The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-24 00:00:00

NATIONAL TEMPERANCE SOCIEPY.

Thumday evening. the annual meeting of thisimeiety
took place at Exeter Hall, and was very numerously at-
tended.
The Rev. W. W. Rost ssos, incumbent of Christ Church,
Chet Nes, presided, and there were on the platform, Mr. E.
Hepworth, M.P., Mr. Joseph Sturge, Mr. Edmund Fry, t
Mr. Elihu Burritt, the Rev. T. Spencer, the Rev. Dr. I
Burn, Mr. J. S. Buckingham. l)e. Oxley, Mr. W. 11.
Baker, Mr. T. A. llinus' Dr. Lovell, Mr. NN • Janson, the
Rev. 11. Garnett, of the United States, Mr. 11. Greeley, of
New York, the lie,. G. W. Wen e, Mr. E. Smith, of
Sheffield, Mr. Joseph Clark, of Southampton, the Rev. IL
l'areons, ite., de.
After the rending of a portion of scripture and prayer,
The CHAIRMAN said he had been a member of the
Temperance Society upwards of ten years, and had taken
what was called the "long pledge." (Cheers.) He thought
it inconsistent to declare his belief that alcoholic beverages
were noxious, anal yet offer them to his friends. He waa,
therefore, a consistent teetotaller; he had, however, found
it necessary to take spirituous liquors u a medicine.
(Ilear, hear.) lie regretted that this and kindred
societies were not better supported. If every in-
dividual in the kingdom would abstain for one year
from intoxicating drinks, the saving would be sufficient to
provide every poor family in the country with Bibles.
It was a disgrace to this country, that while in the past
half century only 401 million had been expended or, sending
the gospel to the heathen, nearly 60 millions was yearly
wasted in intoxicating drinits. (Hear.)
- -

The Rev. T. SPWSCER, the secretary, stated that a
letter had been received from Lord Ashley, M.l'., express-
ing his regret that, owing to an engagement in the House
of Commons, he could not attend the meeting. A similar
letter had been received from Mr. Cobden, M.P., excusing
his attendance on the same ground, and expressing his
belief that the temperance movement was eminently calcu-
lated to promote Ow weifare of society.
Mr. NEWCOME read a report, from which it appeared
that the expenditure of the society hail receded its income
by about Pit Overtures had been made towards a union
with the lixet. ehall coonneittee, under whose auspices •
series of monthly meetings hall been held, which had been
of great service to the cause; but without success. In
March the org inoitioon of the society hat been changed, by
the appointmo ,d of a new committee, whose object would
be to strength+. the influence of the society by all means
in their power. The committee referred with pleasure to
the declaration signed by 2,000 medical practitioner., in-
cluding physicians to the Queen and Prince Albert, and
other praetitione.r+ of emininne, expressing their
belief that abstinence from alcoholic drinks multi not be: in-
jurious to any one. In the navy, not only had the
amount of spirits used doer, used, but some saluable
information on th..object had ben diffused. Intemper-
ance stood .gn atlj the way of the success of emigrants,
esperially those too c tries when. intooxieating liquors were
cheap. Iles, who could not abstain from them had much
better stay at home. The cause of temperance was a power-
ful auxiliary to that of education; fur the children of
drunkards could not poesibly receive their due share of in-
struction. (Har, hoar.) .S reinspect of the society's
operations afforded al I out grounds fn. congratulation.
Amongst onho r elso tiring signs of the times was the exclu-
sion of beer, woo s, amt spirit+ from the refreshment rooms
of the Ethiloitiono. ((•heers.) The financial statement
showed an aircn•-fate reVt ipt of .1134:. 13.. I Id., and an ex-
penditure of , h. Urr un etr• is Or 511.
Mr. W. R. RAN Llt moved the adoption of the report.
Moe was emi, used that ouch was OW truth of teetotal prin-
ciples that if all ontanisationi fur tin it support was put down
to-morrow, the principles would make no less progress.
Mr. LI/NI FltY sexemol.+l the resolution. The re-
port was valualole, showing that much hail been dome in
the way of rt,rtle and prevention. in the past year. It wan
also lull of encouragement, a+ indicating the means by
which mankind at Liege might be redeemed front the de•
'lasing slavery of intoxicating drinks. The drinking habits
of the country were nothing less than slavery ; the hues and
footing. oof our workshops fointol an instance of this ; but
its efforts wen• traceable is all classes of society. Row
Was emancipation front this slavery to be tr.. +I ? Ile the
wee pewee. which obtained the enaancipati 111 l of the negro
gases. The question must he taken up los the people them-
selves, and not left for the government or parliament to
settle. (Idew, hear.))
'the 1b.,. 11. NETT, a man of odour, was loudly
cheered on rising. Ile thought that the temperance rause
ought to be especially advocated in niference to the young :
kw too parent (world regard without antic ty the chances of his
children being drawn into the nowt. x formed by the drinking
euetoorns of society. Youth win especially liable to he en-
tangled by this temptation, and too much care could not be
used in 'wonting them against it. Philosophy, medicine,
and ...0 had all given their decision against interape-
PIM," were agreed as to it+ baneful effects ; still great
differences existed as to the best means of rolling hack the
fat d tide. Ile trusted the day was nut far distant when the
Cause would titular gut both sides of tin. Atlantic. (('beer..)
Mr. J. S. IiCC INCIIIAM void he rejoiced to follow
his coloured Irknol, whom lie hail met in his own country,
and had defend. ol agaiset the attacks of his countrymen,
who insist.' on the negroes being excluded from OUP of his
(Mr. IL's) leeture.. (Chien.) Su long as the United
States retained the blot of slat ery on their escutcheon, the
lustre of their stars and stripes would he dimmed. (Hear,
hear) Mr Fry had well compared intoxication to slavery;
but tho• latter evil, considering its extent, was nut so bed
as the fo iv.; for • slave, being so against his will, might
be a virtuous man and a t'hristian; hut thin could not be
said of a drunkard. 'the sufferings of the latter were• per-
haps greater than those of slaves. In point of extent,
while the-re were it or 10 million, of slaves in the world,
perhaps four times that number were the slaves of intem-
perance. (Rear, hear.) Ile anticipated much from the
new organization of the society ; the report was • must
excellent ate; he doubted not the society would make
great erupt.,in the ensuing year. Ile haul heard from
three Sneakers of the Rouse of Commons in succession, Mr.
Stainers Sutton, Mr. Abercrombie, end the present
Speaker, Mr. S. la•fevre, that they could not possibly go
through the entniniely laborious duties of their entice night
by night if they took any kind of stimulant dunnor the
week. Their regular practice was to take nothing hut
wate-r to dinner, and a mutton chop and tea in the
course of the evening. It was only on a Saturday that
they indulged in • glass of wine, if they thought
proper to do so. (Hear. hear.) Ile knew many minis-
ters who haul ahandomed the habit of taking any stimulus,
and found theousilvos all the better for it.
Mr. L. ILKYWOItTII, M.P., said that Mr. Buckingham
Nod rendered good service to the temperance cause when
be Ira. in parliament by the committee which he got ap-
pointed on that subject, the result of whose inquiry was
that lid,ooo premature deaths were annually caused by the
use of intoxio :ding drinks. It was now proved beyond
dispute that alcohol wan universelly injurious. The delu-
sion had long prevailed that there was something
good in it, and those who joined the abstinence
vans• thought they were making • sacrifice. Now they
knew that intoxicating drinks were nothing but poison,
Mi•elsie at all time,. and fatal in the long run. (lioir,
hear.) '1 heir moral effects were still more dreadful, as was
evident (nom the population of our gaols and hulks. Con-
sidering the &ilea-noon people had laboured under, and the
great aupotint of prejudice which the society had hail to en
counter. the progress it had already made was matter of
astomishment. In conclusion the hem. gentleman moved :

