Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1815-05-22
Oxford Moral Society.

To the Iashabitants Of the county Of Oxford.
WE, whose names are underwritten, were APP
pointed committee, by number of gentlemen
lately convened at Paris, to make an address thro
the medium of the newspapers printed at Portland
10 ali the inhabitants of this county who friend
ly to good order & wish to dscontnuance the prev
alence OF vice. The design OF our appointment
was to call the attention. and request the combined
assistance of all in this county who considerable
in every religious denomination and of both polit-
ical parties to aid ia attaining desirable end.
It was proposed that as many of the above desert
bed persons as could with any convenience should
be requested to assemble at Paris on the second
Wednesday of juno next AT tgo O'Clock p. vi. for
the purpose OF being organized into society," to be
denominated A moral Society for the county Of Or
ford ; the object of which should be to take meas
ures for suppressing the vices of profane cursing
and swearing, intemperance and violation of the
Lords day. We indulge the persuasion, that a
goodly number in this county have, for some time,
had their hearts panied when they have seen how
prevalent the above named vices are, and how ma
ny commit them not only without shame and with
out reinorse, but also to appearance without any
fear of punishment. We believe the laws of this
Commonwealth respecting these evils to be good,
ifduly observed; and one principal reason, in our
view, why so many violations OF them have prevail
ed is, because the friends of good order and of good
morals have not been more united and determined
in their endeavours TO prevent them. We are en-.
Outraged to give the invitation here expressed
from the good effects which have followed similar
measures in neighbourng county. In many in
stances we learn that offenders have been prosecu-
ted. the penalty of the law inflicted and, in this
way, a general restraint imposed on the commune
ty- And are persuaded, that the considerable
part of society with us were united IN the attempt
proposed the prospect OF success is such fully
TO encourage the trial. Transgressors are embol-
dened 10 repeat their crimes, because those whose
duty it is TO detect their guilt remiss and mac
tive. Is there not reason, therefore, why the
friends OF order and morals among us should awake
from lethargy, unite and make laudable endeav-
our TO accomplish the necessary reformation. We
believe that conscience. reason, the Judgment of
the considerable, the laws Of the land and, we may
add the revealed will of SOD, sPerove of the
measures here proposed. And if all these are on
onr side, should we make the attempt and fail we
need moi be ashamed Of our endeavoufs the cause
we nave espousad. If any feel disheartened be-
cause they may think that but few can be brought
TO act IN concert in such measures while the number
ofopPosers possibly being great may, TO human view,
render success unattainabe let such remember the
progress Of christianity which began to spread with
but few advocates and when il had to meet in ar
ray the hostility of wicked world. We have
strong hopes that The measures here proposed will
meet the appreciation Of all whose attention is now
requested, and that the number which viii assem-
bic at the time stated will be such as mutually to
animate the hearts of those who convene.
1t is expected that discourse, adapted to the
occasion, will be delivered at said meeting.
JUDA H DANA, LUTHER CARY, DANIEL STow-
ELL, ALLEN GREEDY, Ransom NORTON, EBES-
zzEa Pooa, Joan TRIPP, JOSHUA SouLE, DAN
TEL Hutchinson, JAMES WALKER, ALBION X.
PARgIs, JAMES STARR, Jun. CALVIN FARRER,
Cyrus HAMLIN, LEVI WHITMAN.
N. e. The Ministers and Teachers of the several
religious denominations throughout the county of
Oxford, are requested TO read this communication
to their churches and congregations week, at
lie re the time If the proposed meeting.