Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-20
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 90. 1881.
Great Temperance Meetmg.-On wednes

DAY evening last the Baltimore Temperance So
cisties held their anniversaries in the First Pres
byterian Church in this city. As it had been an
nounced that the Hon. Messrs. Writ and Ser
geant would address the meeting, the church was
crowded at an early hour. After tn Throne OF
Grace had been addressed, and the Reports Of
two Societies had been presented, a letter from
the Hon. Mr.. Writ was read. stating that sud-
den and severe indisposition had prevented him
giving his attendance, and bearing his testimony
10 cause with whose prosperity was most init
mately connected the happiness and salvation
of our country. The meeting were also inform
ed that a pressure Of public business had depriv-
ed them of the attendance of the Hon. MIR. Ser
geant Judge Brice, the Chairman, improved
the moment to read some important public docu-
ments and make some remarks A medical gen.
tleman present succeeded him with some Obser-
yations, to which the audience listened with much
interest: after which the Rev. MIR. Nevins intro
duced the Rev Mr.. Marsh, Temperance Agent
IN the city, who for about forty minutes address
ed the audience in manner calculated to i'm
press them deeply with the necessity and vast
importance Of the great Temperance Reforma-
ton. We cannot but think that, notwthstand-
ing the disappointment, the meeting was crafty
inc to the audience and beneficial to our city.
We subloin, with great pleasure, the letter of
MIR. Wirt-Ba!t. .4,a
BALrIMoRE, Wednesday morning,
December 18th, 1851.
tn The Rep. lillian NeuinS:
My DEAR Sir II had hoped that was about
TO escape the prevailing Influenza. but find nv
health so much impaired BY it, this morning, that
IL will not be in my power 10 attend the Tempe
rance meeting of this evening, as l proposed to
have done. In this and in all things, "His will
be- done, His holy will. howe'er it cross my own.'
should have been glad to nave been permitted
10 bear my humble testimony in the cause OF lem
perance. have been more than forty years a
close observer OF life and manners, in various
parts Of the United States, and know not the
evil that will bear moments comparison with
iutemperance. 1t is no exaggeration to say, as
has been often said, that this single cause, has
produced more vice. crime, poverty and wretch
edness in every form, than all other scourges COM
bine,. In it is scarcely possible to meet with mise
ry, in any shape in the country, which will not
he found On examination to have proceeded, d.
.rectly or indirectly, from the excessive use OF
ardent spirits. Want IS one OF its immediate
consequences. The sad spectacle OF starving
and destitute families. and of ignorant, half-na-
ked. vicious children, ought never to be present
cal in country like this, where the demand Tor
abonr is constant, the field unlimited. the sources
of supply inexhaustible, and where there is none
70 make US afraid: and it never would be pre-.
sented or very rarely, indeed, were 1t not tor the
d.solation brought upon families. by the general
use OF this deadly poison. 1t paralyses the arm,
the brain, the heart. All the best affections, all
the energies of the mind wlther under It's influ-
ence. The man becomes maniac and Is lock-
ed up in hospital, or imbrues his hands IN the
hl,od of his wife aud children. and is sent to the
galows or doomed to the Penitentiary, or 1t he
escones these consequences, he becomes a walk
m, pestilence on the earth, miserable IN himself
and loa,hsome 20 all Nho behold him. How Of
ten do we see too, whole families contaminated by
the vicious example of the parent-husbands,
wives. daughters and sons all drunkards and fu-
ries; sometimes wives numbering their husbands,
n others husbands their wives, and worst OF all,
if worse can be in such group OF horrors, chill.
dren numbering their parents
But below this grade Of crime, how much is
there of unseen and untold misery throughout our
otherwise happy land, proceeding from this fatal
cause aloae. l avn persuaded that ii we could
have statistical survey and report Of the affairs
of uuhappy families and individuals. with the
causes of their misery annexed, should find
nine cases out of ten, if not in still greater pro-
portion, resulting from the use Of ardent spirits
alone. With this conviction. which seems to
have become universal among rejecting men,
the apathy shown to the continuance OF the evil
can only be ascrbed to the circumstance that the
mischief though verbally admitted, is not seen
and felt in all its enormity. II some fatal plaques
of contagious character, were imported into our
country and had commenced its ravages in our
cities, we should see the most prompt and vigor-
Gus measures at once adopted to repress and ex-
tinguish it; but what are the most fearful plague
thai ever carried death and havOck i'm their train
through the eastern countries, compared with
tins: They are only oe casiona. tins is perennial
They are coa6ned by climates or place; this ma
,ady;s of all climates and all times and places
They kill the BODY at once, this consumes both
body and soul by lingering and dreadful death,
involving the dearest connexions In the vortex oil