Columbia gazette., 1853-12-24
For the Columbia Gazette.


mr.. Edito7,-Not seeing you at the
Temperance meeting, last Sunday af
terncon, I have taken the liberty to re.
port for you, knowing that you are inter-
rested in the temperance movement
The church was well filed with la8ies
and gentlemen, each wearing smiling
countenance in favor Of the temperance
cause.
The order Of exercises were as fol.
lows ws:-Singing by the choir; Reading
the Scriptures and Prayer, by the Rev
Mr.. Pendergrass; Song by the choir
Temperance Address, by the Rev. Mr.
Gibbons; Total abstinance pledge cir.
culated; Remarks by the Rev. Mr.. Pen
dergrass; Song by the Sons; Presenta
tion of petitions for prohibityry liquor
law; tSong by the choir; Benediction by
the Rev. MIR. Pendergrass.
I will briefly state that the singing by
the choir was excellent, and had good
effect. Mr. Pendcrgrass read suitable
portions of Scripture, in a solemn and
impressive manner, and invoked the
presence of Almighty God, and his
blessing on the efforts put forth. The
Address of Mr.. Gibbons, was compre-
hcnsiye, proving the evils Of intemper-
ancc on society, individual and national
Also the result of the Total Abstinence
Societies, and the Prohibitory Liquor
Law. Jails and Poor-houses, which be-
fore were full, are now to let; crime on
the decrease drunkards reformed So
cicty improved and the occarse9 ch..tti,e
banished from the family aud festive
boards; and peace, order, and blessings,
following in their wake. Indeed it was
replete with statistical information, prov
ing to every candid hearer, the benefits
of total abstinence from all that will III
toxicatc.
Brothers Gibbons and Brink were ap-
pointed to circulat. the following Pre-
amble and Pledge:
We, whose names are annexed, de T.
sirous of forming "a Total Abstinence
Society, auxiliary to Columbia division.
No. IS, hereby pledge ourselves, nci:h
er to make, buy, Sell or use, as bc,cr-
age any spirituous or malt liquors. wine
or cider" The above was responded to
by forty-Eve signatures in their own
hand-wiitin-. Nine Of the above are
ladies who were very much interest I!
in the proceedings. Grca. struggl 8
took place among the gentlemen some
Of whom had been in The baI,it of tai. :
ing a, little too much, oec,sionoi.r
Conscience dictated them % sign the
Pledge, but appetite crayed otherwise.
We noticed one who had partly mad,
up his mind to leave, and not have the
Pledge presented, but he could not get
away; conscience did her work. i,.r.
after much hesitation, he put down l:is
name.
1t is the great struggle Of iife, to cen
quer the appetite /; which, like the itech,
cries give, give, give; until the vie in
becomes entirely helpless Al.y ai,sio
took the pledge, hold OH to the ,li Of
life.
The pledge made almost a clean
sweep; almost every one in the house
who had not previously signed or taken
the pledge as Sous Of Temperance,
signed their names Next time, I am
in hopes no one will resist the opportu-
nifty to do good to hiulse!f and others,
by his example,
While the Pledge was being circula
ted, Brother Pendergrast made some
very apr opriate remarks, and related
some amusing anecdotes, which told well
on the audience.
1t was announced that on the first
Wednesday in January, 1854, the Off
GERS of Columbia Division, for the com
ing quarter, would be publicly installed
The public are invited to attend.
The meeting closed with the B ne
diction.
1hus, the first meeting of the total
abstinence Society ended, with 45 mem
bers; and we may expect much good to
result therefrom, as nine we're ladies' -
and it has been said that one lady
has the influence of one hundred
men. Should any of her acquaintanccs
not be Total Abstinence men, they
must make up their minds to have no
rest until they have signed the Pledge.
So mote it be.
A SON OF TEMPERANCE.
SUIcIDE.-A Frenchman, by the
name Of Buffet Rene Jean, committed
suicide, at French Gulch, on Wednes.
day, by shooting himself in the head,
with double-barreled shotgun, causing
instant death. He was supposed to be
insane. He had just returned to Cali
fornia, from home, where he had left
$4,000, the product Of his first sojourn
in this country.
MrNrNG.-The "Mainen bows have
again reached the ledge, and are now