Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-19
state Temperance Convention.

State Temperance convention
Pursuant to a widely circulated call, there
was large gathering of veterans in the cause
of temperance at fremont Temple, in Bos-
ton, Yesterday at ten o'clock A. M. The con-
vention was called to order by Rev. Mr.. Nc
Curdy of Gloucester, and formally organized
by the appointment of Hon. w B. Spooner
as president, with long list of vice presidents.
Various committees were appointed, among
them committee on resolutions, of which
Rev. Mr.. Steele was chairman, who subse-
quently reported lengthy series, acknowl-
edging dependence on God for success, reaf-
firming the Importance of adhering to the an
Gent landmark on the temperance question,
rejoicing at the symptoms Of reviving interest
in the cause of temperance, acknowledging
the good influence of Bands of Hope, Sons of
Temperance, and other organizations which
have kept the light burning; urging the
duty of clergymen to give the subject greater
prominence in their preaching; that the gross
neglect of the authorities of the city of Bos-
ton to attempt to enforce the prohibtory liquor
law indicates that they are an unsafe and an
unsuitable body to be entrusted with the en-
forcement of the laws of the commonwealth,
and that it is inconsistent with the dignity of
the state to permit its ordinances to be thus
nulliied by those who have been entrusted
with their execution; and therefore, that
metropolitan police for the city of Boston
should be provided by the legislature; and
finally, that the use of liquor in the army de-
mands the earnest attention of the people and
the government, and that those who issue
commissions should appoint none to office
who indulge the passion for strong drink.
Rev. John Marsh of New York spoke of
the great changes that have been produced on
the subject of temperance, within a genera
ton. Rev. DR.. Woods of Andover used to
say that he could stand on Andover Hill and
see the parishes of forty drunken minister's
They have now given place to steady, sober
men, advocates of temperance. He spoke of
the movement to supply the army with tenn
perancc tracts. on a large scale.
MIR. SALON. of Boston, REV. Sylvauus Cobb,
and Rev. Mr.. Trask of Fitchburg, followed.
DIR. Bartlett of Concord said that when he
NlSllcQ biit army AT IldIIlSOH ldllulIlB, last
August, his first salutation was to have offered
to him glass of liquor. He declared that
even the unwholesOme water of the peninsula
was far less injurious than the liquor that the
officers drank there.
Capt Charles Bowers, of the 32d Massa-
chusetts regiment, spoke of his experience
and observations in the scenes of the battles
of the peninsula, and at other places, and de-
plored the great extent to which whiskey ra-
tons were issued. There was strange pro-
pcnsity on the part of almost all to drink
whiskey and use tobacco. They would forego
anything to procure them Much of the
whiskey used by the army of the Potomac is
sent from Boston. The traffic should be
stopped here and in the state, for the morality
of the camp will not rise above that of the
people at home.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The first speaker in the afternoon was Hon.
Il. B. Weston of Dux5ury, who earnestly
urged recurrence to the measures adopted at
the early stage of the reformation. There is
no other way to succeed than by preaching
and talking temperance in every town, viii
lage, and district in the state.
Hon. Otis Clapp referred to a recent visit to
Washington, at which time he received some
statistics showing the cost to the government
for sickness to be at least 800, 900, 600 annu-
rate, would be $10,000,000 annually. This
sickness is caused to great degree by in
temperance in some form.
Rev, Mr.. Cobb strongly enforced the i'm
portance of causing lecturers to be sent out so
as to revive the efforts of temperance men in
the work of temperance. AS to a prohibitive
law, he would have one which should be uni
versal in its application. No man should re-
ceive a license, for no man can sell grog for
the public good.
Captain Bowers again spoke and most ear
nestly urged to have good newspapers sent to
the army. He spoke of Col. Prescott, of the
SD Massachusetts regiment, who was boy
when IA small temperance paper was published
in Boston and circulated in Concord, where
he became a member of a cold water army,
and he has been true to its principles to this
day. Every man and woman was earnestly
urged to send letters of cheerful character
to persons in the army. He hoped no pa
per containing the sentiments of the copper
heads would be sent, for he would rather
have rations of whiskey dealt out than such
sentiments disseminated there.
Several other speakers addressed the meet
ing. The speaking continued on the resolu-
tons during the afternoon, and then the con-
vention adjourned to meet at the hall of the
house of representatives. The number pres
ent during the day was quite large, and in
Guided many who have been foremost in the
cause for the last quarter of century.