The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-06-26
SELF EXAMINING SOCIETY.
Editors State Rights Democrat

at meeting held at Lebanon, May ZZ'
called Temperance rally, those
gentlemen who were engaged therein,
havo honorcd me by making use of my
name as q committeeman to aid and en-.
courage public Temperance Societies
| wish to inform those gentleman that |
must decline the honor Of serving in that
capacity. have strong objections to the
course heretofore taken by societies called
Temperance, and | suppose that those
gentlemen arc cndeavCring to carry out
the principles heretofore adopted. Now
| would say 10 those friends, and to all
other persons thus engaged, that | have
no objection toany aud all laudable means
being used to amcIioratc tho condition Of
our fallen race, and to set good and
wholesome influence before il, but
why should we select out one depravity
Of our fellow-mcn, and pass by other evils
equally or more TO be lamentcd Why
not aim to be temperate in all things !?
And again, why is i: necessary for men
possessing the christian religion to start
up some other society to enable them TO
use theif influence in tho promotion Of
Temperance 7 Arc they not able as
church members to use as much influence
stitution, unauthorized by the scriptures!
Can it be possible that under the imme-
diatc influence of Bro. Bishop $50 called J
there is 80 much intempcrance drunk
enness) as to call forth more influence
than he eau WELD as a member Of the So
called christian church? Docs h. aDI
my other friends Of said meeting near
Lebanon witness so much intcmperance
that it requires united rallyg And af.
ter they have used all nf their united in
fiuence. do they intend calling upon the
Legislature OF Oregon TO help them to
use their combined influence. | would
inform my friends that, as it regards Syra-
cu~e precinct, | do not witness any
such intcmpcrance as those gentlemen
see, and | have visited other precincts,
and as seldom go into saloons, or any
other drinking establishments, TO spy out
who arc there drinking, ! suppose that Is
the reason Of my not seeing the intem.
pcrance alluded to. and | would say 10
Bro. BIZ hop that he can use moro iafu.
encc in attending to his own business
than by visiting those places of resort.
However, as do not intend at this time
10 argue the uaressonablcness Of the
measure proposed, / will suggest to my
friends better course for them 10 pursue,
which is this-to change the name OF
their society-fur names, you know, some.
times lose all their charms. So with this
society. 1t has been called Temperance,
Washingtonian, TctotaI. Abstinence, aud
last OF all, Good Templars. The name
that | would propose probably may suit
all lovers of good society (yiz.) THE
SELF EXAMINING SOCIETY and if il
would not be thought too prcsuAiing on
my part, / would propose constitution
for said society as follows:
ART. |. This society shall be demon.
mated the Self Examining Society. and
shall be composed OF members of both
sexes, whose heads and hearts arc susccpt.
ibIe of moral improvement
Arr. 2. The object of this society
will be to endeavor TO see, feel and cor.
rect our own faults, aud thus set good
example TO others.
ARr 8. All of the members of this
society shall be vested with full powers
and privileges to attend to their own con.
Germs, and they shall consider il their duty
10 study to mind their own business. and
Let other peoples business alone.
ART. /. This society shall never up,
point officers or committees TO watch over
and make reports of the misdoings oi
others, until such work of charity shall
have been commenced and approximated
to completion at home.
Arr. 5. There shall be no public or
private meeting of this society for the
purpose of transacting business Us a soci.
ETY., or to hear lectures delivered before
them but it shall be the duty of each
member to meet himself alone every day
and listen TO the lecture Cf his own con.
sc.ence.
ART. 6. There shall mover be any
funds raised by this society by means ol
hired soliciting, or begging agents, nor
by subscription donation or bequcst, for
the purpose of defraying the expenses Of
this society, nor for the purpose of circu
lating tracts, or almanacs, nor to pay
any lawyer or minister for delivering lee.
lures to convince US how much easier il
is to examine others than to examine our.
selves.
ART. 7. All of the members of this
society shall pay due regard to temper.
ance in eating and drinking aud in every
thing else, but they shall be their own
judges as to what they shall eat, what
they shall drink, and wherewlthal they
shall be clothed while all species of in.
Temperance shall be left to the reproach
which they deserve, without the benei,
of clergy.
ART. 8. The members Of this society
shall call things by their proper names,
and not call for vinegar when they mean
rum; nor cider or beer when they mean
French brandy or gin, delivered at the
back door, for the benefit of temperance
customers.
ART. 9. The members of this society
shall deal truly, openly and honorably,
and all who do otherwise shall be deliv-
cred over to the fellowship and confidence
of religious and political swindlers-and
no member shall make preparations of
whisky from wine, or Plantation Bitters.
ART. 10. The members of this socie-
ty shall be allowed to drink coffee or tea,
cold water or hot, buttermilk or lemon.
ade, chew or smoke tobacco, provided 1T
be not offensive to the company they are
in.
nj -. a