The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-29
Communications.
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
TOTAL ABSTINENCE MASS MEETING.

TOTAL ABSTINENCE MASS MEETING.
Sin: You are most respectfully requested to give
an insertion to the following notice of the proceed
ings of Great Mass Meeting of the Total Absti-
nence Societies, held at the Methodist Protestant
Church, on 9th street, Wednesday, the goth INST
AT early candle-light the church was crowded 10
Overlooking with ladies and gentlemen, in obedience
to call published in the different papers OF the city,
among whom many distinguished citizens and
strangers. The members of Congress who were IN
attendance, were the Hon. Messrs. Briggs, Burnell
and Hudson of Massachusetts, and the Hon. Thomas
F. Marshall, of Kentucky. The Presidento OF the Uni
ted States to whom special invitation had beenex-
tended, through our respected and venerable friend
Lund Washington ST., Esq, excused himself by the
following letter. which will be found in the proceed
ngs, together with Mr.. Washngtons note to the
President.
The meeting was opened with a most eloquent and
fervent address to the Throne Of Grace, by the Rev
Mr.. Sewall, of Baltimore.
Mr.. Philip Boteler was then introduced to the
meeting as a reformed drunkard who gave afeeng and
practical experience" of the effects of alcohol, on
his own person. describing most graphically the utter
prostraton and degradation to which he had been re-
duced by its baefl influence and portrayed the pros
porous and happy condition of himself and family
now under the healthy influence of temperance. lie
stated that once he moderate drinker, but was
led on step by STEP until all natural affection and
sympathy was lost his duty to his God first then to
society," and last to wife and children, all absorb
ed in drunkard's life. He then thanked God, that
through the influence of the Total Abstinence move
ment, he saved from drunkard's grave; and
closed, by appeal to the moderate drnker and the
drunkard to stay the hand which conveying the
fatal poison to his lips, before il too late and
called upon all to come up and sign the Pledge
The Hon. Mr. Hudson was then introduced to the
meeting, who, in mastery argument, met all the
objections which are brought forward by individuals
who are opposed to signing the Pledge of Total Alb
stinence, one Of which he principally dwelt upon,
which is the faacious idea that man is ''signing
away his liberty" This excuse for not signing was
met and combatted in every form Did the glorious
Signers of the Declaration sign away their liberty when
they pledged their lives their fortunes and their sacred
honor" to sustain that declaration and free their
country from foreign domination and bondage, Did
our mothers, in that glorious struggle, when, to aid
their husbands sons, and brothers, they signed the
pledge to drink more tea, sign away their liberty
and the liberty of their children He then described
the beneficial effects which the signing the Total Abb
stnence Pledge gave to the sgner, the safeguards
threw around him. and the confidence and
quence it gave the individual in the community, and
made powerful appeal to the ladies to sign, and
show by their example that they went heart and soul
in this great reformation he next turned to the gen
tlemen, and earnestly called upon them to follow him
| in tha Of ha yUas ahout N do which
his name to that pledge, although he belonged to ma
ny other societies of the kind. He then signed and
I extended the parchment Declaration Of Liberty and
Temperance to the multitude, and numbers came
forward to put their down.
| Mr.. Washington next rose, and, after few we'll
appointed remarks stated that he had just received
from President Tyler a communication, the seal of
which would be now broken by the Secretary, and
read to the meeting.
| Mr. Cunningham then read the following cores
pondence
| WEDNESDAY MORNING,
| January %, 1912
| HoNoREp Sill have been appointed to wait upon
you and solicit your attendance at the Mass Meeting
to be held this evening
| Your time being much taken up to prevent
me from personal discharge of this duty avail
myself of this only Of expressing to you the
ardent wishes of the Society for your presence and
my own opinion that your compliance would be most
gratifying to every patriot heart and most beneficial
to our country and the family of mankind
| l have the honor to be,
! With great respect and esteem,
Your obd't serv't,
LIND WASHINGTON