The Washingtonian., 1845-08-30
From the Alexandra Gazette.
GREAT MEETING OF THE SONS OF
TEMPERANCE. H

TEMPERANCE.
The presentation of !" Banner" to Harmo-
ny Division No. 2, S. of T., was an interesting
affair, witnessed by at least two thousand per-
sons. Fears were entertained, during the
morning, that the anticipated meeting would
be marred on account of portending rain. But
at noon the clouds melted away, and the laugh
ing sunshine bursted forth, as if it would fain
smile on the evening exercises, and be in uni
son with so many Joyous hearts. AT 2 o'clock
Harmony Division, numbering ITO members,
marched through several Of our principal
streets, headed by a fine band Of music, whose
sou.-stirring airs, in connexion with the ap.
pearance Of the Order, made every heart leap
with gadness- then proceeded to the
Canal, in order to receive visiters from George
town and Washington; after which the line
of march was again formed when they moved
from thence to the market square. Order hav-
ing been requested by the marshal, Mr.. Robt
M. Larmour, the Rev. Job Guest commenced
the exercises with prayer, at the conclusion OF
which, song by members Of the "Order'' ST.
fenced the hum, occasioned by so many rest
less spirits congregated, and prepared the way
for the presentation. Then came the Banner"
to which all eyes were directed; and as it was
first elevated, and its spotless folds thrown to
the breeze, all hearts seemed to throb with
JOY. The Rev. J. N. DANFoRTH prefaced the
giving of the Banner with the following re-
marks:
In the name of the Ladies of Alexandria,
present you with this BANNER-the result of
their toll and liberality- evidence Of their
profound interest in the cause of Temperance.
1t is not the symbol of war--it bears no in
scription ofhostile defiance; it is not destined
to be unfolded on the field of battle, to wave
at the head of regiments drawn up for the
deadly strife; or, stained with human blood
to be trampled in the dust of the ensanguined
plain. 1t is not the standard Of political
party seeking in its triumph the prosration
of its opponents. 1t is not the banner of fac
,ion, burning with selfish and Unsuitable am
bition to rule in the State. 1t is standard
for the Sons OF TEMPERANCE, prepared by fair
hands and gentle hearts, for the encourage
ment and use Of those, who, in our commune
ty, have embarked in this sacred cause.
That inverted goblet which crowns the sum-
NIT of the banner, not only symbolizes the doc
trine Of perpetual remuneration, but seems to
bid you spare no efforts until every cup shall
be drained and every fountain of liquid fire
exhausted This urn of pure and translucent
water, so beautifully painted, exhibits that
substitute for the fiery beverage, which all true
temperance men receive. The altar which
forms the base of this urn, is the altar OF TOTAL
ABSTINENCE, signifying that this alone is the
true basis Of the temperance cause. Here IS
Hygeia, the imaginary goddess OF Health, rails
ing her eyes to Heaven in devout gratitude for
the blessings that have descended from Heaven
to Earth, through the channel of Temperance.
She is attended by two Sons Of Temperance,
whose habits may be seen in the ruddy glow
of their cheeks, and the manly vigor Of their
limbs. But what form is that below, bending
with weakness, bowling as if with premature
age, with bloated face and bleared eyes-with
tangled hair and tattered garments-an object
of disgust and yet OF pity-who is it? 1t is the
ruined drunkard, struggling to rise! See, he
has Indignantly broken the bottle, whose in
spiratiun was DEATH. He has wounded the
venemous serpent that lay coiled in the spark
ling glass, and whose sting he has SO often
felt. There it lies, ready to be crushed by his
heel, while with an imploring attitude, and an
anxious heart, he looks for some deliverer-he
waits to feel the pressure of some friendly
hand, and to hear the tones of some encourag-
ing voice. It is the crisis Of his fate AT this
| perilous moment, when life and death seem to
ioin in fearful struggle, behold the Son OF
| TEMPERANCE unrols the Pledge, and invites
the wretched drunkard to sign, and be free and
happy, to be redeemed, regenerated, and disen-
! thra7led.
Now reverse the picture. Behold the in
scription: "Hope leads, Love unites, Faith
strengthens u.s." Or, if we contemplate the
symbolical colors that are blended in the rosete,
and distributed through the standard--the red,
the chite, and the blue, we are reminded of
| the mutual lone, the moral purity, and the in
corruptibze fidelity, which binds the members
of this association, as with three-fold cord
! that cannot be broken.
| Accept, then, Sons of Temperance, this
beautiful Standard, which have the honor to
present in the name of the fair Ladies of
Alexandra, surpassed by none, either in per-
sonal accomplishments, the virtues of domes-
| tic life, or the refined sensblities of tender
and generous hearts. Let the smile Of beauty,
that accompanies the gift, cheer your labors
If, in the desolating flood of internperance
| which has swept over the land, woman has
been the chief sufferer, she is willing, in her
| sphere, to be the chief laborer and hers shall
be the chief JOY at the deliverance of the en-
| slaved. She bids you go on-gather fresh lau-
res in this field-multiply your boodess tro-
| phies-rescue the wretched-bind up broken
hearts-release the captives; give back to the
weeping wife her long lost husband-restore
to those innocent, suffering children, their ex-
lied father; then hear her thanks, and their
shouts of JOY, for what, under God, you have
been permitted to do. The thoughts of day
| will be more pleasant-the repose of night