The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-14
REMARKABLE MORAL REFoRMA


On Friday evening last public meeting was
held in St. Johns Church, N. Liberty street, by
society called the 'sWashington Temperance
Society," Its formation and unexampled sue
cess constitute one among the most remarkable
and interesting occurrences of the day. 1t APP
pears, that, about nine months ago, six or seven
nen, who had been in the habit of drinking, even
to intoxicahon, for long series of years, and
who had wasted their substance, brutalized them
selves, and injured their families, formed reso-
luton, while IN a dram shop, and amid the
tempting fumes Of the liquid poison, that had so
long palsisd their reason, that they would never
again touch, taste, or handle any intoxicating
drink These men at once formed themselves
into 'Etotal abstinence society" and, by per-
suasion, succeeded in getting few other noto-
Tious hard drinkers to join in with them. Once
week they held meetings, and at almost every
meeting new applicants for membership would
present themselves, anxious to secure the power
of social influence to aid them in doing what
they had so often tried to accomplish by Individual
resolution Soon the number of these reformed
drunksrds rose 10 fifty, and every additional
member increased the aggregate strength. If any
one wavered, it was at once seen, for the eyes of
each were upon his neighbor, and the uavering
one found higaself instantly supported and
brought back to his FIRST resolutions. By rapid
accsssions, the society continued to grow, and it
now numbers, nine months from the time of its
ouN ftUO hmm dred
er portion of them men, who, for years, had been
habitual drunkards
The public meeting on Friday night, was an
experience meeting ofthese men. The histories
given by many of them of the degradation and
misery to which they had been reduced, and of
the sufisrings to which their families had been
subjected, was truly affecting. 1t is wonderful,
how such body ofmen, by aggegating their NOR
al force, too weak in its individual strength to &C
eomplish any thing, have so thoroughly reform
ed themselves. Their motto is-''We cannot
fail"-and they say, ''if we touch not, taste not,
handle not, how can we ever again become
drunkards 20
1t is gratifying to know, that this society in
tSANS ioAAi4AS oNAAi1o4g 5OIACLiCS a4hOhS dpPIci-
tico boys After having reformed themselves,
the members now determine to strike at the very
root of the matter.
Keepers of drinking houses are becoming
alarmed at this righteous combination against
them. They are daily losing their best custom
ers; men whs, for years have wasted with them
nearly all their hard earnings Tho constant and
untiring activity Of the members, now wildly
conscious Of their former state of degradation,
and possessing hearts to feel for those who are
yet enslaved, causes them not to lose sight efany
of their old boon companions. These sought
cut and admoni.hed met on their way to the
tipping shops, and persuaded to attend its
meetings, and thus there isa constant and rapid
accession to the society The friends of temper
ance had almost ceased to hope for legislative
ton in the suppression Of traffic in ardent spirits
when this new light broke upon them. OF the
two forces for the suppression of evil legislative
force and moral force, the latter is the best and
most efficient, and this has now been applied in
the suppression Of intemperlnce with vigor, and
the far promise OF ultimate success.
1t was certainly one of the most gratifying
exhibitions we have ever witnessed, and the So
ciety merits the countezance and encouragement
Of tine whole community.