The teetotaler's hand-book : in four parts, being a compilation of valuable information for the use of all classes

Front matter

Wee yee ee re wren

Teer See er ere, x et faieaa yal

Nee Se

Introduction

The Publisher has thought proper in the title page to refer to my connection with the “Canada Temperance Advocate” for a number of years. It is not offensive to me that he should do 10, for on the review of those years of literary labour I do not find any ground for regret, except that my convictions of the nature and importance of the temperance movement were often very inadequately expressed. Such however being my public relations to the cause, it was perhaps not incongruous that I should be invited to introduce this volume to the friends of temperance, and especially to those who are not ashamed to be called “ TEETOTALERS.”’

This Hand-book makes no pretension to anything above a compilation of various and important intelligence for general circulation. On examination of the table of the contents it will be observed that while there is no attempt at historical detail or argumentative reasoning, there is nevertheless a considerable amount of that information which it is desirable should be in the hands of the temperance people of Canada. Passing over the history of the great temperance reformation contained in the first part of the book, the thoughtful advocate of the cause will be gratified that so much has been accomplished in many places towards the attainment of the entire prohibition of the traffic. In Canada, we are yet far behind many States of the neighbouring Union, and have scarcely gained as much ground as the friends of Prohibition in England. Yet even here, from the record of Canadian action, it will be seen that temperance men have stood firm to the principle, and the republication of their proposed enactments, will afford food for contemplation and may be considered standards for future action.

iv INTRODUCTION.

The large amount of poetic selections, will be found adapted to various tastes and capacities and may be exceedingly useful in enlivening public meetings and social gatherings of those who by anniversaries and soirees seek to promote the good of community. Facts and anecdotes are always interesting, and of these sufficient will be found in this volume to gratify the desires of most, for that kind of instructive amusement.

The time has not come when the temperance people of Canada can honourably relax their exertions. The traffic has too strong a hold in the land for that. It is a subject of deep regret, that both in high and low places, the fiend of intemperance still grasps his victims, and paralyzes human hopes. Every where there exist abundant reasons for exertion, but it isin vain to trust in any schemes of reformation but those which are founded on the unchangeable word of the Eternal God. This book may, it is believed, in some measure, contribute to the mitigation or abolition of our great national iniquity, and therefore its publication should be followed by a circulation commensurate with the expenses incurred, and with the demands of our great moral enterprise.

The community professing temperance principles have eften been charged with parsimony when called upon to contribute anything toward the attainment of the public good by means of the press. For my own part I will not reiterate the complaint, but rather express my gratitude for what has been done. Wherever an advertisement of this book may come I entertain the hope that not only will there be a desire to possess it, but that the friends of the cause will use their best endeavours to promote its circulation. Read and think about the evils of using strong drinks and the terrible effects of the traffic, and you will the more hearti-_ ly enter into every public scheme for the overthrow of the most gigantic evil of our times.

W.S. t

THE TEETOTALER’S HAND-BOOK.

CONTENTS OF PART FIRST.

PUSS. ORY 4 OF TH Eye

American Organization in 1804, 16/

ss Temperance Union, 17 Am. Tem. Anniversary in 1859, 18 Agents of Montreal Society, 25 Ancient Societies, 14 Bands of Hope, 56 Bible Evidence, 9 Cadets, 50) Canada pioneers, 21 Canada Temperance Advocate, 23 Centuries. fifteenth and following, 14 Chinese, Temperance of the, 13 Convention in Montreal, 1834, 22

«“ « 1859, 26| Cold Water Army, 41 Constitution of Bands of Hope,57-61 Dashaways, The 61 Daughters of Temperance, 50 England, the Tem. Cause in, 33 Egyptians, Temperance of the, 13 Forbes, Dr., his views of Ireland, 30 General Remarks, 38) Good Templars, I. O. of 51-56 Indians, Temperance among The, 62.

Treland, Tem. movements in, 27]

EMPERANCE CAUSE.

