Spirit of the age., 1853-05-04
GIRalIi1QE fT0nG B00kg.


History Of the Temperance Reformation.
We find in Il req Mt work. by Rev. Lebbeus
Armstrong, succinct account of the rise and
progress of the various Temperance Associa-
ttons in America, from the first Society, in
1908, down to the year 1858, from which we
intend, from time to time, making extracts
We commence with the beginning:
The Temperance Reformation, up TO the
present time, has had its origin and progress
under vi hat may Oe denonlnated three eroS,
CON prising flee epochs.
The tlrat era comprised a special alarm, oc-
casionej by the approach of formidable and
destructive enemy, and measures adopted t.
arrest his progress. The enemy was 1NrEM-
PERANCE, in all its grades and forms
The second era produced more general
alarm, and extensive combination of effort
to extirpate the use of intoxicating liquors, as
a common beverage, from the land of freedom
as an enemy TO the peace, interest, happiness,
and SAFETY of mankind. But the enemy claim
ed the right Of inheritance, till by wiles and
stratagems, he intrenched himself in the for
tifcat!on of the license Ian of the land, which
he had the audacity to invade.
The third era, which is nO,C pendinq, com.
prisps the history OF the commencement and
progress OF a 1car Of determination, to drive
the enemy headlong {. ON the land by LEGAL
POWER, or abide the degrading consequences
of stacking arms, and subscribing the captu-
lating terms of vasSal submission to the
sovereign aud destructive rely of the powers
of lNrEMPERANCE, though millions of human
beings arc degraded, and their souls forever
lost by the surrender
Il adler, pause, and think awhile, TIL the
last sentence above is we'll disested in the
mind. and understood in all its important
signi6cation and tendency?
The fire epochs, comprised in the foregoing
erns, will now receive more particular lllustrl.
ton.
FIRST ALARM.
The ALARM produced under the first epoch,
was made uy DIR. Billy J. Clark, of Moreau,
in the county of Saratoga, and State of New
York in the month of March, A. ID lcO<.
The doctor, 1T that time a young, enterprising
physician. is entitled to the deserved honor of
being the first man on earth to have suggested
the idea of organizing a Temperance ,S0cietu,
in opposition to the prevailing evils of intenl-
pcrance. He hal read something from the
pen of DR.. Rush, of Philadelphia, on the pre-.
Valence OF in emperance, and the approaching
desol tion following in its train. Alarmed at
the prevailing custom o! the region Of country
around hin, teeming with lumber in all the
towns and counties in the vicinity of the ever
rolling Hudson, in all which, Intoxicating
liquors Of variety and plenty were considered
as commodities OF necessity for the daily use
and comfort Of all, or almost every family. AMI
indispensable for the ire ,tment Of friends in
social ife-alarmed, we say, at the prevalence
aud results of such ON after having pro-
iected the plan of a Temperance organization
the doctor d termined on Wis to his minister,
Rev. l. Armstrong, who was then the pastor
of the dourishing Congregational church in the
sad town of lorrau The Visit made on
dark evening, no mooashine, and cloudy.
After riding Oh horseback about three miles
through deep mud Of clay road in tn. breakino
up of winter, the doctor knocked at his minis
ters door, and, on entrance, before taLino
seat in the house. he earnestly uttered the
sol owing wors: Mr.. Armstrong. 7 horl
come D. see you on important business Ther
lifting M both hands, lie continued. We sLol
all become a community Of dr,uakards in It,