The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-05-19 00:00:00

STICIMAND TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

The ennireroary of this Society ine celebrated on
Wednesday the 12th inst., by a public dirommtration
and tea. The weather at mid-day was anything but
promising, which no doubt deterred many frands from
distance being preeent. In the afternoon • processioa
was formed, beaded by the Whiteharsh brass band,
and proceeded through the village, and then to Hough-
ton and back. Tea was partaken of by about 140
persons, including the juveniles belonging to the
Band of Hope, in a barn, kindly granted for the
occasion by Mrs. Wiltshire And Mr. Rosither, of
Okeford. Various mottoes, the letters formed With
dada, were bung from the walls, and evergreens Were
suspended from the roof of the barn, to which were
attached hunches of dowers. The provisions wars
excellent, and we do nor" think that even a sound"
reached no of dissatisfaction. In no village in Dorset-
shire bas the adoption of total abstinence principles had
• more blessed effect than in thickland, for whereas
three or four year. ego no utterly depraved and quarrel.
some were many in the village through strong drink,
that • pollee-constable had often a narrow chance for
his life; at the present time his office is one of comparative
ease and quite.
The public meeting comnienced at half.past six, Mr.
Gatehouse, in the unaoidable &Menai of Mr. Stainer,
taking the chair. nil gentleman sang several tem-
perance melodies to a very pleasing mather, and coo-
tributat greatly to the pleasures of the meeting:
The CHAIRMAN in his introductory address impressed
the great pleasure he felt in being present, and seeing
no unsay advocates of the good OPAWC They had had
many up. and downs sines they last met together, bathe
wasexesedingly sled to dad that the came of teetotalism
was in a flourishing condition in that village. He
affectionately urged upon all present not only to try
the eyeless and sign the pledge, but to determine to
stead by the principles they professed. As he should have
the opportunity of again addressing them, lee would
now all upon their old friend—Mr. Elfurd.
Mr. Ehroati, in to amusing and earnest speech,
reviewed the various inducements held out to abstainers
to break their pledge. Only a day or two previous a
person had told him lie thought he would la the bettor
of by • little drink, as he did not look so well as be had
formerly. Why the man was completely
for he never enjoyed better health M hie life. There
had been more harrioas, unity and love in fitickland
eines the temperance moiety had been established than
ever they had before. When they used to drink in •
very short time A quarrel AMOS, and the services of that
gentleman at the door (pointing to a policeman)
were celled for; but now instead of spending their
money ía the public bows, and leaving their wives
and children to starve, they remained at their work,
and those homes which formerly were the abodes of
misery were now those of happiness and pease. Though
, he himself had Dever goes to the same utast in drink.
lag as others had done, yet be had ream to blase God
he became s teetotaler. iiThe'eseee there bed been begun in
much faiblenees, end it ma with much opposition.
They were scorned at and despised, but they had lived
to see the day when instead of receiving this treatment,
they were treated with respect, and they numbered in
thickland and the adjutant hamlets between 70 and 80
pledged numbers. The speaker then alluded to the
goad which would eventually miss from the formation
of the Band of Hopei and the delight which he mid others
felt whilst hearing them sing. He then urged upon
all those present to adopt the temperance principle be
was sure they would never regret I He never lied;and
hoped ever to remain one. (Load cheers.)
Mr. TacruhAn, of Shaftesbury, in advocating the
cause, said: He was very pleased to meet them in that
humble building, for though humble it reminded him
of those places where the early Christians were obliged
meet—theto desert places and catacombs of ancient
Rome. Front these places resounded far and wide the
glorious truths of rtheon, Therefore humble places
ought not to be despised h gave him very great plea.
sure to know that what would be said that evening
would Lin circulated throughout the country, end he "w-
-aidered the Wishing threw and espesiany testethien,
had much came for grartaid• thth thous restrictione
which mi long were • bar to the diffusion of knowledge
had been removed, and that by means of • cheap pram
every poor man could be made acquainted with what
was passing around him. And now as regarded tee-
totalism be felt great pleasure in being permitted to
advocate the came in Wickland, and he should go home
amply rewarded if by what he said he was the Metro
meat in causing even one who hail suffered from the
effects of the drunkard's drink to give it up. Let them
suppose the ease of a traveller on one of those high
mountains, the Alps, who on • beautiful morning is
to make the ascent of one of the paean. Every.
