Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-02
COMMUNICATED.
TEMPERANCE REPORT.

The Executive Committee Of the Alexandria
temperance Society, at the close Of the year for
which they were appointed TO manage its affairs,
respectfully present to it the following report:
For long time after their appointment in De.
csmoer last, but little progress was apparently
made in the cause Of Temperance within our IL
rnits, the addition 10 our numbers being very
small The means heretofore principally relied
on. public addresses, seemed to have nearly lost
their effect; aud the Committee began To fear
that the excellent spirit in which the Society ORR
ginated was fast dying away. During the exis-
fence however, of the Epidemic Cholera among us,
1t occurred to them that the fact that the sptead
of the dreadful disease was mainly occaslOned by
intemperance. aud the imDrudencies OF which 1t
IS the parent, If property made use OF IN behalf
Of temperance, would not be without effect
They accordingly requested the Rev. MIR. Reese
20 deliver an address. based principally on that
fact. at the quarterly meeting OF the Society
in September last. He consented; and the result
Of the zeal and ability with which he treated the
important and interesting topic, was the addition
Of ll6 members to the Society on that occasion.
In looking around them for the causes which
restrained the spread of temperance in our town,
the attention of the Committee was naturally di-
rected to the very large number of houses licens-
ed 10 sell spirituuus liquors to b. drunk 10 the
house: Of these, there no less than 25 To our
population Of about 5000, exclusive Of the ma
nv who evade the law, and sell without license
This number, of course, includes none OF those
who sell in small quantities liquors to be taken
from their houses. Sensible that these establish.
ments, by presenting opportunities OF compare,
lively secret indulgence in intemperance, and
being daily resOrted to BY many Of our youth,
and others whose standing and maturer years en-.
title US TO expect better example tom them,
were the most formidable obstacles with which
we had to contend. the Committee resolved to ap-
ply for help to the Circuit Court OF the county,
who have jurisdiction over the subject. They
did so, and their application has resulted in the
adoption by Spe court OF new regulations, IN
tended to operate hereafter, whenever the subject
OF renewing licenses comes before 1t, TO the dlmi
mutton "f tbeir number. as far as possible.
The Society numbered, at the time Of the ap
pointment of your Committee, lis, since when
there have been added at different times 1857
making IN all sos. The Committee are much
gratfed at this increase; but they canno, forbear
remarking lha; it falls short of the average in,
crease in the country generally; and that it be
comes, therefore. those who have p edged them
selves To the work among Us, 20 renew and increase
their exeriions, 1t is tn be hoped that our
cent acquisition in number will prove, also, an
acquisition of strength and zeal in the cause;
and that our new members, as well as the. Older
ones, are sensible that those who join temperance
societies have mighty work to perform-an ar
duous Warfare to carry on--nothing less than to
redeem our country from vice the most deeply
rooted. the most general, and the most des,ruc.
tive, 10 accomplishing which they must eneoun-
ter and overcome all those prejudices and obsta.
cles which usually and naturally attend the pro-
sress of every moral reformation
Hitherto the eifmts of the friends Of temper.
ance have been principally directed to the dimi-
mutton of the number Of consumers Of ardent spi.
rts-to the reclaimirg OF drunkards, and the
protecting the vet temperate from the seductions
to intenpe,ance which every where present them.
selves. Their efforts IN this branch of their du.
~ have been great and unceasiug. They have
succeeded, inthe face of all opposition from is.
norance, cupidi;y, and prejudice, in proving, be.
yond refutatlon or doubt, that ardent spirit, as a
drink. is neither needfu nor useful, in the pre-
servaton ar promotion OF either health, strength.
or Comfurt.in any event under an circumstances
whatever;that II is poison which Injuries both the
body s. the mind, which effect results as we'll from
the kind as The quantity Of the liquor that NAV
be drunk. and from its being so injurious in its
nature, thar It cannot be taken without harm;-
that il impars aud often destroys reason;-that
it lessons tue power OF motives to do right, aud
increases the power OF motives to do wrong;-
tina, il tends TO bring all who use it to a prena-
ture grave. and to usher those who understand IFS
nature and effects, and yet continue to drink It,
or TO furnish IT as a drink to others, into mise
rable eternity These momentous conclusions
thew have established by numerous aud irrefra-
gable facts and arguments, which have been pow.
erfullv and persevernsy urged in every form of
persuasion. These labors have been. and con-
tinue to be crowned with the most gratifying. the
most unexampIed success. Thousands of drunk.
ards have been rescued from the very jaws of
the monster. aud hundreds of thousands Of others,
fenced round BY the protecting pale of the Ten.
perance Society, are placed beyond his reach.
Great as has been the success of the Temper.
ance cause, It's friends must yet, with grief, con.
fess, that, unless they can succeed in abolishing
the traffic in ardent spirits, many years must
slapse before the reformation will be completes;
indeed, it is doubtful whether. under existing
circumstances, it will advance much beyond the !
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