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:
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“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)
“Just across the Green from the post office is the county jail, seldom occupied except by some backwoodsman who has been intemperate; the courthouse is under the same roof. The dog warden usually basks in the sunlight near the harness store or the post office, his golden badge polished bright.”
—Administration for the State of Con, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)