The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-02

Hesotbro hat u ne recommended TO the sever
nj Town Temperance Societies in this Dlstric, N
endeavor 10 procure addresses 10 be delivered be-
tore them; and meetings in the several Schoo,
DISTRICTS, IN their respective towns TO he attended
by Committees of the Society, and that ,hnsa
meetings be Immediately followed bv efforts to
obtain the signatures of individuals to The Cousti
tuition at the Temperance Society
RsSOioed. That the mex; meeting Of tbjs Sos;o,,.
be held on the second : ed1csday OF AuJ,,st pcxii
a; Wor.hington's Hotel, in Worcester. d Thai
previous to that time, the respective Town Socic
ties be requested 10 report to the Secretar, IF ,b
Society, the result of the efforts contaminated in
the preceding resolutions
RESOLVED. That J. y Butler. + Washburn. and
n. ID. nster be committee To prepare and pro.
cure to be published in the newspapers an accoun,
nf this meeting, and Of the reports made to it, as
far as may be practicable
meeting Of Delegates from thu Temperance
Societies in Millbury, Grafton, Upon, Milford.
Mendon Northbrldge, Sutton, Oxford, Dudley,
webster. Douglas aud Uxbrdge was appointed to
be held at Lyman Tatt's Hotel in Northbrdgc, on
Friday, May ii, at II o'clock, A. NJ.
The following is the Report of the Executive
Committee of the Worcester Temperance Socie-
ty, above alluded to;
The Executive Committee of the Worcester
Temperance Society beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing Report, in relation TO the efforts made for
promoting Temperance in the town Of Worcester
during the past year.
Previous to the meeting of the District Society.
held in this town the last spring, there was no
Temperance Society in this town except tha,Iof the
First Parish, then reported consisting Of one
hundred and ten members, and in flourshing con
dition. Immediately subsequent to that meeting.
arrangements were made for organizing Socie-
~ to embrace all within the town, who were
willing to adopt the principle and give the pledge
of total abstinence from all use of ardent spirits
dCin rba
cester Temperance Society accordingly organ
lied, constitution adopted, ofiic RS chosen and
committees appointed in each school district to
obtain members. BY the constitution the annual
meeting was to be holden on the third "Wednesday
in October, and, previous to the meeting last DC
tober. the Executive Committee addressed a cir
cular to the several gentlemen who had acted as
committees in the School Districts, embracing
series Of inquiries to which answers were very
generally obtained. These, with other inforrna-
ton, were embouied in Report, presented at that
Meeting and published in the newspapers of the
town. To that report the Committee would refer
for many interesting facts in regard to the pros
poets Of the Temperance reformation, and the
amount and cost of ardent spirits sold and consum-
ed in the town. The number Of members was at
that time, about -Four Hundred.
During the remainder of the autumn and winter
no general exertions we're made in iaver of the
cause But the Committee did not forget the i'm.
portance of the object of the Society nor the du-
ties which their situation devoycd upon them,
and IS soon as they became possessed of the cir
cular which was published and circulated by the
New York State Temperance Society, they re-
solved that they would distribute a copy OF it to
every family in the town, and attempt to arouse
the attention of the people TO the subject. They
procured a sufficient number Of copies to be print
ed, adding few remarks, and some extracts from
the report alluded to- and employed an agent to
distribute them-a copy to each family. The
week alter this was done, they obtained the serv-
ces of the Rev. Mr. li;ldreth Of Gloucester, Agent
OF the Massachusetts Society for suppressing In
temperance. He delivernd on Tuesday and Wed
nesday, March 18th and 18th. three very able in
structive and Interesting Lectures, to large and at
tentlvc audiences and large accession was gained
TO the numbers of the Society. On Friday and
Saturday Evenings, March 10th and 18th, meet
ing was held IN each School District at which a
committee of the Society were present TO offer
such remarks and present such considerations as
the occasion seemed to demand. In several Dis
trcts these meetings were repeated two weeks af
forwards. by these means the numbers were still
enlarged. 1t was then arranged that each clergy
man and layman from another Parish, should be
committee to call upon all the families in the
Centre District, each clergyman in his own Parish
TO receive the names OF any who might be willing
to lend their influence in that way to the cause
and had not previously done it. These calls have
been generally made and the result has been in
Soou ucSfee satisfactory. Inc COmmttee have
reason 10 think that an impulse has been given by
these measures, particularly the meetings in the
Districts and the distribution of the circular to the
cause OF Temperance in the town. which will be
felt In years to come. 1t has been their endeavor
to have the subject presented iairlv and canddy
to their fellow citizens. They wished that there
should be no Disgusting of the evils of intemper-
ance-no Disgusting Of what they believe to be
evils Of what is called moderate drinking, or of
what they believe to be the only effectua remedy
for them, and at the same time they have intended
that no invidious should be cast upon any
individuals. Their sole object has been to induce
their fellow citizens to view the subject in the
possession of facts and reasonings to enable them
TO form correct opinion of its Importance and of
their consequent duties They will not say that
what they aimed at has been accomplished. but
they cannot doubt that the public mind here has
been brought to consideration of the subject and
that, however some may dlsapprove Of Temper
ancc Societies and their proceedings even they in
many instances are benefited by them. The num-
Der who have given the pledge that they will not
use ardent spirits article Of diet, or refresh
ment or an aid to labor, has been more than doub-
led. The number of members whose names are
now borne on the books of the Society amounts to
ONE THOUSAND.
Since the establishment of the Society it is be-
lieved very few have, in any instance, dlsregarded
the pledge of total abstinence. The Society en-
braces both sexes and all ages from the gray haired
man OF seventy TO the youth Of twelve or fifteen
The majority, however, are Of middle age. Their
example, and influence must be felt-t cannot be
otherwlse-and it is confidently hoped and believed
that The truth, when told in regard to the consump-
ton Of ardent spirits in Worcester, will not again
seem so very extravagant as to induce any one to
call it libel upon the town. There is reason to
hope that the dealers in the article will that it
is not right, well admit, several do, that it
is not for their interest present the cup to their
neighbours lips by Offering to sell it. One extensive
dealer has already rel;nquished the traffic, and
than one half of the retail traders in town are
not engaged in it Could they all be induced to
relinqush that branch of business it is beved the
effect of their example would be felt throughout
the county.
The Committee beg leave to say, in conclusion
that what has been accomplished should cheer all
the friends of Temperance and rouse them to re-
newed exertions. The warfare they wage is in
deed one of determination but, mike other war
fare it must be conducted as il has been in spirit
of benevolence and mercy, and not Of wrath and
prescription.
BY order Of the Executive Committee
ALFRED DWIGHT FOSTER, President.
Worcester, April &c, 1882.
NJ Temperance Societies can be supplied with
the National Circular at the rate Of Sl1 per lUt O,
at DoRR g. HowLANDs.
FoR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
At the Annual Meeting of the Worcester Ag--
cultural Society. on the 18th day Of April, 1882,
the following Officers were elected for the cur
rent year, viz -
Lew LScoLN, President.
AARON TUFTS, LIST Vice President.
SILAs HOLMAN, Cd Vice President.