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Jessie Forsyth
1847 - 1937

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• Birth	1847
  Gender	Female
  Died	18 Sep 1937	Leederville, Western Australia
  Person ID	I29	George Andrew Duncan Forsyth WA
  Last Modified	6 Feb 2017

  
  

  Father	Andrew Forsyth,   b. 29 Nov 1817, London, Middlesex, England ,   d. Bef 1876
  Relationship	Natural
  Mother	Eliza Maria KITTERIDGE,   b. 07 Sep 1818, Southwark, Surrey, England ,   d. 11 Jun 1862, London, England
  Relationship	Natural
  Married	10 Sep 1842	3Q1842 Lambeth Vol 4 Page247
  Family ID	F11	Group Sheet

  
  

• Notes

  Name: Jesse Forsyth Record Type: Baptism Baptism Date: 21 May 1847 Father's name: Andrew Forsyth Mother's name: Eliza Maria Forsyth Parish or Poor Law Union: Hampstead St John Borough: Camden Register Type: Parish Registers Name: Jessie Forsyth Death Place: Western Australia Registration Year: 1937 Registration Place: Perth, Western Australia Registration Number: 1667 The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Friday 1 May 1936 p 8 Temperance Worker's 89th Birthday: Impressive Record Although she celebrated her 89th anniversary on Wednesday, Miss Jessie Forsyth is still a keen reader, and takes a great interest in the work, which, through her age, she has now practically given up. Miss Forsyth is better known in many countries of the world as Sister Jessie Forsyth, a member of the International Order of Good Templars. Miss Forsyth was born in London, and started working for temperance leagues at the age of about 25, and she labored for the same cause for over 60 years. From London she went to America to take a business position and lived there for 37 years, working in the business and, at the same time, keeping up her work for the Temperance League. Wide Travels During this time, Miss Forsyth visited many countries, speaking to large audiences for the cause of temperance in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and eventually Australia. She has now been in Australia for about 23 years, and her first position here was that of superintendent of the Sailors' Rest at Fremantle, which position she held for four years, leaving to join the Women's Christian Temperance Union as their secretary. While in London she became the superintendent of the International Junior Templars' League, and held that title for 15 years. During that time, she had about a quarter of a million children in her sections, and these were from many countries apart from England. Much Correspondence Miss Forsyth still receives visitors from the local temperance leagues, and has a correspondence from all parts of the world, both from old friends, found while working in various countries, and from temperance leagues, who correspond with her and keep her in touch with their work. In spite of her great age, she still retains excellent use of most of her faculties. She is slightly hard of hearing, but can see very clearly, and reads a great deal. It is only recently that she has given up using her typewriter, because her fingers are a little stiff. Perhaps her best asset is her memory, which never fails her, even to dates and figures. The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Tue 21 Sep 1937 Page 1 FORSYTH---On September 18, Miss Jessie Forsyth, member Unity Iodge No. 12, LO.G.T., beloved friend of Mr. and Mrs. B. B. King (Subiaco). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Wednesday 10 November 1937 p 7 The Late Miss Jessie Forsyth. "RECENTLY there passed on to higher service one of the veteran social welfare workers in Western Australia" writes the secretary of the Women's ChristianTemperance Union when paying tribute on behalf of the organisation to the late Miss Jessie Forsyth who, for the past 70 years, devoted he, time to the service of others. Born in England 90 years ago, the late Miss Forsyth went first to America where she took up temperance work, editing two publications. Coming to Western Australia she continued this work and founded "Dawn" for the Fremantle Women's Service Guild who later handed over the publication to the care of the State executive. Miss Forsyth was also associated with the "White Ribbon," the official organ of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, in which organisation she took an active interest, holding in turn the positions of superintendent of the "Sailors' Rest," Fremantle, State corresponding secretary and State president, ultimately being made a life member. It was due to the influence of Miss Forsyth at the triennial convention in Adelaide in 1916 that the next convention was held in Perth. For over 60 years Miss Forsyth was a member of the International Order of Good Templars, holding various offices including those of International Grand Vice-templar and Grand International superintendent of juvenile work. Miss Forsyth was known to those with whom she came in contact as a woman with the courage of her convictions, a lover of young people, a staunch friend and a tireless worker for the good of humanity . Local Option Advocate (Perth, WA : 1919 - 1927) Thursday 14 December 1922 p 1 fifty years a good templar Miss Jessie Forsyth, p.i. supt. j work Miss Jessie Forsyth (whose picture we reproduce) has just completed fifty years of very distinguished serv ice in the International Order of Good Templars. Joining the Order on' October 14, 1872, in London, she has remained in continuous membership ever since. During the course of years she has filled many of the highest Executive offices of the Ordr, and was for 15 years the Superintendent of the Juvenile Work. In this capacity she has visited the jurisdictions of the British Isles, the United States of America, Canada, and in many parts of Europe. She has travelled extensively in her labours against the greatest foe of mankind and has been unceasing in her devotion to the world's gratest temperance organisation. In her platform advocacy of the claims of the Order she has addressed large and influential audiences in many countries, and in Stockholm, Sweden, had the honour of speaking before a very distinguished and intellectual audience, among whom was the Crown Prince. For eight years Miss Forsyth was the abte editress of the 'International Good Templar," and besides this has done the editorial work of seven other temperance publications. It is safe to say that at present, among the great leaders of this great Order, none