London Temperance League, 38 Lycurgus of Sparta, 14 Massachusetts in 1811, 16 Mathew, Rev. Theobold, 27 Modern Temperance Societies, 16 National Tem. Society, England, 36 Origin of Certain Societies, 33 Parliamentary Committee, Hng., 36 Plato, his approval, 14 Rechabites of Scripture, 1l Romans, Temperance of the, 13 Rechabite Societies, 38 Russian Distilleries, &c. 20 Sons of Temperance, 42-48 Spaniards, Temperance of the, 14

Scriptures in favor of Abstinence,19 Scotland, Tem. Soc. 100 yrs. ago,15

£6 first Tem. Society in, 30 Scottish Tem. League, 32 Temple of Honor, The 49

U. Canada, first Total Abst. Soc’ty,22

Wadsworth’s, Mr. Tem, Tour, 23 Wales, Temperance in, 38 Washingtonians, The 40

2°90 olfe, Rey. Joseph, in Asia,

Juvenile Sisters of Temperance, 50 vi

CONTENTS OF

Part Second. The Prohibitory Movement

Act, submitted in 1860, 160-188 Appeal to people of Canada, Bibles in place of dissipation, Bill of J. J. E. Linton, 188-193) Brougham, Lord, his views, 201) Canada, first Parliamentary Com;80, ss New Municipal Law, 114

Constitutionality of Prohibition, 63)

Economy of Maine Law, 139-141 Evil of the Traffic, 66 Evidence given before Parliamentary Temperance Committee, 80-— J. Beatty, A. Farewell, Hon. Neal Dow’s letter to Hon. M. Cameron, G. L. Allen, Governor of Toronto Jail, J. Carling, M. P. P., George Duggan, Esq., Recorder of Toronto, Rowland Burr, Esq , Toronto; George Gooderham, Ksq., Rev. H. Mulkins ; Customs De-| partment, &c. 82-109 Forbes Mackenzie Act, Scotland,110 ai a Canada, 111-119

203-8. 144,Memorialto Councils,U. Canada,156

Maine Law, origin and history, 117 re ‘¢ from Heaven, 131

Moral right to drink considered 70- 72

New Brunswick anti-Liquor Law,73 On we gO, 145 Parliamentary Action, 72 Prohibition in Pitcairn Island, 74

ff ‘* Madagascar, 76

“ Liberia 75, Hawaia,77 “ England, 77 ‘“ South Seas, viv Resales of, in Cuguectoil 125 te ‘“ Maine, 126 “ “ 4 Massaonm 146 “ e “ Michigan, 149

“© Rhode Isl’d,150

> me “ Vermont, 153 (Permissive Bill of U. K. A., 195 Society's right to protect itself, 63

Testimonies in favour of Prohibition,—Chesterfield 77—Bishop of Salesbury 77—Bishop of Oxford, 78— Stephen Hales 78 — North-

Governor Morrell of Maine, 127; wick 78—John Milton 79—John Great Britain, Maine Law, 194-8} Wesley 79. ;

Landowners, Prohibition, 199)/Traffic, Prohibited, 72 Leeds Mercury, opinion of, 196 United Kingdom Alliance, 196 License to sell rum, Mr. Doty’s 68/Yale College, 134 Lumbermen, Maine Law among, 145

CONTENTS OF PART THIRD.

POETRY, SONGS AND HYMNS.

Abstainer’s Rock, 230/Bucket, which hung &c., The, 269 All’s well, 22 Caution, 286 Anniversaries, Hymn for, 287\Cold Water, 308 Anniversary, 295 19 Closing Ode, 280 Annual Meeting, 300 Cold Water ‘Army, The, 275 Auld Lang Syne, 227 Come and sign, 228 Away the Bowl, 59, Come, Young Abstainers, 221 Bible Teetotalers, el ‘Confession of a Drunkard, 215 Blessing implored, 300|\Convivial Banquets, 209 Bowl, The, 284 Come all ye Children, 240

Cold water for me,

Come, Brothers, Come, Cup of Death, The,

Dash it down,

Desert the sparkling Wine, Dismission,

Drinker turn and leave your bowl,

Drunkard’s Boy, The, Drunkard’s Song, The, Drunkard’s Wife, The, Drunkard’s Home, The, Drunkard’s Children, The, Drunkard’s Hope, The, Dying Drunkard, The, Example,