tempted &mind him Is fair and beautiful, and he hatene
on Wiry with spirits elated by the scene. The morning
masa and he prererroto demend ; while deluge:indium
mist suddenly oomes on, and increases so rapidly that he
cannot iambi' way before him. What would he dole mei
as extremity? If he was • wise man be would wrap hie
garments around him, and make himself as comfortable as
possible under the circumetances. Now, if when be
awoke in the morning he saw before him a dreadful abyss
into which, had he gone forward on the preceding night
he mast have fallen, would he not, after thanking God
for his preserving care, justly have attributed his
deliverance to hie staying, and considering what In. had
better do before he went on farther. fro it is with
those wbo are taking the drunkard's drink. Before
them is • prediples, and we have it given as a padtive
fact that many thousands yearly are swallowed up in
the abyss of intemperance. One of the most valuable
things a man multi do for himself was to ask himself
=The speaker then addressed his remarks to
les present. Teetotalism was of all things i-
mmense. question. Who suffered most by intetnper-
anal ?—women. Who were the wont to reclaim when
given over to habits of intensperamel—women. He
bad known many men reaathied, but not one woman;
and therefore it was especially to the* totem.f to become
teetotalers. It had been mid teetotakire were not
infallible. Indeed, they were not; but at the same time
while they were faithful to their pledge they were safe.
The speaker alroded to the case of MO who was
persuaded to take same drink, and this man's came was
used as an argument 'gained teetotalism. Bat it was
a very unfair now. As mon as. man took these liquon
he was no longer a teetotaler. But be for one could
never rejoice is • brother's downfall. and it was iodised
an evidence of an unchristian spirit to do so. (Cliesta.)
Thar as teetotaler, pitied such, and would to the utmost
of their power endeavour to reclaim them. Boum re-
marks had been nada in • local paper about the way he
spoke of the vendors of these drinks, but be know an
many instances of the unfeeling way they ached to •
man when he was the worse for drink that he was from
-
pelted thus to speak of them. As an imam* of then
utter indifference to the claims cif the Sabbath. the
speaker related a conversation be bad with • brewer
in 13haftethury. who in reply te some thasths be made
on the evil influence of hie trade int bitthe brewer's/
children, replied, "that V the Aetna tau had cetiod,
end the parson reedy with his book ehould a barrel of
bear be required to be got ready ter • emtemer be
wadi abhor do it himself, or Weer sea to do it,
,1 Mr. Tesalea iies referred be She Ponsistir• 1, and
I ththelnall hie spied= that if the legiithire mew not
I MOM to the Wet and dispridesale appeal sada to
lark la the ammo el theesie•ehairwield be made
ovine nsfairnme et Illbe ober kir the loss
Menered, end sztrave i
nenes by tbs thinking
oostoms, ea they would be obmliged to Bahia la rt.
speaker, after giving several amh=reimi=sessee-
dotes, concluded by recitals, a on
sympathy, at the same time eeleghlitlisem =t !es
those in that village, who in spite ef
and contempt bad so nobly syrapaeldoid with their
suffering fallow-sass as no join the tesspeesaoe ranks.
Be, VLIMINAN, Temparmise thea ad.
dressed the meeting, It gave him soul plemes to SA.
from the eonvons be had hod midi way of task
hailibal now
bellintbamtalmta:ithaeramiliveryhr 4"l"mnehoarlatiallectkindthrrardarkhdea liFbou H.
ringi.
among them. He had been • teetotaler for Id yaw.
and be blamed the day he was Wooed to bosoms NMI
The instructions and *dries be reesived free a
school teacher, and his made manna niliiinl4lll.llb
been the means of inducing him to be the. /be ermalker
than referred to the evils maned by the drinking
miskiwn,and their hindrance to the spread at Christianity,
and their tendesey to destroy both body and Pent rt,
Intim( the emotion shown by the late Dr. Cadman,
whoa he saw a child dead ia the Grasanarked of "dia.
burgh, eamed by the neglect of its drri kb
s.„ lin%areols•
& ewes lilt, these said to sea e all el ye-
duty. The theausade of drunkards in the Loth w
minty eadered by tibia wires and children, elir
to then to do their duty. The spiels, wbe
intoslenting Mahe, had bar le* at sem eali sr
hotly the reieldng wpm bad peeled, allay:we
seeundlied v ely—"Ds year dais.
was • priadpia milt wall limb Y