The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-09
FRIENDS OF THE DRUNKARD.

The Annual meetAn8 Oh inc AmcrAcSn
Association for the Cure OF Inebriates-
The Presidents Opening Address and
the Report OF DIR. Dodge.
The American Association for the Cure OF pne-
brates met last evening In the rooms Of the roung
Mems Ghristian Association, corner Fourth avenue
and Twenty third street, with President Joseph
Parrish in the chair. The following gentlemen
were also present Vice President. Otis Clapp;
Treasurer, DR.. Mason; Secretary, Din D. q. Dodge:
On. w. Harris, W. D. Haley, DR.. wizard Parker DR..
George Burr, DR.. l. D. Mason, Rev. Mr.. Wilett DR.,
George N. Beard, OF Brooklyn; DR.. Stephen Rogers,
and Professor 7. w. Dwight, Chairman Of the Com
mssioners OF Charities The Franklin Reformasory
Home for lnebriates In PHILADELPHIA was repre-
sensed by DR.. Samuel Murphy. In. Goodwin, DR.. R.
Mr. Thomas A. Boyd, pr the Sandtarium Of Media,
Pa, was also present.. on motion the Chair ap.
pointed Mes'r 0ss Sapp Burr sna Mason on tho
;. Dr. Mason then moved that IN view Of the posi-
en M :, 9y the sus
on principles se appointed. The motion was car
br. Mason and Dr. Harris on the committee. The
Business Committee then reported their arrange
ments as f0hows:-
! Prss!asnt': address
ResS Ssns y. S RnS miscellaneoas matter
President PARRISH, of Media Pa, then made an
elaborate and exhaustive address, In which, after
their annual meeting he went on TO say:-.I be-
lieve we are unit on the proposition that intern
disease OF the most grave and fearful character.
But1n announcing this fact we are conIonted ny
| sincere and honest refOrmers In the world OF
who do not believe that intemperance IL disease
| and who have used the religious and total abs.l-
nence press OF the country to antagonist our posi-
| ton Now, there need be no difference between
moral reformers and scientific observers on this
subject. 1t seems to that there cannot be any
real difference, and n we misunderstood 1t be-
comes us to explain this vital premise In our sys-
sae PEOPLE
| superficial and false notion Of what disease H.
They are not supposed to 60 behind
| and seek for evidences OF disorder In the occult
forces OF the human body. ! suggest, therefore,
that It becomes to submit to our critics and op.
ponents q few questions, fair consideration OF
which their part Will, think, lead them to the
same conclusions that we have reached If intern
perance Is not q disease, how comes 1t that 80
many tens OF thousands Of people die nom II every
year, What ground have the advocates OF temper
ance to stand upon in making such an alarming
statement OF the death rate II It be not that the
| ALCOHOLIC POISON
deterOrates human blood and tissue and shortens
life. Have they furnished us with any other name
for this calamity than drunkenness or alcoholic
poisoning and II thls-then 1t Is disease. DR..
Parrish after making some ausiOn to the doctrine
Of Inheritance, denying that alcohol is used as a
length the meaning Of the term cure in reference
to their patients, concluded Oy saying -Gentlemen,
have thus briefly called your attention TO lew
objections which are used against our work, be-
cause believe they OF sufficient Importance to
| claim our attention and to call for some formal and
authorized expression from this association.
Hitherto principles have been declared in few
brief propositions, some OF which are almost
automatic, and am assured that our continued
experience Is confirming and establishing us in
their truth. am quite confident that the criti-
csms and even the reprOaches OF the few who have
undertaken to antagonist these principles have
had the effect to attract the attention OF the public
and to induce an investigation which has resulted
in oacipU and otr tbap I'M mi liz
| INEBRIATE ASYLUMS,
and feel equally confident that II we 20 on with
our work in the spirit OF true philanthropy and
science we will be abundantly repaid by results
which we cannot now attempt to measure. II our
declaration of principles is defective let US
correct It, II our plan OF organization" Is mprac-
ttcable let us reconstruct 1t, II our resolutions
, are unsOund let reconsider them. Truth Is
never injured by fair criticism and science cannot
be blinded by more light. We are not struggling
to maintain
| PET DOGMAS,
but to reach good results to our fellow men. Let
us be honest enough to confess errors II we find
them, and bold enough to reassert what we have
already declared II we are satisfied that the in
terests OF morality and science demand such reas
sertion
Dr. DODGE, OF Binghamton, then read lengthy
and interesting report of the proceedings of the
Commission OF the House OF Commons in London,
at which DR.. Parrish and himself gave evidence as
the delegates from the association, and shortly
afterwards the meeting adjourned until nine
| O'Clock this morning.