The Washingtonian., 1845-07-12
For the Washingtonian.

you will not, think, hesitate 10 admit them
into your paper.
Is it, or not, the duty, under I" the pledge,
of every member Of Temperance society to
attend, as often as possible, the various public
meetings held for the purpose OF advancing
the cause, and to unite in discounienanclng
the use" of ardent spirits!
Does the pledge signer fully and honorably
discharge his voluntary obligation, when he
habitually neglects such meetings. or will not
even suffer little inconvenience to enable
himself 10 attend them? And. if SO, does he
not virtually violate his pledge? m
"Strict construction" it may be said. Be
it so; but is it, or is it not, your creed! wish
to know, accurately, what is the full duty re-
quired of signer; and would put "a few
more" inquiries of the same sort, were 1t not
that am SO dreadfully afraid Of being con-
sidered impertinent seek not to interfere
with others pursuits, inclinations, or plea
sures, and therefore am as modest and humble
as possible; but sometimes drop in at the
/" Club House" meetings., and take little no.
tice, and let me, from The outside, respectfully
say to you, that having waged the war, hav-
ing commenced the crusade, You are expected
spirtedly to continue it to victorious COM
pletion. Let those who would were laurels
first do battle for them, and be "Vigilant" In
Decd as well as in name.
Pardon me if it is thought have written
word more than have right to; for can
didly admit that am, as yet, from choice,
misfortune, or, no matter what,
No TEETorALER.
We insert, with pleasure, the communlca-
tion of our correspondent, "No Teetotaler," J"
and shall proceed to answer his several in
quiries.
To his first inquiry we reply, that the
pledge" of our Temperance Societies does not
make it the duty of the members " to attend,
as often as possible, the public meetings."
and to his second, that failure TO attend such
meetings does not, in our judgment, constitute
a violation of the temperance pledge. There
is some difference in the pledges of the differ.
ent societies, but they all agree in this, the
solemn promise to abstain from the use of all
drinks, and to use all proper means
to prevent their use by others. But in none of
them, that we have seen, is the pledge "to
attend, as often as possible, the various public
meetings." But while this is the case, the
inquiries Of our correspondent suggest most
useful hint TO our temperance men. Have
they taken proper view of this question,
who have merely signed their names to the
pledges of our Socie}ies, and take no further
interest 10 the promotion Of the cause! Are
hey under no obligation, whatever, to attend
the various public meetings of the Societies,
and do they perform their whole duty by
merely signing the pledge? We answer No
NO. The pledge may not, in
so many words, bind man TO attend the va
rious public meetings of the Societies, but an
intelligent view of the question, and heart
capable Of being moved by the most powerful
appeals which can be addressed to its sympa.
thies, will prompt every individual, not merely
to attend the "various public meetings." but
to use his influence at all times, and in every
possible way, to arrest the evils of inlemper-
ance. The pledge may not be directly violated
by failure to attend such meetings. but can
our consciences slumber at their post, while
we LOOK on unmoved, in cool indifference, and
leave TO others 10 carry on this war against
the worst enemy Of mans happiness here and
hereafter! We do not "honorably discharge
our duty to society, while we permit ourselves
to be Indifferent, in matter involving it's high
est interests. We have hundreds and thousands
of individuals, professed members of our Tenn
perance Societies, who never have taken the
least interest in the cause The questions of
our correspondent furnish just rebuke TO
such and, if we had it in our power, we
would repeat that rebuke, in tones of thunder,
in the ear of every careless, indifferent mac.
tive temperance man.
We must not be offended at the boldness Of
our correspondent; although not one of our
number, he'is able to Perceive defects in our
practice, and has the Kindness TO point them
out. Let us profit by his suggestions. One
of his questions demands more extended an
swer than we can now give, viz: "what is
the full duty required of a signer?" At no
distant day, we will furnish an answer to this
important inquiry.