In a scene somewhat bizarrely juxtaposing the biblical past with the evangelical present o...

In a scene somewhat bizarrely juxtaposing the biblical past with the evangelical present of the nineteenth century, a procession of urban boys backs up young David in his combat with the giant Goliath. Temperance banners borne by the lads reveal their gathering as a rally of the Band of Hope and the true opponent in David's battle to be demon rum.

The red transfer printed scene is enhanced with blue, green and yellow highlights. While the dense daisy border appears on other Victorian wares, it alone is not sufficient basis for an attribution of the maker.

Noel Riley in Gifts For Good Children, The History of Children's China, 1790-1890, include...

Noel Riley in Gifts For Good Children, The History of Children's China, 1790-1890, includes a section on the Band of Hope in her chapter on the temperance movement. She illustrates a similar plate (p. 268-269, il. 1075) with the added inscription "Band Of Hope - Make The Temperance Army Strong And On To Victory."

The "Band of Hope" was an organization founded in Leeds (England) in 1847 as an offshoot of the Sunday School movement. The mission of the organization was to inculcate working class children with the principles of sobriety and teetotalism as a means of combating the rampant problems of alcoholism of the day. Activities ranged from signing a sobriety pledge, to attending meetings with religous speakers, to yearly processional marches through town stopping for preaching and hymm sings.