TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY

Pat is interested in temperance drinking fountains, like this one outside Bath Abbey, which depicts Rebecca at the Well (Genesis 24), a common theme of such fountains. 


Fountains like this were erected in the UK, US, and Canada in the 19th and early 20th century to encourage people to drink water rather than alcohol. This fountain was placed here by the Bath Temperance Association in 1861 and declares "WATER IS BEST."


The drinking fountain itself, placed near the base of the statue and no longer working, reads "TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY." 


Many temperance fountains were erected in the US and Canada by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.  Pat has written about the WCTU fountains in New York--"Erected by the WCTU"--and about the organization's long-time president, Frances Willard--"Frances Willard: Churchville's tireless 19th-century activist."


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