Family Pledge,

Females invited,

Fireman, The Temperance, Freemen, We’re a band of Funeral, The,

Go not back,

Go, go thou that enslav'st me, Good time coming, The, Gough’s, J. B,, lament, Happy Home,

Hark, o’er hill and dale, Help Lord,

T love a little sup,

I’m not to blame, Intemperance,

Inebriate, 1 am a poor, I’ve thrown the bow! aside, Joyful day,

Ladies Song,

Lasses, To the,

Look not upon the Wine, Maine Law, The,

Might with the Right, The, Mischiefs of drinking, The, Never forget,

No quarter to Alcohol, Ode to Rum,

CONTENTS.

261|Prayer,

265|Prayer to God, 278|Pure water for me, 309|Reformer’s Song, 226|Rejoice, rejoice, 301/Searching questions,

239|Samaritan’s appeal, The good,

249|Sailor’s Song, 250 Singing, The voice of,

220-299) Sing, Sisters, sing,

219|Sons of Temperar.ce, The, 289|Ship of the Sons, The, 301/Slave to the Battle, A, 298|Sobriety’s praise, 297\Social glass, The, 294|/Sparkling and bright, 290\Star of Temperance, The, 236|Soldier’s Appeal, The, 238)Supplication,

307|Sympathy for the Drunkard,

292|Selfpunished, 267|\Sparkling bowl, The, 243|\Standard, The, 272:Stop and think, 253|Temperance Trumpet, 286|Tempter, The,

302)Temperance National Anthem,

232) Thanksgiving, 233|Teetotal forever,

211-216/Three Topers, The,

297|Temperance Band, 270)/Temperance Anthem,

241|/There’s nae luck about the house,229

263/Temperance Champion, 222'Trumpet, The Temperance, 246/Try, John,

235/Temperate drinking, 224'Temperance,

268 Temperance Star, 277\Triumph of Sobriety, 266/Turn, O, turn,

212/There is a happy time,

Oh, Temperance is anoble plan, 223 Voice from Heaven, 2

Only this once,

Old dirty Bottle, The,

Oh, pledge not with Wine, Ode,

Our Flag,

Paradise, The drink of,

81|Water, O water for me, 250|We Temperance Chiefs, 257|When is the time to sign, 203|Water King, The, 237|Water the drink for me, 261'We will praise Thee,

Vili CONTENTS.

Will you come to the Bower, 244/Widow’s appeal, The, 305 Will you sign the pledge, 245) Wife’s appeal, The, 311 We will be free, 246/Young Wife’s last appeal, The, 310 Warning, The Drunkard’s, 254; Youth of Canada, 283 We'll never drink again, 258

CONTENTS OF PART FOURTH.

FACTS AND

Ancient Pledge, 388) Adulteration of liquors, 313-317 Alexander, Death of, 325 Anacreon’s plea and ladies retort,376 Asylum for inebriates, 328 Beer houses, 32-36 Oan’t give up my besetting sin,379-80 Cost of Intemperance, Confession of a Drunkard, Decanter, Song of the, Dashaway, A

Excitants and temperature, Expensive,

Father Matthew’s conversion, Female Intemperanee, Grocer’s Wife, The,

How to rise in life,

History of a Distillery, Homer and Pope,

Heroic woman, The,

ANECDOTES.

Legal suppression, 50 years ago,329 Low position defined, 387

Lignor seller’s excuse, 399 Methodist Conference in Mass., 318 Missionarles, Opinions of 318 Minister and the demijohn, 395 Noble boy, A, 392

388-Physicians of Canada,Testimony,385

Parsonage, How to adorn a, 402 Prayer, The value of, 393 ‘Ross, Capt., his practice, 322 Rumseller’s Dream, 394 Sad testimony, 337 Sabbath, The, 337 Seamen’s wages, 399 Shingling a house, 400 Teetotalism favorable to religion,334 Teetotal spoons, 381 Tree of Dissipation, 383 True use of the Vine, 401

Immense waste, 332|Various interesting facts &c,339-346 Indian, The, and Distiller, 390)Valuable Testimonies, 384 Incontrovertible facts, 336|Washwoman, The Scotch, 390 Interesting facts, warnings, 351-376 Wesley on the Traffic, 351 Jay, Rev. Wm. of Bath, his views,385|Wesleyans, To, 350 Jack and Harry, 392;Young man on fire, 386 Keeping Tavern, 398} APPENDIX.

