British League of Abstainers
Temperance Pledge
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.
Alcohol consumption in Scotland rocketed in the 1820s with the reduction of duty on spirits. Such intemperance prompted lawyer John Dunlop to establish temperance societies in Greenock and Maryhill. The British League of Juvenile Abstainers (later known as The Hope Trust) was founded in 1847 in Edinburgh by John Hope, a lawyer.
Record details
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- Scran ID: 000-000-567-626-C
- Resource Rights Holder: East Lothian Museum Service
- Project:
SHELF - The Self Help Movement
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: MLO 2003.6004.001
- Date:
- Material: Paper
Certificate
- Dimensions:
- What: Certificate
- Subject:
- Who: British League of Abstainers (subject)
British League of Juvenile Abstainers (subject)
John Dunlop, lawyer (mentioned)
John Hope, lawyer (mentioned)
The Hope Trust (subject)
- Where: Scotland, City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh (locality)
- Event:
- Description: Decorative temperance pledge issued by the British League of Abstainers; prominent are depictions of a man before and after partaking of alcohol, and also a declaration that the certificate owner will not use alcohol, tobacco or opium.
- References:
- British League of Juvenile Abstainers. Guide through Edinburgh for the Great Gathering of Juvenile Abstainers British League of Juvenile Abstainers, 1851
- Highet, Robert. Rechabite History: A Record of the Origin, Rise and Progress of the Independent Order of Rechabites (Salford Unity) Temperance Friendly Society Board of Directors of the Order, North Parade, Deansgate, Manchester, 1936
- Jamie, Rev. D. John Hope: Philanthropist and Reformer The Hope Trust, 1907
- King, Elspeth. Scotland: Sober and Free - The Temperance Movement 1829 - 1979 Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries, Glasgow, 1979
- Translations:
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