The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-18

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tlenlen:
On previous occasion, while mat
ters appertaining to the class OF sab
iee's deemed relevant to the Good OF
the Order" we're being discussed, L
was invited By some Of the members
10 address the portion Of the rider
then present, on the subject OF Ten
perance. On that occasion, l was al
together unprepared to deliver any
thing like an address on topic 50
interesting: not because / possessed
no materials out Of which to compose
one: but because l was sensible that
nv faculty of extemporary speaking
was not sufficiently cultivated to at
tempt an off-hand efuslon that
would engage your attention.
I was restrained by another
consideration. | conceived that. hav-
ing but recently connected myself with
the Division, it would be presump
tuous in me to allow myself promi-
hence. until / had familiariZed my
self with the practical workings OF the
order, and until | had accomplished
something to merit the favor OF your
confidence, and thus secure a claim to
the indulgence Of your attention. L
have, however, reconsidered the mat
ter since then, and am now convinced
that my conclusion was faliaclous; for
if it be In my feeble power to prevail
on any person present to increased
zeal in the Temperance cause, should
be derel,ct In duty were | to decline
to speak or to act, when in your
opinion the good of the order required
it. We have taken upon ourselves
a solemn obligation to promote
with all our will and strength
the Total Abstinence Movement"
and should any person fail, through
indifference or wilfull neglect TO ex-
ert his whole influence in disseminat-
ing temperance principles, In making
accessions to our noble, philanthropic
cause, and IN terrifying the resolu
tions of the Wavering In character to
decision of conduct, such one is just
" chargeable with unfaithfulness.
Animated with these sentiments, |
have placed together a few crude
thoughts upon the subject of temper
anee, but / am too sensible Of their
deficiency in felicity Of topics and vi
vacity of expression to hope that /
shall succeed in producing any very
great impression. My efforts will be
we'll repaid, if what l shall advance
meet your views, and induce you to
persevere in the good work you have
undertaken. If fail in my aim, you
will please not lay any blame on my
theme, but place it whore il will right
fully belong, on him who has chosen
to treat it.
1t has always been considered a
characteristic Of egotism in a speake r
or writer to give undue prominence to
himself by using the first person; but
could /, in this instance, make myself
understood, and at the same time di-
vest myself of all personality. l would
cheerfully do SO. You vii, there
fore, excuse me, | hope, for its fire.
quent occurrence, as / find It utterly
impossible to proceed, and avoid it.
The term Temperance, when used
in relation to the indulgence Of our
appetites, signifies to moderate and
regulate our use of any article OF food
or drink, so that we shall escape the
extreme of rigid abstinence on the
one hand, and the extreme Of excess
on the other. But it has another ac-
ceptatiOn, which makes it synonymous
with total abstinence. 1t would be
better were the latter term used ex-
clusively to designate our principles,
as it unequivOcaliy expresses what we
have taken an obligation to be, viz. :
totally abstineht.
I remember we'll that In my boy
hood when the temperance movement
was first inaugurated, those who iden-
4I~,,...f,-,r, FL ,saFr
named teetOtalers, not so much in de-
risiOn, as to express explicitly that
they had altogether renOunced and
obligated themselves to abstain from
making, selling, or using as a beverage
spurious or malt liquors, wine, or CT
der. Since we have accepted the
terms as similar in symfcation, shall
In what follows use them interchang-
ably.
Our organization has for its SUI
preme object, end. and aim the anne
Iteration OF the public morals, tor il
strikes at the radlx of all the evil
which at1icts society that we can cure
with the means at our command. In
temperance is the fruitful stem, the
prolific parent Of most of the crimes
which disgrace the human race. to
say nothing of the woe and wretched-
ress It inficts when it invades
the family circle, destroying its har-
mony and bringing in its train the
horrors Of strife, destitution, and dis
ease. 1t is cur great mission to draw
within our circle, not only those who
are already within the destroyer S
power, but also those who are in dan.
ger of being involved To those who
accept our offers, we present the
agreeable prospect of lenethened
days, if God so wills it; increased
! n.nsner.tY. since that which helnre