Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-03-09
NATIONAL TEmPERANcE SOCIETY.


The first Annual Banquet Of the National
Temperance Society came eff last night a.
Metropolitan Hail. There we're eight tables
running the whole length of the large saloon,
and abou. three quarters Of the seats were
occupied. Besides those at the dinner there
were several hundred spectators admitted 10
the galleries. The Hall was brilliantly light.
ed. and presented to the eye a very fine ap.
pearance.
The company assembled at an early hour,
and were seated about 6l1a o'clock.
The proceedings were opened by Rev. Mr..
Bowling, who asked q blessing upon The Vi.
ands and the people.
After the usual devotion to the eatables
which disappeared like morning dew befov
July sun and left no trace behind, the CON.
pany turned their backs upon the tables and
composed themselves for the feast of reason
and the flow of soul And firstly, the ALE.
ghanians sang, in their usual STYLE the song
Give me cup Of cold water" DR.. Dow.
lirg then read the first sentiment, as follows:
Our Coantry-licr vast domain and free
institutions now invite the poor and Cypress.
Cd of all lands; but when Temperance shall
universally triumph, it will add the brightest
gem to the diadcm Of her strength and glory
This was responded to by Gen Houston,
whose rising was the signal for niue hearty
cheers He said he had passed the meridian
of life Of strange yicissitudes, and had never
witnessed more Interesting and important
occasion. The cause of Temperance has
grown to be one Of the FIRST magnitude and
interests the philantbropic and the good Of
every nation. Such philanthIopists are look
cd upon With admiration and tbankfuness by
all subsequent generations; all portions Of
society are affected by the subject Of temper
ance. and people low have little confidence
in those who are still The slaves Of incorporate
appettes. How are we to regard our fellow
men who by this indulgence degrade official
positions and forget responsible duties ?
But moro than this, he degrades the nature
and soul given him by his Maker; he offers
terrible example Of depravity to his fellow
men, becomes brutal father, a perjured hus
band, ruined man in himself and bis kin
dred 1t behooyes man to set good ex.
ample in society, to cherish the wife be sworo
to love. to rear his children in virtue. Can
he do these things when the demon Of intox-
ication has bercft him of reason and self re-
spcct? The Hon. speaker went on to illus.
trate the mpossiblity Of a virtuous life in a
rum drinker, Of which be said he did not
speak altogether from thcory-he had in for
mer days had some practice Of that sor. -
| Laughter. When man gives himself up
to drink. he is abandoned even by the heed
less world and he finds no love. respect or
liberation anywhere. He proceeded to indi-
cate some of the peculiar benefits of temper
ance. For himself, ha would say whatever
changes might await him, he would never
cease to remember that he had felt the bles-
sings Of temperance; and he would never
cease to cry out to those who were in danger
Of the destruction which once awaited him ;
he would never cease to urge the practice Of
full and perfect temperance. He went to
show the dangers Of moderate drinking, which
he illustrated by comica] story, which set
}he tables 10 a roar. There are many who
are in thc highway to inebriety of the ruinous
sort, who arc perfectly satisfied that they
can control themselves, but they are mistaken
in this fancied security--they are on the verge
Of a precipice from which they cannot too
soon retreat, and become sober and honora-
BILE fathers. husbands and citizens. fCheers ]
~ Y Express.
Many other speeches were delivered upon
this occasion. Gen. Houston, seemed to be
the great gun"
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