The Prince of Wales’ Visit bodies of Upper Canada, 406

to British America, 405|Reply to Address, 407 Address from the Temperance Concluding remarks, 408

Chapter I. History Of The Temperance Ocoause

BIBLE EVIDENCE—SCRIPTURE IN FAVOR OF ABSTINENCE,

The inspired writers employ a number of different terms to denote various kinds of drink, and speak of these in great diversity of tone and language. We leave out of account here, tvrosh, the name of vine fruit, as this, though uniformly rendered wine in our version, has been proved not to signify a liquor at all. The other terms occur in Scripture, altogether two hundred and twenty-three times. The drink denoted by one of these (shechar) is invariably disapproved by God, and its use, as a common beverage, denounced in terms of loudest warning and woe. The drink denoted by another of them (yain) is sometimes represented as a possible good, but in the vast majority of cases, it is branded as a mighty evil to man. The articles denoted by the other words are spoken of with diversity of expression, as 1t seems, according to the presence or absence from them, of the intoxicating principle. Altogether, there are about a hundred and thirty warnings and admonitions in Scripture against intoxicating drinks, while there are not over twenty instances of distinct approval of wine, under all its names, in the whole Bible. And these passages, as far as their evidence is explicit, show the wine commended, to be of an unintoxicating quality. All the other cases in which the word wine occurs, are doubtful or neutral in the Temperance question, since they contain no proof, either on the one side, or on the other.

B

Are not these most important and significant facts? Who can fail to perceive they have a voice and a meaning? How can any one stand in doubt, as to the conclusion to which they point ?

Scripture IN Favor oF ABSTINENCE.—The Bible not only discountenances the evil, but it encourages the good. We have seen how it withholds its sanction from intoxicating liquor. We proceed to show how it approves of entire abstinence from it, and of approach, to the use of it. It does this by ving examples. It is remarkable how many of the great men, and distinguished communities, of the Bible, were abstainers, encouraged in this, too, by God’s approbation and blessing. We point then in illustration, to the whole nation of Israel, during their forty years’ journey through the wilderness. God could as easily have given them wine, as He rained down manna on them from heaven, and caused water to flow to them from the smitten rock. But he did not so. Through all these years, we are told, they “ drank neither wine nor strong drink.” The Lord was ever kind to them, He fed them with angels’ food, He cherished them with Divine care, but they were a nation of abstainers, trained to be so, all this time, by the only wise God. Again we point to Samson. His mother, when promised a son, was thus commanded—‘ Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing. For lo! thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and no razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

O madness to think use of strongest wines, And strongest drinks our chief support of health, When God, with these forbidden, made choice to rear

His mighty champion, strong above compare, Whose drink was only from the limpid brook.

Further, we point to Samuel. His pious mother received him, in answer to her prayer, and she pledged herself in this, to devote him as a Nazarite all the days of his life. Notice here, also, the issue, in the consecration and character of his noble career. In

SCRIPTURE IN FAVOR OF ABSTINENCE. 11 early years he was chosen of God to the prophetic office. He acted as judge of his nation through a long period of its history. He was honoured as its reformer till he descended to the grave in a good old age, beloved and lamented by his weeping country. Moreover, we point to Daniel and his three friends. In the Court of Babylon, ‘the King appointed them a daily provision of the wine which he drank,’ ‘ but Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with it,’ and behold the result in his health and vigour. He and his companions preferred this request, ‘Give us pulse to eat, and water to drink;’ ‘and at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh, than all the children who did eat the portion of the king’s meat.’ Yet again we point to John the Baptist. In announcing his birth to Zacharias, the angel Gabriel thus foretold his abstinence, ‘ He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.’ And note here, also, what follows in the description of his character, ‘ He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb ;’ and Christ, whom he was chosen to herald, declared, ‘ Among those born of women, there has not arisen a greater than John.’

