The blue ribbon badge was created by Francis Murphy, 1836-1907, who was a chief advocate of the temperance movement in America and abroad in his generation. The badge was inspired by a verse in The Bible, Numbers 15:38-39, which says: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments, throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue : and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them."
The ribbon was worn by those who agreed with a pledge of abstinence from alcohol consumption as a beverage, as advocated by Francis Murphy.
Mention of blue ribbon badge made in the book ABSOLUTE SURRENDER by Andrew Murray, published by The Fleming H. Revell Company, 1897, p. 24.
Famous quotes containing the words blue, ribbon and/or badge:
“The moon is my mother. She is not sweet like Mary.
Her blue garments unloose small bats and owls.”
—Sylvia Plath (1932–1963)
“perpetually crouched, quivering, upon the
sternly allotted sandpile
Mhow silently
emit a tiny violet flavoured nuisance: Odor?
o no.
comes out like a ribbon lies flat on the brush”
—E.E. (Edward Estlin)
“Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)