Litchfield enquirer., 1846-01-01
LrrcHFrEtD COUNTY TEMPERANCE

LrTcHFIELD COUNTY TEMPERANCE
SOCIETY.
Nh. EDrroH. This Society held its regular
monthly meeting at Winchester Center on the
23d inst, There was pretty full delegation,
nearly half the Societies in the county being re-
presented Taking the interest manifested in
OUT monthly meetings as the standard by which
ojudge, there has been a great increase Of tenn
perahee feeling in the county since first be-
came acquainted with the doings of the Society,
about year and a half since. There is a
strength Of principle manifested which was not
then seen, and a determination to prosecute the
temperance cause to its final triumph. And
acting on the principle that ''union is strength"
there seems to be an Increased spirit Of union
among its friends.
6 But without giving specific report of each
Society, / will briefly notice one or two of the
more prominent obstacles to the cause Of tenn
perance; as they appeared in the various re-
ports given. ST.
The first and great one 10, the unrestricted
traffic in spurious liquors as it now exists
Here is an obstacle that neither argument nor
reason, nor entreaty can remove. Neither de-
scription Of the wo and desolation following in
the train of this traffic, nor the joy and prosper
ity that would be the result Of its abandonment,
have any effect upon those who are engaged in.
it, to induce them to cease from their work Of
death, This is the gredf o6stGcie that rises up
like a mighty harriet, every where, before the
temperance car. While we may be rescuing one
victim, and pulling him into the car of tempe
rance. as likely as not the dealers in this liquid
death, will drag down two more to take his
place while they are ever on the alert to cause
the downfall Of those already rescued. We
have used moral sudsion, and all in vain; but
we are, now about to use another king Of sud-
sion, which we trust is better suited to reach
such kline Of men. Wig: legal swasion. And in
using it, we feel that we are acting Justly for
we are but saving the property, the bodies and
the souls Of our fellow men. We feel that by
using it, we are acting right; that bleeding hu-
manity, and suffering thousands, call loudly up
on ans to act thus. and we are confident that we
have the pledge Of heaven to sustain US. And
shall we besitate' We feel that by using legal
suasiOn. we shall be binding up broken hearts,
and is not that deed Of mercy' But as We
trust stop will soon be put to this unrestrict'
| ed traffic, I will say no more on that point now.
Another prominent obstacle to the cause Of
Temperance which appeared in these reports,
was the fact that in most places, but few except
| the pledged members Of the Society, could be
induced TO attend temperance meeting. Now
I would ask. why this closing the eyes against
| light aud conviction? Does not this very thing
show that conscience is not quite easy, and that
| such are afraid Of the consequences Of full
food Of light upon this subject Right and
truth need never fear the light. If such are on
6rm ground, and pursuing course which
heaven car approve, they will only come out
the brigh,ev, and like gold seven times purified
by coming in contact with us temperance
folks. falsely 80 called perhaps in thei, estima-
| ton. ...-.
But in this county. we have devised plan
| o meet, and in a measure, we trust, to over
come this obstacle. The County Society have
published an edition Of three thousand copies
Of an address by Rev. H. d. Kitchel, of Plym-
onth Hollow, at its late annual meeting in Co
shen, entitled "An appeal to the people tor the
suppression Of the spirit traffic" 1t is most
powerful address--one Of the happiest efforts OF
this very talented writer. 1t shows in a clear
and lucid manner precisely the position that
one who traifics in spurious liquors occupies in
society, just the work he is doing, and the work
ne IS doing. and the injury community are do
ing to themselves and their families t y sustain.
ing him in his traffic. We intend to send it
into every nook and corner of the county, and
to those very families which never take the
trouble to inform themselves on this subject.
And that it may be thus widely circulated il is
furnished to the local societies at the very low
rate OF firo dollars rer one hundred copies
Now let me sayto Il e fiiehds Of temperance, is
good opportunity for you TO prove your love
Tor the cause. Let the infringing friends of the
cause IN each place unite together land purchase
enough OF the copies Of this address to put one
into each Of the families in the place. twill
cost bot mere rine, and it may save your 80.
ciesy hundreds Of dollars. and your neighbors
and friends untold anguish in this world and
the next. The edition is already more than
half gone, and the remainder is fast going.
would therefore say, that those societies which
are not supplied. can be at the rate of two dol
afs per hundred by directing line to the Rev.
}. L. Dickinson. Mortified, stating the mum.
her they want. and with the money enclosed.
And wish this might be done as speedily as
possible.
In the afternoon the Society was addressed by
Rev. Mr.. Hardy Of New Hartford His subject
was. "Intemperance with all its collateral in
duences. the great antagonist principle of the
gospel" He very ably showed how it hinder.
ed the conversion Of men in this country. and
likewise prevented The spread Of the gospel a.