Once more we point to the Rechabites. They were a community especially devoted to God. They were remarkable for their strict piety, they were hound to drink no wine, but to give themselves to a contemplative life, and avoid all occasions of luxury and avarice. ‘They were,’ observes Dr. Chalmers, ‘a Temperance Society,’ united, it has been added, by a family pledge, to which they adhered with intelligent fidelity, and for doing so they are commended by God.’ Then observe here the striking connection and consequence of the laws of this sacred fraternity, ‘ Jonadab,’ say they, ‘the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying— Ye shall drink no wine, ye, nor your sons for ever, that ye may live long in the land wherein you are strangers,’ In a word, we point to the Nazarites. ‘One part of the special sanctity of a Nazarite consisted in a total abstinence from wine or anything that. intoxicates, that he might the better attend to the study of the law, and other exercises of religion, which justifies in part what Maimonedes says, that Nazarites were advanced to the dignity of priests, who were not allowed to drink wine in the time of their ministration.’ And mark the design of this Divine appointment. It was intended of God, to preserve a people for Himself, eminent for a life of sanctity and devotion, ‘ There will be found,’ says Dr. Haweis, ‘some more eminent for their graces than others —the Nazarites, among their brethren, not to taste wine, that they might show themselves patterns of sobriety, and be ever fit for the service of God. They who have a deep concern about their soul, wil have a noble neglect of the body.”

God commands total abstinence from it, while the priests minister in the sanctuary; and that no appearance of the evil might exist, he permits no wine of any kind whatever to be used by the priests, while discharging their sacred functions, throughout all their generations. ‘“ And the Lord spake to Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine, nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them, by the hand of Moses.’ ‘ This is a strong reason,’ says Dr. Adam Clarke, ‘why they should drink no inebriating liquor; that their understandings being clear, and their judgements correct, they might be always able to discern between the clean and unclean, and ever pronounce righteous judgments.’ As a remedy for intemperance, does not the Bible thus exhibit abstinence as the plan of God himself, and prove it to be in accordance with His eternal wisdom ?

Romans xiv. 21—“ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy progaer stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

ANCIENT TEETOTALISM. 13

Chapter II. Ancient Teetotalism

Temperance of the Chinese—Turks—Egyptians—Romans—Grecians— Spaniards—Ancient Societies, 1517—-One Hundred Years Ago.

TEMPERANCE OF THE CuinesE.—About eleven hundred years before Christ, a Chinese emperor, at a solemn assembly of the states, forbade the use of wine, as what proves the cause of almost all the evils which happen on the earth.

TEMPERANCE OF THE TuRKS.—Warnerus says,—‘ The more devout Pagan Arabs totally abstained from wine long before the birth of Mohamed.’

Busbequius says,—‘ His prohibition of wine hindered many of the prophet’s contemporaries from embracing his religion. Yet several of the most respectable of the Pagan Arabs, like certain of the Jews and early Christians, abstained totally from wine, from a feeling of tts injurious effects upon morals, and, in thetr climate, upon health.’

TEMPERANCE OF THE Ea@yprians.—They were early accustomed to sobriety, by not being permitted to eat of viands prepared by too refined a cookery.

‘ Psametichus, in the year of the flood, 2339, was the jirst of - the Egyptian kings who drank wine, yet was it more than 2000 years since Noah had planted the vine.”

“‘ With respect to wine, some of them did not drink it at all, and others drank very little of it, on account of its being injurious to the nerves, oppressive to the head, an impediment to invention, and AN INCENTIVE TO LUST.”

TEMPERANCE OF THE RomaAns,—“ Jn early times no female at Rome enjoyed the privilege, and it was unlawful for women, or indeed for young men below the age of thirty, to drink wine, except at sacrifices.”

