barber.
• All Saints*—78—Miss A. H. Spalding.
• Linton Emmanuel—40 – Miss Holttum.
• St. Marks, Newnham—65—Rev. S. Symonds.
• Holy Trinity—100—Miss E. Hillier.
• Oakington— 23 — Mr. W. Doggett
• Sawston — 80 — Miss M. Crampton.
• Foxton, 5 — Mrs. Jennings.
• Willingham — 6 — Mr. A. W. Barton.
• Hope of Cambridge (Sons of Temperance) – 70 —Mr. J. E. Moore.
• St Andrew’s, Old Chesterton — 170 – Mrs. Heffer.
• Eden Chapel — 80 — Miss A.E. Reynolds.
• Swavesev B.W.T.A. – 12 – Miss Fanny Gaunt.
• King’s Own (Sons of Temperance) – 160 – Mr. W. J. Traylen.
• Nelson-street —136—Miss Morrison.
• Emmanuel Congregational —56 Miss A. Heath.
• Swaffham Prior and Bulbeck — 50 — Mrs. Arnold.
• St Andrew’s-street Baptist — 84 — Miss K. Kelsey.
• Carrodus Tent (1.0. Rechabites) — 16 — Mr J. Carrodus.
• Fowlmere and Thriplow — 25 — Mr. A. Smith.
• Cambridge Excelsior Cadets — 60  —Mr. R. J, Watts.
• Grantchester Baptist — 45 — Mrs. Amps.
• St. Peter’s Street(P.M.) — 240 — Mrs. Bidwell.
• Tabernacle — 52 — Mr. E. Baker.
• Sturton-street (P. M.) — 56 — Mrs. J. Kerry.
• Swavesey — 27 — Miss A. Beaumont
• St. Philip’s — 105 — Rev. J. Towndrow.
• Chesterton Future Hope (I.O.G.T.)—55—Miss Attwood.
• Chesterton United (Sons of Temperance)—40 —Mr. A. E. Humphreys.
• Cambs. Abstainers’ Cycling Union—Mr. A. Collinson and Miss A. E Reynolds.

/End of Part 1