Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-08-23

M iH<eTeStinS ouuTcssTcCeWiy oeuveTcd
before the York County Temperance
Society, by Rev Jason Whitman. The
vivid picture drawn by the speaker, of
the ruinous effects Of parental example,
ON the minds Of children and youth, is
not, alas! fancy sketch, existing only
in the Imagination: but is q picture of
real life, near resembl ance to which, is
within the personal observation Of almost
every man and woman who may read Il.
But amid the desolation of feeling caus-
ed by the contemplation Of such pic
ture. there is cause for rejoicing that
there is yet bright spot to which we
can turn and see that the bad examples
set by parents are not universally follow
ed; that some children have grown up,
and are now growing up, to whom the
degradation of parents, the result Of in
temperate habits, have served, and still
serve, as beacop-light to warn them
from the rock Of pcrdition. Such chill
dren and youth should be cherished, hon
ored, and encouraged by all who feel it
to be truth, that "the worlds hope is
the rising generation. ."-[ Unitarian Mon
itor.
see those before me who are capable
Of excrting q great influence upoa socie-
ty-greater, perhaps, than any other
class or profession. To them, the men,
Bers Of the bar, give thanks for the in
terest they have already manifested in
this cause. To them appeal for still
further exertions. And TO you all, Of
every class, and of every occupation, of
every rank, to you all appeal in behalf
Of human virtue and human happiness.
To all would say, look we'll to your
selves and to the influence you may ex-
ert. To all l would say ''let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
faih" To nth would say, no man liveth
to himself! Consider, beseech you,
how vaiueless all other blessings will
prove, if this pestilencc is suffered 10 re-
main brooding over our land. Look up
on yonder inebriate, as he reels to and
frO through your streets or as he hes low
in the loathsomeness Of intox ieation, and
ell me / pray you, of what value to him
are the blessings of a free government
md Of civil liberty. Consider the inn
,ortance of the influence you may exert.
Suppose that your son, who has gone out
o engage in the active duties Of kfe, re-
urns at length to the parental roof the
'ictim Of mpcranco--ruineA in his
,roperty-ruined in his reputation--ruin-
ID in his moral strength-ruined in his d
lopes both for this world and the world c
o come--and as he,returns s~ys toyou, e
ather, my blood be upon your head e.
have been led astray by the fashions :. -
Society. Those fashions you never n
tempted to change for the better. In 81
~ youth, yea even in my childhood you Ii
aw me putting the fatal cup to my lips,
nd never checked me for 80 doing
ever warned mo Of the deadly poison at
he bottom, and Of my danger Of fdrinking
90 deep Nay more, did you not en- S
courage me in my course by occasional
y putting the same cup to your own Eps,
nd to the lips Of your neighbors9 1t is
rue that even inmy youth temperance
ociety was formed in our village. Bat
hen to you Hooked for an example, from
ou received my Impressions. i heard
rom your lips the keenest of ridicule and
he sevefest Of sarcasm upon those who
ecame its members, and upon the prin-
iplc Of total abstinence. heard from
ou the solemn pledge, given in presence S
f your friends and your family, and Of st
our God, for to him you profanely ap- ST
ealed, thatyou would neverpledge your B.
syto abstain. ] caNsht the words from a a.
our lips, and repeated them in all the y
rdor Of youth to my companions, and to a,
how the sincerity with which adopted le
lem rs my own, drank tho wore freely. 81
sut at length felt that was on dan =!
erous ground. ] became convinced u
lat the only hope for Inc was in the a Y
option of the principle Of total absti- nj
encs. longed to connect myself with OF
Temperance Society, that ! might be g.
ncircled with good influences and @er @
rengthcncd for the necessary struggle. y"
'ut then, how could depart from the nj
ledge had given to my young COM qu
anioRs2 How could become one of =
lat number whom had heard my faith
! ridicule; How could meet my faith :
r, and when heard him laugh al the
igoted and fanatical part which the
embers Of temperance societies we're
citing, say to him, "father, |, yous Son,
m acting the same bigoted and fanatical
art" | could not do it.. did not do
The consequence you know. Here
m l before you, ruined--a reproach
nd grief to my friends, a byword in
,ciety, burden to myself, miserable
eyopd the mower of tongue In fell even =