Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-23
TENNESSEE DIVISION, 5. OF I.
Anniversary Meeting.

a large number OF persons attended the
Twenty fifth Anniversary meeting of Ten
nessee Division, No. 80, Sons of Temper
ance, last night, notwithstanding the in
clemency of the weather.
Isaac Litton, Esq, who was G.. W. 7. of
Tennessee when the charter was granted
for the organization of Tennessee Division,
presided over the meeting. Music and
singing was prominent feature of the
meeting.
Arson Nelson, appointed to deliver the
anniversary address, made an apology for
not complying with the unanimous wish of
the division. His severe cold and hoarse-
ness prevented him from attempting to
speak. His connection with the order for
more than a quarter of a century made him
more familiar with the 'lights and shadows"
surrounding this Division than most other
members. lie has seen its cups
and DOWNS" has participated in
its joys and sorrows, for many long,
long years. He has witnessed all the
changes of the cause Of temperance in the
State of Tennessee, since the introduction
Of the old Westinghouse.
Col. A. S. Colyar made a forcible and
earnest speech, and alluded at the outset to
the permanence of the Institution. If this
Division has. continued to exist for twenty
five years, why may not it exist for
twice, thrice or four times twenty
five years. He argued that this
could be done if the young members
present willedi it so. He urged them to keep
up the division, and perpetuate the cause.
He then took bird's-eye view of the out
look in Tennessee, and believed a brighter
dav was about to dawn. Col. C.5was elO-
quent IN his illustrations, and kept the au-
dience enchanted by his OratOry, his earn
estness and his zeal in the cause. He was
very happy in his comments OF the Michi-
gan liquor law, which makes the seller re-
spOnsible for all damages committed
by man who gets drunk from his liquor.
So, under such law, the seller Of liquor
must not sell to a drunken man, unless he
takes the responsibility for damages. The
Illinois law was also alluded to, and the
speaker was quite certain that these North
western States would furnish an example
for temperance Iaw-making that would be
followed by most of the States. Michigan
and Illinois had passed laws better than
the Maine law, without the liabilities to its
evasion.
Col. Colyar said be would not go so far
as to advocate a law to make the seller re-
spOnsible for all liquor sold, even producing
drunkenness; but he would advocate law
making them responsible for liquor sold to
man VIGOROUSLY known as a drunkard.
In other words, he wanted them to be held
liable before the law for all wrongs commit
ted by a drunken man, if they sell him the
liquor, knowing him to be in the habit of
getting drunk. Just as a druggist is held
liable for the selling of wrong medicines by
a clerk, whether by accident, design or ig-
norance, and just as man is held liable for
the injuries Of bad dog, which he refuses
or neglects TO keep chained or confined, so
the seller ought to be held responsible for
disposing of his liquor to a man who is
known to be bad man when drunk.
After singing, DR.. GEORGE S. Blackie adj
dressed the meeting, and said that as Col.
Colyar had gone into the law on the sub
iect of temperance, he would mention
something from the medical pro-
fession. which ought to cheer the heart of
every temperance man. 1t was this: Two
hundred and fifty leading physicians, the
head and front of the profession in Lon
don, and several surgeons, among whom
are Sir Henry Holland, (now in the eighty
fifth year of a long and laboriOus, as well as
successful life) DR.. Thos. Watson, Jonas
Quain, MD, Mr.. Ferguson, Dr. Priestly,
DR.. Maunder, and others of equal note,
had signed paper addressed to the London
College of Physicians, protesting against
the too frequent prescribing of alco-
holic stimulants by medical men,
and impressing on the inexperienced the
fact that liquor should be as cautiously pre-
scribed and administered as arsenic, strych-
nine or opium.
DR.. Blackie then read, by request, an art
icle written a year ago, giving synoptical
history of the Division, and we regret that
we have not room for its insertion entire.
The ASatherIdans Last Night.
The Nashville Opera House was well
filed by our people last night to witness the
dramatic efforts of the Agatheridans, who
may Justly feel proud of the pleasant man.
ner of their performance. No amateur
troupe has ever within our observation so
gracefully paid tribute to Thespis, as did
the Agatheridans last evening. "His Last
Legs'' was right well presented by the men,
bers, Mr.. c.. S. Briggs taking the lead by
personating the character Of Felix O'Cal-
iaghan, sustaining himself so well that many
believed him professional in the cause. Mr..
Frank Nevins by request sung one of his I'M
eouaIled songs, which was well uttered, ap-
preciatelv received and enc0red by the de-
iiohted audience. The entertainment con-
Guided with the farce of "Box and Cox, y
both characters in which were aptly rem
dered and with decided effect. The Aga
theridan Literary Society should repeat this
entertainment which has afforded enough
lauphter tn make a lean man fat, and put