Re

PLATO approves “the Carthaginian law, that no sort of wine be drunk in the camp, nor anything save water: and that every judge and magistrate abstain from wine during the year of his magistracy.”

“ Athenian laws of Soton. An Archon, who was the chief magistrate, if seen drunk in public, was punished with death.”

“ Lycuraus, of Sparta. A Lacedzemonian knew not what it was to drink for pleasure. Drunkenness was infamous. Slaves were made drunk, and exhibited in this condition to the youth, in order to inspire them with abhorrence of this filthy viee.”

TEMPERANCE OF THE SPANIARDS.—“ In war their sustenance was coarse and simple; ¢hetr common drink water, seldom wine. The lightness and activity of their bodies were wonderful.”

FIFTEENTH AND THREE FoLLowine CENTURIES.—“ On the revival of literature, after the dark ages, intemperance in drinking was exceedingly prevalent; but, as men became more enlightened, they had recourse to measures calculated to prevent it. And it is a curious fact, that in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, temperance societies were formed by the most intelligent and influential men, for the purpose of stopping intemperance in drinking. One was called the Society of St. Christopher, others were called temperance societies, and the members of one took the appropriate name of the Golden Band.”

ANCIENT Societies, 1517—“ The first association of this kind of which we have any account, was instituted by Sigismond de Sietrichstein, under the auspices of Dt. Christopher, a.p. 1517. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse, formed, A.D. 1600, a similar association, under the name of ‘ The Order of Temperance.’ Several of the reigning princes, and many of the principal noblemen of Germany, ranked among its supporters. The first law of this association was as follows :—‘ Be it ordained, that every member of this society pledges himself, from its institution, which dates December 25th, 1600, never to become intoxicated.’ The other rules of this association, however, strangely contrast with its professed object, as specified in its first regulation. Each member

ANCIENT TEETOTALISM, 15 was limited to fourteen glasses of wine daily. A knight, for example, was allowed at each meal (twice a-day) seven bacaua, or glasses of wine, which were to be drunk in not less than three draughts. The size of the cups is not specified. A society, for instance, established about the sixteenth century, for the promotion of temperance, had its fundamental law constituted on the principle, that none of its members should drink more than fourteen glasses of wine daily. A certain general, in one of his regulations, ordered, that no officer who dined at his table should exceed two bottles of wine.”

A TEMPERANCE SOCIETY IN ScoTLAND ONE HUNDRED YEARS Aao.—“ We, the inhabitants of Leadhills, having taken into our most serious consideration the former direful effects of the malt distilleries, and being justly apprehensive of the like fatal consequences in time coming, as we hear that these devouring machines are again to be let loose, unanimously come to the following resolutions :—

‘1st. That the malt distilleries have been the principal cause of the immoderate use of spirituous liquors, which has been found, by experience, highly detrimental, not only to the health, but also to the morals of mankind, especially to the labouring part thereof; it being productive of all kinds of debaucheries, drunkenness, indolence, and, in fine, the very enemy of social happiness.

‘‘2dly. They have, ever since they came to any height, been a principal cause of the famine, while such immense quantities of the best food, designed by the bountiful hand of Providence for the subsistence of His creatures, have been, by them, converted into a stupifying kind of poison, calculated for the sure, though slow, destruction of the human race: and therefore,

“ 3dly. We are firmly resolved, in order to prevent their baneful influence, to discourage, to the utmost of our power, by all public methods, that pernicious practice, being determined to drink no spirits so distilled; neither frequent, nor drink any liquor in, any tavern or ale-house that we know sells or retails the same. And as we have no other means left to combat these enemies of plenty, we have chosen this public way of intimating our sentiments to the world, craving the concurrence of all our brethren in like circumstances in town and country, tradesmen, mechanics, and labouring people of all denominations.”

Chapter III

MODERN TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES, America—Canada—TIreland—Scotland—England—Wales.