are quite so. distinguished as the lady of our sketch. The celebration of her jnbilee of faithful and distinguished service took place at the residence of her neiee, Mrs. T. S. Waugh. Claremont, on October 14, 1922. Surrounded by a number of the State's most prominent temperance workers, her pers onal friends, Miss Forsyth wag the recipient of ,"a perfect shower" of congratulatory letters from Grand Lodge and other members of the Order, from the W.C. Temperance Union, and from the West' Australian Alliance, of which she is a Vice-president. A bouquet of choice roses was presented, and one of the Juvenile Temples of the Order thoughtfully forwarded a "birthday cake" suitably inscribed. , During the afternoon several musical items were given by the visitors and congratulatory addresses delivered by the representatives of the various Orders present. Miss Forsyth's reply to these expressions of congratulation and personal affection, notwithstanding the delicate state of her health, revealed in a subtle" manner the source of that personal charm and consecrated zeal which has raised her to such a position of eminence in the Order. We sincerely trust that Miss Forsyth, by well-merited rest, will be restored to health and strength again, so that she may resume the work which she so loves. Since the above celebration, Miss Forsyth has been the guest of honor at a Grand Lodgd social, at which she was presented with a very artistic and beautiful bouquet. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Sat 27 Jan 1912 Page 41 VISIT OF A TEMPERANCE WORKER. INTERVIEW WITH MISS JESSIE FORSYTH Among the passengers who arrived at Fremantle last week by the s.s. Kanowns was Miss Jessie Forsyth, so well known for her work in advocating the temperance move ment. In conversation with a "West Australian" representative, Miss Forsyth gave some de- tails of a long and busy career spent in temperance work. She has made her headquarters at Boston, U.S.A., for the past 35 years, but during that time she has not confined her propaganda work to that city, or even to the United States, but bas travelled extentsively in Canada and on the Continent of Europe. As showing the world-wide character of the movement, Miss Forsyth mentioned that the Good Templar Order, with which she has been identified, has a grand Lodge even in little-known Boumania. In Sweden the Order has made remarkably rapid advances, numbering no fewer than a quarter of a million adherents among a population of six millions. In this connection it may be mentioned that Miss Forsyth was one of a deputation of seven who waited upon the late King Oscar at Stockholm, when the international session of the Order was held there in 1902, to thank him for his hospitality to the delegates. There have been many contradictory reports as to the state of matters in the prohibition State of Maine. You have no doubt intimate knowledge of that subject? At the recent vote in Maine the prohibition law was saved by a small majority of about 700 votes. The reason for the small ness of the majority is that the temperance advocates felt, perhaps, somewhat too secure, while the liquor interest was putting forth every exertion in their power. Great efforts have been made to prove that prohibition is against the interests of the State but that is quite untrue. Maine is a poorer State than the neighbouring State of Massachusetts ; nevertheless, its deposits in the Savings Bank are much larger than those - of Massachusetts. There is also a lowe average of crime in Maine. Maine, indeed, is in a generally prosperous condition. At first the prohibition law was enacted year by year, but as the benefits it brought came home more and more deeply to the public mind, it was made a part of the Constitution of the State. Hence, even although the liquór interest had had a majority, licences could not have been issued until that clause of the Constitution had been revoked." What is your opinion of the old question does prohibition prohibit? "There" are exceptions, of course, but in the majority of instances the answer is in the affirmative. The law was evaded in certain parts of Maine, because the people did not elect the right men to enforce it. If the right men were in authority the law could always be enforced. There are young men and women coming from Maine to Boston to-day who have never before seen a place where liquor was sold. Even when the prohibition law is poorly enforced, it is better than no law at all. When I first went to Boston there was a very weak prohibition law in Massachusetts, and under that law Boston was a much better city than it is to-day, even although the charge for licences is kept very high £200 being the lowest price for a licence in the city." Asked concerning her own share in the work of the Good Templar Order, Miss Forsyth said she had had charge of the international juvenile work for 15 years, during which time there was a very large increase in the juvenile membership throughout the world, with a corresponding increase of work to Miss Forsyth as International Grand Superintendent. When she resigned the duties the juvenile membership was a quarter of a million. She was also in charge of the educational organisation connected with the order, and this branch she describes as one of the most interesting and valuable carried on by it. Several eminent scientists who are members of the order have contributed to the literary section works treating on the effects of alcohol and other subjects from the scientific, standpoint. I believe this is your first visit to Australia? "Yes, and I may say that I am much impressed and pleased with what I have seen of it during the short time I have been here. Respecting the temperance cause, Good Templary is scarcely making such progress in Australia as in other parts of the world, but this may be partly accounted for by the fact that it has to 6ome extent been cut off from the international movement. Several times, for example, its delegates have been unable to attend the international sessions. The order is making headway in New South Wales and Victoria, and is also gaining a little in Queensland, but the other States do not show any progress." Miss Forsyth has not formed any definite plans as yet for her stay in this State. She has looked forward to visiting Western Australia with especial interest, because she has relatives in Fremantle, Mr. Tom Smith, J.P., being her brother-in-law.