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Crystal Lodge, No. 49, I.O.G.T., was organized in November, 1875, with thirty charter members, among whom H. A. Jepson, James P. Pinkham and L. J. Miles are yet members. Of the first officers, L. J. Miles was Worthy Chief; Dr. J. I. Bailey, Lodge Deputy, and J. C. Johnson, Secretary. Meetings were held in Collins’ Hall. The present officers are Henry Sleeper, W. C.; Edward Edmundson, Financial Secretary; H. L. Cook, Treasurer; Mrs. A. Jepson, W. V.; Miss Maggie Campbell, Chaplain; H. A. Jepson, P.W.C. The Lodge has an excellent hall over the bank, and, in conjunction with the W.C.T.U. and Lecture Association, has recently established, in the same room, a Temperance Reading Room, where any who choose may pass their evenings with interesting books, papers and magazines.
The Band of Hope was organized two years ago by Rev. J. V. Hoover, who still manages it. Meetings are held on every alternate Sabbath afternoon. It has a membership of about one hundred young people.
The Blue Ribbon Club was organized immediately after a temperance lecture delivered recently by Joseph Parham, of Muscatine. The society meets in Bean’s Hall, and has as officers D. E. Mackey, President; Edward Edmundson, Secretary, and H. A. Jepson, Treasurer.
From the societies enumerated, it will be seen that, for a village of its size, West Branch has taken a greater action against intemperance than most villages in the State.