New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-21
uAFAYETTE AVE. TEMPERANCE
SOCIETY.
Monthly Meeting as Lafnyesie.ave. Ch"re"
Address BY Horace Greeley The
Cause Of Total Abstinence.

The regular monthly meeting ol inc La
fsyete.aye Temperance Society of Brooklyn was held
last evening at DR.. Cuyers Church corner OF La
fayet,e.aye and OYford.s, Notwithstanding the size
Of the church and the extremely iisagreeabe state OF
the weather the auditory crowded the building as
10 leave no inch OF space unoccupied The exercises OF
the evening were opened with prayer by DIR. Cuyler'
after which the Hutchinson family sang one OF theT
peoulinr melodies in quite an acceptable manner. Inc
President OF the Society then introdueei MI "tees'
who spoke souC what as follows.
There is 10 new truth. All truth Is from the De,
ginning and Il is only error that taxes new ioIms.
sha have nothing new therefore 10 entertain you
but shall only repeat the thoughts OF those VINO nave
,iy you or rehearse few facts that
seem encouraging to those who labor IN the cause o'
Temperance. -,
appeal % n alike giving every individual who uses
LIQUOR species of sensual gratlnoaiion oar afRu'
meuts however reach but a few. Nevertheless; the
habit OF .,eep drinking among educated and refined
persons Is not so prevalent ns Il was formerly beni!c
men DO not now neither Ia England or the Comment
drain bottle after bottle from dinner nntil midnight
Il was their habit 70 do so and they died py
,oores AZ the age OF 90 of g0u and other diseases
caused mainly by drinking where now out ie" Vc'inS
are 10 be found
progress Ii Is the result Of the Ieetoai movement;
With or without our help the sentiment mas no'eu
forward In New England the same progress mas pee,
made IL was formerly the common habit OF the
smaller farmers drink while at their labor ana tne
bolef was that liquor was necessity 10 those Wno
were compelled to use great muscular excrtion nave
heard men 20 years Of age. who had spent then lives
upon their farms assert that they had never moved
day without rum. Now this belef does not exist ana
liquor is not regarded as necessary 10 enaDie tne
accomplish their work
IL was also once regarded a social duty 10 offer
liquor visitors just as when they deemed one hungry
they would offer food. Liquor was even used at
funerals and occasions when II was net produced IL
yas regarded as evidence Of want OF respect foF the
dead JOY and sorrow alike demanded At then; now
IL not generally thought OF in connection wlth ehef
emotion
There is nowhere so much drunkenness as there was
formerly even within my early recollection. Ihe lem
perance movement or something else has brougnt
great improvement. BY our help or In spite ofi there
has beer progress among the decent and respectable
classes There are still many who drink very largely
and luarres riots aud other crimes that grow oat oil
the habit aIe treQ uent but within - years American
society has become comparatively abstenious AID the
progress has been both rapid ana solid IL THIS pro-
vress was only felt among the members OF tho Temper
societies there night be danger but II Is teit In
| the social condition Of all classes.
II s not however, sufficient that men should be tenn
perae. The rum seller dslikes drunkards. FOR they
riure his business and drunkards themselves will tell
| yog that they love temperance. Drunkenness Is an
abuse temperance they say. Is drinking to exhiara-
ton not to stupidity. unfold another idea. In 50
far as YOU at all effected by alcoholic stimuants.
YOU are poisoned. Temperance Is In using Ia modera
tou what is useful and wholesome, and IN abstainins
totally from WHAT'S poisonous and harmful. lniem
pcrsnee is an excess in the use of wholesome articles
1
ho is pernicous in its nature, and no man was ever
| intoxicated who was not poisoned.
| Alcohol aud the vital forces are deadly enemies
when il Is taken into the stomach they rally to expe
the intruder and stimulation is the reaction caused by
the effort the part Of those forced TO rid thensely
of the eucmy. Men who drink largely without getir
drunk injured moro than II they were stimulated
Drunkenness il one Of Gods bcnignant exhibitions Of
patience. II you know drinker. pray God that IL
every case be may be made drunk. II is not iutoxea
ton in any vulgar sense. that wo ought 10 dread, bg
the corruption OF blood aud brain which is the result
drinking God piiies men who will drink by making
them drunk
The speaker then referred to the custom Of Offering
wine to New Years callers urged his hearers TO ~
ran from It In the future and SAID there liberty il
taking the pledge for the unprincped respected
principle and who refused TO drink these ground
would never be tempted.
| The address occupied something over hour and
was loudly applauded.
| A pledge was circulated among the audience and re
ceiyed large number OF sgnanfes and a very hbera
collection taken up to assist in deirsyng the eA
penses OF the Society.
The next meeting was announced to take place on
the evening of January ~ 1900. Henry Ward Bcs''e'
| TO DO tho speaker on that occasion.