This photograph is of John Hope, a philanthropist and reformer. Born in Edinburgh in 1807, he died in 1893. He became famous because he founded a temperance movement for children in Edinburgh in 1847. The movement was known as the British League of Juvenile Abstainers and it was funded by Mr Hope, who was a wealthy lawyer. Between October 1846 and June 1850 he spent £3043 and 5 shillings on the movement. The members had to abstain from alcoholic drinks, tobacco and opium, and study the bible. To encourage the children to join, lots of outings were organised - the children visited the Botanical Gardens, the Zoo, Calton Hill and Dalkeith Park.

This photograph shows a bible presented by the trust. The photograph shows the young girl to whom the bible was awarded, most likely for her being a member of the society, and agreeing to abstain from alcoholic drinks, tobacco and opium.

As with many temperance societies The British League of Abstainers (later the Hope Trust) would attempt to get those who attended its meetings to sign a pledge card. Generally this would be a simple affair, but occasionally it could be particularly decorative. This pledge certificate bears the declaration common to all such documents. Also evident are several before and after depictions. Before partaking of alcohol man can be a proud and upstanding with a wife and family, watched over by angels. After he will wear ragged clothes and end up dead, bound for hell.

Apart from large institutions like the Hope Trust and the Band of Hope (no relation), there were much smaller local societies formed along similar lines. Each town and village seemed to have it's own Band or Society. A few examples are shown here. This card was given to George Kinnell, of Kirkcaldy, when he agreed to sign the pledge and abstain from all alcohol consumption. He was one of many thousands of Scots who joined abstinence societies in the middle decades of the 19th century. The pledge was a voluntary action by the individual concerned. It was meant to make people abstain from alcohol consumption and to practice intemperance. They were also expected to persuade others in their community to do the same.

The Ceres Total Abstinence Society was instituted on August 23rd, 1837.
This membership card belonged to Mrs Webster who entered the Society on June 7th, 1839. By joining she agreed to abstain from all alcoholic drink unless for medicinal or religious reasons. Members of the Society believed that alcoholic drinks were fatal to the health and happiness, peace and prosperity of their family and community. The pledge, as it was known, was signed by many people but many more women signed it than men.

The Hope Trust was formed in 1847 to promote temperance amongst Scotland's youth. To further that goal the society offered talks and slide shows, whilst handing out books and pamphlets. These two books both promote the ideal of temperance, in a style accessible to children. 'About Ourselves' was written by Margaret Baker and 'The Three Partners' by Christine Tinling. The main thrust of the temperance movement was aimed at children. To educate a child regarding the dangers of alcohol was deemed more beneficial than waiting until they had succumbed.

Brechin Total Abstinence Society was inaugurated in 1833. Members pledged to abstain from "the use of ardent spirits, except for medicinal purposes". To counteract the evils of drink, the Society tried to offer alternatives to occupy the leisure time of the working class. These generally had a high moral tone: lectures, evening concerts and soirées. A musician was hired to train the choir, and musical evenings were frequently held. Lectures were regularly delivered under the auspices of the Society. Brechin Total Abstinence Society grew from the Brechin Society of Teetotallers, established in April 1832, one of the oldest temperance societies in Scotland.

These documents are associated with the Dundee Gospel Temperance Union. The card is an invitation to the Annual General Meeting, and the cashbook was to be used to record the collection of monies for an appeal for £400. The visit by Francis Murphy, the founder of The Blue Ribbon Movement, an American society which promoted the anti-alcohol ideals of Temperance and encouraged people to find pleasure and enjoyment in other, Christian activities, had inspired campaigners in Dundee.

The Edinburgh Total Abstinence Society was represented in the workplace of various trades in Edinburgh. In 1838 these were: the tailors, the hammermen, the masons and the printers, bookbinders, engravers and type-founders. The Society was established in 1836 with the aim of encouraging people to stop drinking alcohol. To become a member of the Society it was necessary to sign the pledge. The pledge was as follows: 'I do voluntarily promise that I will abstain from ale, porter, wine, ardent spirits and all intoxicating liquors, and will neither give nor offer them to others, except as medicines or in a religious ordinance, and that I will discourage all the causes and practices of intemperance'.