Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-12-01

rally prevailing in all our taverns and stores,
proves the important fact that tipplers and
tavern--hunters have greatly diminished.
These symptoms of reform are exceedingly
gratifying and with view still further to
encourage the cause of reformation thus
happily begun, the Society believes no apollo
gy to be necessary when it proposes to every
member of the community the following in
iquiries -
Are not ardent spirits, even temporarily
used, injurious to health? Is not the dam
ger so great, if used at all, of ultimate ex-
cess, that it is wiser and better wholly to
abstain Were not all drunkards once tenn
perate drinkers? Does not vast proper
ton of those who use them daily from their
youth, eventually become Incorporate +? Do
not propriety ana prudence dictate that, at
funerals,at civil and military elections, at So
cial parties, and on many other publick meet
ings and occasions, their use ought to be
entirely dispensed with Ought not the
practice of giving them to children and
youths to be wholly discountenanced and
abandoned? Is not the practice of gaming
for them pregnant with much mischief
Would not labouring men do as much work,
feel better, and enjoy more without them
than they now do? Does not their ex-
cessive use produce more poverty, calamity,
suffering, and crime than all other vices
Let each one soberly and seriously consider
these questions, and we trust the evidence
| of his answers will be seen by strict con-
liormity to the rules of our Constitution. IF
the moderate use of spirits lays the founda-
of intemperance, and intemperance be pro-
ductive of such awful consequences, why will
you sanction their use /? Let not the shack
les Of bad custom any longer bind you to a
course or habit, perilous in its progress, fatal
in its end Put off the old, and put on the
new, man. Unite your exertions with those
whose sole aim is to improve the moral and
religious character of man, promote his hap
piness, advance the best interests of society,
and "your children, and your chidren's chill
dren, will rise up and call you blessed"
CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION FORM.
EDIN LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS,
FOR PROMOTING TEMPERANCE.
ART. l. The Association shall be called
The Society in Lancaster for the promotion
of Temperance.
ART. 2. The term of admission shall be
fifty cents. On the receipt of this the Sec
Rotary shall record the individual paying the
same member of the Society.
! ART. g. On the second Thursday of No
vember in each year the annual meeting
shall be holden; at which President,
Secretary, who shall also do the duty of
Treasurer, and five Directors shall be chos-
on RI mo M oa tho concoroc IF tho Soo;o+r
and devise all suitable means for the accom-
plishment of its object. The President and
Secretary shall, ex oficio, be Of the board.
ART. A. For the more effectual promotion
of temperance there shall be quarterly
meeting of the Board of Directors on the
first Monday in the month. Their first meet
ing shall be in January, 1880, at the hour
and place which they shall appoint If in
their opinion tits at any time expedient, they
shall call special meetings of the Society.
ART. 5. 1t shall be the duty of the board
to note all fragrant violations of the laws of
temperance, and to use legal or other means
for their prevention.
ART. 6. 1t shall be the duty of the Sec
rotary to keep fair record of the proceed
ings of the Board of Directors, and of the
Society to preserve regular account of
all monies and to appropriate them under
direction of the Board.
ART.7. The members of the Society shall
consider themselves solemnly pledged to
set an uniform example of temperance to
do all in their power to reform the intemper-
ate; to extirpate the idea that the Offering
of ardent spirits on common occasions and
at social parties is token Of hospitality;
to encourage the entire disuse of ardent
spirits at funerals; to impress the rising
generation with the alarming evils of ex-
cess, and the danger Of yielding to the first
cravings OF appetite to use proper means to
persuade all classes in the community to alb
stain from the immederate use of spirits; to
discourage the use of intoxicating liquors at
municipal and military meetings and cleo
tons; to discountenance the establishment
of bowling alleys, and the practice of every
species of gambling; and to do all which
prudence, desire for the safety, interest,
and virtue of individuals, concern for do
mestick peace and prosperity, zeal for the
publick good, and reverence for the laws
and threatenings of the christian religion
require, to check and abolish the vice of
Eintemperance.
Arts. At each annual meeting there
shall be an address publickly delivered by
some person appointed by the Directors, and
they shall make on that day report of the
state and prospects of the Society.
Art. 9. Alterations may be made in this
Constitution by vote of two thirds of the
members present.