The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-09

tho FIRST BY keeping ia expenses within It's receipts
Unlike many ether societies. II dd not run IN debt from
year year. Trusting to time and chance TO make up the
deficiency. The speakers ut this society generally
tented themselves with statements of the Christian pro-
eresa made by disseminating tracts varied frequently by
Expectations On the amount Of unknown good they had
tnecied but this was occasionally relieved by oucning on
ltss important subjects when Mr.. Stowe made
hlaugbt on the preas, advising every ono who valued
purity OF morals to counteract its base influence for they
did not "tbe deyl would them all UP and by, and
he would have full stomach" BY means OF the colpor
tenr stem variety OF wonderful anecdotes INCIDENTS
and condolences became known to the society," which,
being told at the anniversary meetings, relieved the dull
ncss Of slascs, and were more Interesting TO the audi
ence than dry details, In 1855 the quiet OF
csrt,n parties inended transform the ASSOCIATION no
vehicle for spreading abolition doctrines throughout thu
eoSnIy Inc meeting was Sro"ded Tor every one was
the and Shat action the society would take there
upon. The excitement among the members was ex
remc for the means by which the intended revelation
to be effected SAID 10 be the removal OF all the oil
officers Of the body the substitution In their place Of
thorough going aboionsts. If any members Of the
ciey had such an idea they resigned it quietly and the
threatened storm passed An investigating commit
zee was apo ned to examine the slavery question with
reference TO the future Of the body and TO give
their report the next annual meeting In 1857 the re-
port read deprecatDg the introduction OF dscordant
element into the Tract Society," which was established for
definite purpose and which could not therefore, without
urng the interests Of religion step out Of the line that
nao been marked ior IT, was, therefore, resolved "Tnst
special organ Of any one 81 stem Of religious moral
reform" The resolutions drawn up by the Investigating
Committee were unanimously adopted. In 1858 il was
found that abolition doctrines and principles had made
another assault upon the position Of the society and In
sisted upon the introduction OF abolition principles into its
policy This exercised the members terrible degree and
serious fears entertained Of disruption Of the organi
cation They were arrayed In opposition TO each Other
erto governed the society," and the other intent solely upon
forcing into recognition Of their peculiar political creed
All ths as we have said occurred during the last ami
versary week and year has since elapsed the
ing Of antagonism which aroused by the proposed
innovation has had ample time 10 deyelope Itself TO
the utmost We may therefore, expect to the ordi
nary proceedings eniivened by occasional display
Of bitterness and acrimony, in which even religious
people occasionally indulge u, however, not :. all
the sectasians has been removed and that they viii
have toleraby smooth passage, instead Of stormy
turn out the proceedings wiz be watched with much into
rest and anything that bears the slightest resemblance
religious row will be looked cut for.
THE HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
This society which is among the most important OF the
religious bodies that hold their anniversaries In this city
was organized about thirtythree years ago. It's rama
cations extend all the United States and its yearly
receipts have steadily increased from the commencement
until they have reached nearly the of two hum
dred thousand dollars. As its indicates its opera.
tiens confined to what called the home neld which
that is satisfied with the conversion OF domestic
sinners without going abroad to seek for objects of spirit
ual COMMUNICATION and sympathy. In 1866 the re-
cepts reached their highest point but in 1885, owing
perienced very considerable decline. II has however
firm hold in the community Of which It is representa-
religious Institutions. Although affected in its finances by
the reyusion, the last anniversary most successful
and the results Of the Society operations during year
were considered most gratifying.
THE AMERICAN TEMPERANCE UNION
ABOUT twenty three years ago the advocates OF temper
ance in this city held meeting for the purpose OF orga
pizng ar institution under the title Of the American Tenn
existence, was 10 accomplish the temperance reform
through the agency moral suason for at this time we
believe had not become sufficiently numerous or power
full to think Of agtatng for the enactment Of prohbitoy
liquor law, such as that we saw IN operation few
years ago in this State-if the term operation be
applied in where the lay was found to be wholly
in Ireland doubtless tended 70 strengthen the mov
ment here, and 30 went from year to year until
y naa'iy assumed quite an imposing appearance, ami
almost threatened annibaon to the liquor trade Among
those who took prominent part in the operations
Onion were tho Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. I. L.
Cuyler and quite strong array Of other clerical
uInnaries who labor under the impression that il is
the business of government TO take charge of the
morals OF society as well az to protect the lives and pro
perty OF the muny As might naturally be supposed
from tho large infusion Of tho clerical element tho meet
ipss assumed more the appearance Of religious assem-
bly, thar gathering Of czes intent simply the sup
preston Of social evil The universally of their
violence may be imagined from of the resolutions
had neared its eliminating point On The I2,h Of May
1854, they resolved among great many other things
that the Union synpathized with all In every State and
naton, who engaged in warfare with the ralc in
Intoxicating drinkswh every association in the United
Ssaes az Great Britain Canada and all the British pro-
vIuCeEn Liberia and the Sandwich Islands Australia
in India, and in fact in civilized and uncvilized
country the globe in which there such an associa
on The fact that the Maine Liquor law had been passed
in Maine, in Minnesota Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
Vermont and Michigan produced remarkable
enthusiasm among the temperance people, who ina
gined that all the States in the Union would fall into the
temperance ranks, and adopt similar probbitoy enact
mens 70 those that had been passed in the States already
named To facilitate the progress OF the work they
adopted the plan Of tho Tract Society, and published
moral essays the evils Of ntemperance, which were
sprned here and there with Of wonderful con
versions Thus learn from the report presented at the
anniversary meeting in 1853 that than 700 600 four
p-Se tracts bad been distributed all the country
from tie temperance headquarters in this city. Re
kaole efforts had been made in the dissemination of
these productions and the millennium expected shortly
to dawn upon the world. At this meeting the New
York temperance people were delighted with the first
sight Of the great Maine Law advoc ateNeal Dow-who
sui further delighted them by delivering an address on
the benefits Of legally enforced temperance His remarks
consisted mainly OF TRADE Of abuse against liquor
dealers, whom he classed with thieves and other
social outcass. He informed his audience as a
sort of winding up to his speech, that Maine
had flung her banners to the breeze, she was
now ready to lead them on 10 victory. After the
noubcement oil this gratifying piece Of intelligence, Rev
Or. Patton who at that time Of the lights OF tenn
peranoe said he never convinced before that Neal
Dow was s great man nat he Che speaer had come
that Neal Dow had stolen them ALL and that IL he lived
in Maine, from which Dow hailed, he would have him
there committed for burglary. Other speakers followed
in the same strain, and after benedicton the audience
were dismissed. Altogether this meeting was one OF the
most successful held In New York, and may be re-
garded as the climax Of the temperance movement.
AT the anniversary in 1866, which was held in the
Broadway tabernacle there were great reocnge the
adoption OF the Maine Liquor law by the Legislature Of
our State The Rev DR.. Tying presided at this meeting
and speeches Of the glowing character were made
by several reverend gentlemen From this anniversary
may date the decline Of the temperance in this
state or as we nave said the Maine Liquor law found
70 be imperative and nothing than dead letter on
The statute book In regard TO the financial operations Of
he the details are very meagre and the reports Of
regularly published Some years, however, there is q
great variation in the amount Of the receipts Thus,
while they reach tho OF $1,000 in 1885, there were
some years they did not attain onefourth that amount
However, as we have said already, the financial returns
lied on The Temperance Union OF this city, we may here
stae bad number Of coordinate branches which served
as financial tributaries TO the great reservoir from which
the society derived ts vitality and strength But after
time these tributaries dried up and the supply from the
becoming he Calf;