The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-14


WORCESTER TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
The Executive Committee Of the Worcester
Temperance Society, in presenting their Annual
Report propose TO do little more than to state
such facts IN relation TO the cause of Temperance
i9 this town as they have been able collect. II
may be proper, however, first to mention how The
Committee have asccrtaned what the facts are.
Circular Letter, containing a series OF questions
was addressed to one gentleman in each School
District except the Centre. These gentlemen II,
either from personal know ledge or from enquiry
|lnswe. ed these letters and, in the Centre District
|smiBr inv, stgations were made by members of the
Committee. The results the facts to be stated
|Thc amount of Ardent Spirits sold during the year
ending the first day of August last, by Retailers
Is "a 5l3 gallons, and the amount sold during the
anne time by our Tavern Keepers is 4545 gallons,
making aggregate of go ,0SS gallons, exceeding
he stated in he report of last year to have
een sold curing the wear previous, by 1898 gallons
rom which it appears that the Spirit trace in town
as brisk 1t before this Society was organ
zed. Yet the Committee believe that public SEN
ment has been so much effected by the exertlons
made here, as to diminish, very materially, the
mount OF Ardent Spirits consumed within the
units Of the town. According TO the best estimate
/ hcy have been able to make. nearly one half of
The amount sold in the town is consumed by inhab-
4tants of other places. But if we take II 1856 gal
ons as the amount consumed by them and this is
probably near the truth. we shall still have the
fge amount of Ia ,702 lions TO be consumed b. our
wn citizens, equal to about 8 IA gallons to each
Individual without distinction of age. Deduct from
he whole population all who abstain wholly from
4 he of Ardent Spirits, whether from prime iple
+ age and divide the amount consumed among The
emander, and the quantity consumed by each is
lrce Deduct from the whole amount consumed
he probable amount drank by the " moderate drink
RS y and the quantity thus showed 10 be consumed
" the habitualiy Incorporate is enormous.
4 1t is not supposed that confirmed drinkers have
rank at all less than formerly except in very
ew instances The great good which we trust the
Society has accompl shed is in preventing others
rom heconin g confirmed drinkers, and showing
hat all the business of life can be better done
itaout Than with the use Of Ardent Spirits. In
rnof Of this may be stated that the Society con-
lists of more than 1000 members; that during the
,ast year los families within the knowledge Of the
Committee ar of hose Cf whom they have sought in
lrmaiOn have not furnished Ardent Spirits for their
csIdent members; that 81 farms have been carried
4 N aud II buildings raised without their use: that
brick Yards have been carried on without any
pirit being furnished to the men or permitted To
h used by them, while under the control OF their
mploy crs that master Carpenters neither use
or urIi sh il for their men; that l}lacksmths. 3
nbinel Makers, Tailors, Watchmakers Hat
inishers Bookbirder's. Carriage Makers and
other Mechanics Shops, NIachnist aud Wire
Drawing Shop. Tallow-chandle', | Irvine and
vonIlcn Manufaclory, aud Paper Mil, are be-
cvcd to he who'll conducted without their use ;
hat a, the Red Mill Village, where there are a
;rst Mill Il Shop for cutting Dye-Stuff. Cutlery
Shop. Sash and Blind Maker aud Turner's Shop,
Punching Machine Shop. Engine for Turning
ran, Blacksmith Shop',2 Carpenters Shops, !
,Iothlcr and carding Shop, Wonllen Manuiacto-
and % flmllies, Ardcnt Spirits Is believed to be
iscd daily by only . persons, and o; the y families
q d. not furnish il for their resident members,
Ieio are facts enough to prove the utter useless
sss If Ardent Spirits as AN aid 10 labor and to en-
,uragc the Society 10 continued perseverance.
The greatest obstacle To the progress of Temper
,nrc is the facility with which Ardens are procur-
a, While men 0f responsibility will continue to
'cr them for sale, drunkards will abound in the
I'm nunity. The responsibility resting on the sell
ar ia tremendous MAY he well CONSIDER il.
Respectfully submitted by order Of the Commit
"a A. y. Fustpp.