Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-12-23
Temperance.
REPORT

! Although the cause which we come now to re-
view la. not apparently advanced as much un-
der our care, might have been expected of this
society, yet permitted to rejoice in the pro-
gress of it, promoted by other instrumentalities
besides our own and true philanth rophists
we rejoice none the less because other hearts
have been enlisted, and other hands been the
more successful agents by which it was carried
forward.
During the year, one hundred and seventy-two
persons have been added to this Society, (prin-
cpa!ly young men) making the whole number of
members, as appears by the records of the Soci-
ETY., four hundred and eighty nine.
The past year is without parallel for the
cess which has attended the efforts to rescue
the incorporate man from his degradaton mis-
cry and rum, and his family from suffering.
In this town, since May last, the principal part
of active labor and effort in this work of human
ity has been contributed by those, who having
themselves known and felt the sources of intem-
perance, adopted the pledge of "Total Abstinence
from all intoxicating liquors, and organized them
selves under the Washingtonian banner. That
and successful, embraces large portion Of the
fruits of the temperance enterprise, that has been
gathered the past year, and into it, the friends of
the cause have thrown much of their influence
Your committee, therefore, point you to it with
satisfaction, inasmuch as members of this Socie-
ty have done something to encourage and help it
forward We permitted to rejoice in such
important accession Of strength to our cause /;
and consequent reduction of that Of our opponents
! 1t now numbers about three hundred and fifty
members. They have besides their labors in town,
visited by delegation, the Ireland District, the
White neighborhood, Mill Cove, Birch Point, land
Fosters Point Districts, and many other places
and in all their vislations met with success and
here it may be proper to remark, that these
delegations are attended with considerable ex-
pense of time and money, it is hoped the men,
bers of this Society will cheerfully contribute to-
wards remunerating them.
The labors of your officers have been princ-
other organizations.
A Young Mems Society was formed on the
principal of Total Abstinence, in April last,
and now numbers about one hundred and seventy
five members.
An effort made during the sum mer to
cite an interest on the subject, among the Youth
and Children some progress was made, and
one hundred and fourteen names enrolled on the
pledge of the Society, but in consequence of
failure to obtain suitable addresses, the antlcipat-
ed meetings were not held, and the plan for the
present defeated, but not abandoned; and it is
hoped the coming year will witness general
en- rollment of the Youth and Children to The
pledge of this cause. The females, also, have or
gained "Alartha Washington Total Abstinence
Society, and number over three hundred mem
bers They are doing very much to help for
ward this good work to its consummation.
The number of retailers of Intoxicating drinks
has not diminished, although some have reguish-
ed the business, yet others have entered into it
bnt it is gratifying to know that of the oldest
standard bearers in the army of Rumsellers has
| surrendered his standard within few days re-
turned his License TO the office from whence it
was issued The number of Shops, Stores and
Houses where Intoxicating drinks now fur
nished is ascertained to be thirty, including the
Druggists. The effort made to induce the Rum
sellers to quit that part of their business has not
met with much success, and it is believed the
most powerful, and successful argument that can
be used with them, will be drawing away, and
reforming their customers, and also, by temper
ance people retaining to contribute to the support
of their business, for as they are manifestly under
the control of spirit of avarice, such arguments
must be used with them as will operate that
sensibility which they most alive to. Much
will depend on the success that may yet attend
the effort to reclaim those who their drinks,
particularly that portion who are called temper
ate drinkers The success which has already at
tended the labors of our Washingtonian brothers
by their delegations to the different neighbor-
hoods around this village, and towns in the vicn-
ity, affords promise that such an impression will
be made on the rumseling business, as will in
duce many of the dealers from necessity to aban-
don the traffic.
There is reason to fear the members of this
Society feel that the burthen of labor is taken en-
tirey off their hands, and that there is not much
now for them to do but if this impression has