Christianity is a faith with a long and detailed history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages.
Each week brings the anniversaries of great milestones, horrid tragedies, amazing triumphs, telling tribulations, inspirational progress, and everything in between.
Here are just a few things that happened this week, Nov. 18-24, in Church history. They include the death of John Knox, the founding of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and a major ecumenical moment from Second Vatican.
This week marks the anniversary of when the Women’s Christian Temperance Union held its first national convention, a multiday gathering in Cleveland, Ohio.
The opening meeting was attended by approximately 300 people, with Annie Wittenmyer elected president and Frances Willard elected corresponding secretary.
“Eventually, the WCTU’s social reform causes included kindergartens, child labor, anti-prostitution, public health, sanitation, international peace, and suffrage. The movement grew in numbers and strength, and by 1892 the WCTU had nearly 150,000 dues-paying members,” noted Virginia Commonwealth University’s Social Welfare History Project.
“The WCTU was instrumental in organizing woman’s suffrage leaders and in helping more women become involved in American politics.”