Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-03-20
TEMPERANCE ANNIVERSARY.


The society convened at the town
hall, at half past six o'clock, and pro
ceeded to the Methodist church, where
the society was constituted. The pre-.
sldent took the chair.
The services we're introduced will
prayer by the Rev. N. Goertner, o.
the Lutheran church, after which an
anthem by the choir. The recording
secretary read the second annual re.
port of the society as follows:
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF the young mems Temperance societ,
Of Frederick county.
In presenting their second annual
report, the society deem it proper t.
sketch briefly, the time of the organiza.
ton of this society, from which it will
be seen that it has been in operation
but about ID months. Their first an
nual report made February Goth, 1898,
was presented after they had been or
gained only one month.
The young mems temperance socie-
ty of Frederick county, was formed,
January 24th, 1888, by a meeting OF
only 23 IN number, but consisting OF
the real and thorough going friends OF
temperance. The society chose as
the day Of their annual meeting, the
anniversary of the American Temper.
ance Society, the last Tuesday Of Fee
bruary. The first annual report made
at the celebration of the society exhib-
tied most encouraging result. The
number of members reported then,
were in Winchester 10S, Newtown
"a, total number of members 1872. In
presenting the present report the socie-
ty has great reason to be satisfied.
The present number Of members is
$50; of these Winchester affords about
$50, Newtown ~, other parts of the
county 58--although this number is
such as to be truly encouraging, get
the society still believe that had all the
copies of the constitution which were
sent out for circulation to obtain Nom
bers been returned, that we could rate
our present number at near 800. The
county of Frederick is very large, and
a system Of active exertions in obtain.
ing members has not yet been fully es.
tablished-but the society trusts, that
b fore third anniversary they will be
able to number every young man of en-
ergy and decision of character on the
side Of patriotism and morality. But
although the society has great reason
to believe that mitch good has been
effected, by their organization, get,
there is still much, rery much to be
done. The public mind is not yet suf
ficiently aroused to all the evils which
attend the use, sale and manufacture
of ardent spirits. If, as is believed,
it can now be almost demonstrated
that nine tenths of the misery, poverty,
vice and crime which exists in any
community, may be traced, directly,
or indirectly, to the use of this one ar
ticle in its various forms, hoU obtuse
must be the blindness, hon hardened
must be the heart of those individuals,
who still continue to manufacture and
yend, who turn a deaf ear to the wi
dow's cry, and the orphans wall, which
daily ascend to the throne of God as a
testimony, accusing them as the au-
thors Of all their suffering. Nor is
the responsibility less of those, who
oppose all the efforts which are max
ing to promote complete temperance
in our county and town. We would in
the spirit Of charity hope that they sin
because they know not what they do.
But we cannot in truth offer even this
paIliation, for thanks to the noble spir-
it's who lead the van of the great bat
tie which temperance is now waging
against intemperance and vice, such is
the flood of light which has been shed
in a full blaze over the whole of this
country, penetrating every town, and
village and almost every cottage, that
the excuse of ignorance poor as IL as
can no longer be urged. No, they are
now placed in their true situation be.
fore the bar of their long suffering and
aroused fellow citizens. Two million,
of freemen have tried and condemned
them. The sale, manufacture and use
of ardent spirits are condemned by thi:
large jury with voice which rings OF
this anniversary from the banks of the
St. Lawrence to the shores of Floridt
and is even re-echoed back from the
time honored towers of Europe.
The whole country is aroused, a
reused at last to the true nature of th'
| evil, which like the plaques of Egypt
has penetrated into the house of ricl
aud lowly, prostraung he most tower
ing intellect. and smiling the first borl
throughout the land. The people ar
every where, forming themselves int
associations for self protection, an
they would, ere this, have driven TIN
demon from ravaging this favored coun
TRY, were they not foiled, in their nc
Bile efforts, by the traitors to the caus
of suffering humanity, who are i