...
„That in looking upon the past efforts of the Temperance
Society. whil-t l'OnselOYs that as much has not been effected
as the sanguine lb.'s, of its friends might have led them to
anticipate, yet there is ample ruof of the powerful in-
fluence the temperance movement has exerted upon all
dames of society, both in enlightening public opinion as to
the elfeets of alcoholic liquors on the human frame and in
changing the habits of a considerable portion of the com-
munity.-
The Hon. 11. OREELY said that in the state of New
York 30 years ago scarce a man could be found who would
not take alehohol. Now, ha: did nut know a religious man,
either clergy roan or layout'', who took iutolicating shrinks;
it would he thought as great actin/nice ao any Oren imrno-
. rainy. (Cheers.) lout autumn, the state of Vermont came
to a resolution nut to tolerate the sale of rum in the state,
except at druggist's shops; and in none of the New
England states was the sale of alcoholic drinks tolerated.
(Items, hear.)
The Rev. Dr. lICRNS seconded the resolution. Re-
flecting on the universality of the drinking customs of *a-
ciety, he thought that the RUM,. of the temperance cause
was as great as any one could expect. More had been
done in other anantries than this—a, in the United States
and in the South Set Islands. In moue of the American
states the drinkiie.; customs had been literally abolished.
(hear, hear.) In this country thousands of dninkards had
been permanently reclaimed, and an impetus hod thus been
given to the rause of virtue and charity. All the great and
enlightened movements Of the day, those in favour of peace, •
the abolition of capital punishment, and freehold land so-
dens's. included great numbers of teetotallers amongst their
supporters. (Cheers., The opinions of medical men had
come generally round to the side of 'astatine:lse ; so had
those of many leading politicians, including that gnat ad-
vocate of the poor man's rights, Mr. Cobden. (Cheers.)
These were all cheering points in the retrospect. There
were others less gratifying. lle regretted that they had
not more bishops and dissenting ministers on their plat-
forms, and that there were man drinking supporters of
the peace and other movements. The keeper of the Bride-
psi-on had forwarded a note, in which he stated that
that prison might be closed but for the inguenee of drink.
(Cheers.)
The Rev. G. W. M•CREE movcd, " That it is highly de-
siroble to extend the sphere of the society's operations, by
hvituring the subject before persons who have hitherto paid
little attention to it; and as far as possible to lay before the
general reader the reasons which may be adduced in favour
of total abstinence front all intoxicating drinks. And to
this end, it is of great importance to make use of the public
presto; and both by London and provincial newspapers, as
the ordinary channel through which intelligent person, can
be narked, to make known the argontents and facts which
mar lead them to support this great movement.-
The Rev. Mr. MASON seconded the resulution.which. as
well as the preceding ones, was unanimously agreed to.
The proccodingo closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

Tilt: BRITISH luat:rm.—Yesterday and during
- the week the British Museum has been unusually crowded
• with visitors, a great portion of whom have ben foreigners
• and residents in the country. It may not be unseasonable
to r.sktate that the institution is now open till SeTCla 1.1.6.11:1L
Ili OW evening every week-day vscept Saturday,
•