Margaret E. Winslow (1836-1936) was an American activist, newspaper editor, and author of several temperance books. She served at two separate times, and during the longest period of any editor-in-chief of Our Union, the national organ of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). It was a burst of inspiration from Winslow, relative to its simplicity and purity, which at the National WCTU Convention in Chicago determined the union to wear the white ribbon as a badge rather than the red, white, and blue which was strongly urged by many. Early years and education Margaret Elizabeth Winslow was born in New York City, in 1836. She was of Puritan antecedents, and spent most of her life in Brooklyn, and Saugerties on the Hudson River. Winslow signed the pledge and wrote temperance compositions when but eight years old. At fifteen, she declined to come into the parlor on New Year's Day if wine was offered, and carried her point. She was educated partly at the Abbot Institution in New York, and partly at Packer Collegiate Institute, of which she was a graduate. Career Teacher For twelve years, Winslow taught at Packer Institute. The last year of her stay, she held the position of composition teacher, and had charge of the Art Department of Pictures, Coins, and so forth. At the age of nineteen, she united with the Episcopal church, of which she remained a loyal member. She spent 1869–70 in Europe studying and traveling in England, France, Italy, and Germany. She became acquainted with many foreign Protestants, and on coming home was made one of Albert Woodruffs "Foreign Sunday School Association" (Italian Committee). Activist The Women's Crusade (1873–74) in Ohio roused her interest and enthusiasm. Dr. Diocletian Lewis came to Brooklyn fresh from the great awakening in Ohio. The Packer Institute teacher attended several temperance prayer-meetings, and was present at the one (March 17, 1874) at which the first Brooklyn WCTU was organized. Desiring to attend the daily meetings which followed, she persuaded the editor of the New York Witness to accept reports, and every day for fourteen weeks, went directly from school to the YMCA in Brooklyn, where these meetings were held. Here was uttered her first public testimony for Christ. One evening, Winslow went with fifteen women to a prayer meeting in a liquor saloon. In a letter to one of her friends she thus graphically describes the scene:— From