an she could call that convention to order? And
when the State League, afterwards the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, was organized, it was no surprise that Mrs. Allen Butler was
elected president, a position she retained for five years. These were
years of anxiety but of great advancement in temperance. This was due
not only to her thorough consecration and marked executive ability, but
to a life-long experience in other public enterprises, all of which she
brought to the temperance work.

She was present at Cleveland and assisted in organizing the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Through feebleness of body she has
been laid aside from active public work, but always as a member of a
local union has felt the heartbeat of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union of New York State. At the "home-coming" in Syracuse in 1893, to
celebrate our twentieth anniversary, Mrs. Butler was present. A
Chautauqua salute greeted her upon presentation. After looking over the
large gathering she solemnly said, "What hath God wrought?"

CHAPTER II.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, WITH CHANGES.

The first constitution was adopted at Syracuse in October, 1874, but was
somewhat modified at the meeting held at Brooklyn in February, 1875,
when the name was changed from the "Christian Woman's State League" to
"Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York."

The first constitution provided for four general officers, five
vice-presidents, and an executive committee of seven, all of whom were
to be elected in such manner as might be determined from time to time. A
financial basis was established at this time by fixing the auxiliary fee
at twenty-five cents.

In 1878 a constitutional change was made reducing the number of
vice-presidents to three, and making the four general officers and three
others elected for that especial purpose the executive committee, these
to be nominated in open convention and elected by ballot. The terms of
auxiliaryship were changed from the twenty-five cent per member basis to
that of voluntary contributions to the state treasury by the local
unions.

In 1881 the electing of vice-presidents was discontinued, the presidents
of organized counties being made _ex-officio_ vice-presidents of the
state union. The basis of representation was fixed at two delegates for
each local union. The financial basis of twenty-five cents per member
was again established. In 1882 the auxiliary fee was