AmeEricA.—“ In America, this movement began in 1804, by the inquiries instituted by Dr. Rush into the effects of ardent spirits upon the body and mind. These he published, and they were made the foundation of all subsequent experiments. In 1805, the Rey. Dr. Ebenezer Porter preached a sermon on the effects of ardent spirits, and a society was organized at Allentown, New Jersey, called the Sober Society, numbering 58 members at the start. In 1808, a society was organized by Dr. B. J. Clarke, at Moreau, Saratoga County, New York; the pledge was total abstinence from all kinds of distilled liquors, unless required by medical authority, and also retrenchment of wine, with some exceptions.

‘On the 26th of June, 1811, the General Association of Massachusetts appointed Rev. Samuel Worcester, D.D., Rev. Jedediah Morse, D.D., Rev. Abiel Abbot, Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, Reuben D. Mussey, M.D., William Thurston, Esq., Joseph Torrey, M.D., and Jeremiah Evarts, Esq., a committee to co-operate with committees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, and the General Association of Connecticut, in devising measures which may have an influence in preventing some of the numerous and threatening mischiefs that are experienced throughout our country, from the excessive and intemperate use of spirituous liquors. This committee met at different times for con-

~

MODERN TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. iG sultation, corresponded on the subject, and, finally, determined to make an effort for the formation of a State Society for the Suppression of Intemperance. A sub-committee, consisting of Dr. Worcester, Dr. Torrey, and Mr. Wadsworth, was appointed to prepare a Constitution. After being presented to the whole committee, and adopted, it was presented, by them, to a more general meeting, in Boston, on the 4th of February, 1813. At another meeting, at the State House, on the 5th, the Constitution was adopted, and a Society formed, called ‘ The Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance.’ The object, as expressed in the second article of the Constitution, was, ‘ Zo discountenance and suppress the too free use of ardent spirit, and its kindred vices, profaneness and gaming, and to encourage and promote temperance and general morality.”

In 1813, the Rev. Dr. Memphrey published a series of publications on the causes, effects, and remedies of intemperance. The Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance was then formed at Boston; and various ministers of religion were holding up the matter in their various circles as a subject of inquiry. The next step was organization, in 1826. The American society was formed, having for its object abstinence from distilled spirits. At this time, Dr. Beecher’s celebrated sermons, the substance of which had been preached at Boston, were published. His mind had been training, and he came out at a critical moment. Many complained we were going on too fast; but on we went, and in 1833, we called a Convention; 440 delegates attended, and the question to be decided was, that the traffic in ardent spirits was morally wrong, and ought to be abandoned. It was again said, we were going too fast. However, we adopted the principle. Then we found that men were getting drunk on wine and beer, and were compelled to take up the new position of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquor. In 1835, a year remarkable as being the year when a prosecution was commenced against Mr. Delavan, damages laid at 300,000 dollars, for publishing in the papers that the water they used for making porter was obtained from a stagnant pool filled with the carcases of dead animals, and into which the drainings of the burial-ground ran,—just about such stuff as is used by the London brewers to make their brown stout. In 1840, the action was decided against them; and the costs were put on the brewers.

The Anniversary of the American Temperance Union, was celebrated in the great Hall of the Cooper Institute, on the 11th of May, 1859. The Hon. George N. Briggs in the chair. Dr. Marsh, Corresponding Secretary, read the following abstract of the Annual Report :—

“ At our Twenty-third Anniversary, and the Thirty-third of the Temperance Reformation, your Committee are able to speak of four victories which have been obtained over the alcoholic foe :— a victory in the individual man; avictory in the family; a victory in the Church; and a victory in the State.

‘1. Individual man is delivered from the delusion which was a tyranny of the worst description, perilling everything of value for time and eternity, that intoxicating liquor was both needful and useful in health and in sickness, in summer and winter, in seed-time and harvest, at home and abroad, and that he only did justice to his system who bowed to its demands, and consented to be enslaved by its customs; and many millions are now profiting by it.

(2. The family is exempted from that curse which once brought thousands, even of Christian households, down, amid wounds, and woes, and strifes, to death; and the family may now be born, be reared, be reputable, be useful; discharging all its duties in the house, the school, the workshop, the field, at the marriage and the funeral, and yet touch not, taste not, handle not, the accursed thing.