Katharine Lent Stevenson (née, Lent; May 8, 1853 – 1919) was an American temperance reformer, missionary, and editor. She was a successful platform speaker, writer, and officer of the World Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WWCTU) on whose behalf she also visited Japan, China, India, Australia and other countries as a missionary.[1] She also served as president of the Massachusetts WCTU in 1898.[2]
Katharine Lent Stevenson | |
|---|---|
.png) (1904) | |
| Born | Katharine Lent May 8, 1853 Copake, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 1919 |
| Occupation | reformer, missionary, editor |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Boston University School of Theology |
| Literary movement | temperance |
| Spouse | James Stevenson |
Early life and education
editKatharine (sometimes spelled "Katherine") Lent (sometimes spelled "Lente")[3][4] was born in Copake, New York, May 8, 1853. Her father was Marvin R. Lente; her mother, Hannah Lonzada. On the mother's side, she was of Jewish ancestry.[5]
In 1881, Stevenson graduated from Boston University School of Theology, the only woman in her class, and pronounced by the dean "the best balanced mind in the school."[5]
Career
editThe refusal of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to recognize women as preachers terminated her ministry as associate pastor of the Methodist church in Allston, Massachusetts, but it was her dream to be in charge of a church — Methodist if it may be, Independent if it must be.[5]
After marrying James Stevenson, a merchant of Boston, Newton, Massachusetts became her home.[6]
WCTU
editIn 1893, she removed to Chicago to serve as editor of the Books and Leaflets Department for the Woman's Temperance Publishing Association, and contributing editor to the National WCTU's The Union Signal. In November, 1894, the National WCTU showed its appreciation of her two years' service, 1891–93, as Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts WCTU by electing her to the same office in the national organization.[6]
In September 1909, she traveled to Christchurch, New Zealand and spoke on behalf of temperance.[7] She then went to Tasmania for a week before going to Australia.[8] In November, Stevenson toured Australia in the interests of temperance reform, sent by the WWCTU as a representative of the world's officers of the Union on a special mission to the educational institutions of the Far East, including India, China, Japan, and Burma. Australia was not on her program, but when she had finished in China and Japan, she resolved, on her own account, to make a tour through Australia to see it, and to help the temperance workers in the chief centers.[9] She traveled from Bombay to Egypt, Israel, Greece and Italy before she came to London.[8]
In June 1910, Stevenson attended the eighth Triennial convention of the WWCTU in Glasgow. She was appointed to oversee the WWCTU Missionary Fund Department.[8]
Personal life
editStevenson was also a homemaker and step-mother to three daughters.[6] She was a member of Good Templars Commonwealth Lodge of Boston.[10] She died in 1919.[11]
References
edit- ^ Christian Advocate 1910, p. 1837.
- ^ Leonard, John William (1914). Woman's Who's who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada, 1914-1915. American Commonwealth Company. p. 781. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Tyrrell 2010, p. 277.
- ^ Woman's Christian Temperance Union 1909, p. 1.
- ^ a b c Chapin 1895, p. 19.
- ^ a b c Chapin 1895, p. 20.
- ^ Zealand, National Library of New (13 September 1909). "Papers Past - MRS K. LENTE STEVENSON". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Star. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Stevenson, Katherine Lente (16 January 1911). "Letter from Mrs. K.L. Stevenson". The White Ribbon (NZ). 16 (187): 3. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "MRS. KATHERINE L STEVENSON'S VISIT". Border Watch. 10 November 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Parker 1908, p. 396.
- ^ Tyler 1949, p. 273.
Attribution
edit- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Chapin, Clara Christiana Morgan (1895). Thumb Nail Sketches of White Ribbon Women (Public domain ed.). Woman's temperance publishing association. p. 19.
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Christian Advocate (1910). Christian Advocate. Vol. 85 (Public domain ed.). Christian Advocate.
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Parker, B. F. (1908). The International Good Templar (Public domain ed.). B.F. Parker.
- Tyler, Helen E. (1949). Where Prayer and Purpose Meet: The WCTU Story, 1874-1949. Signal Press.
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (1909). World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union: Mrs. Katherine Lent Stevenson, Special Representative (Public domain ed.). W.C.T.U.
Bibliography
edit- Tyrrell, Ian (1 July 2010). Reforming the World: The Creation of America's Moral Empire. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-3663-5.