The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-28
TIE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.

Meeting OF the Convention OF the Ma
tiOnal Temperance sOeiety-Asialresses
by the Rev. DIR. John Hail nnd %. Is.
Frothing hn m-IecsOIu tiOns Offered by
Aaron M. Powell.
meeting OF friends OF temperance, called by
the National Temperance Society," was held at the
matinee room oil Stelnway Hall yesterday alter
noon. There was q fair sprinkling OF ladies among
the audience. Mr.. William n. Dodge presided
The Rev. John Hall delivered an address on the
social Drinking Usages." He said there
was a very large class OF persons en-
gagged IN distributing Intoxicating drinks
all over the country. There was not
much to be hoped from the attempt to deal
with this class OF peoples but there are many
Christians who have erred In regard to this subject,
and would abandon these evil nsages if their atten-
ton were only called to the importance OF their
doing 50. In social gatherings and at public
tertainments strong drinks were almost invariably
offered. He had been at some OF these entertain
ments and was compelled to say that when they
lasted until pretty late hour the men were almost
all in such a condition as TO make them
VERY UNCoNGENIAL SOCIETY
for anybody who had been drinking cold water all
the evening. Young people were habituated to
these beverages by the present social usoms,
which tended to give an air OF responsibility
young men to think that their luncheon
or dinner was incomplete without their
glass OF wine. These social customs tended to
nulli1y all the advlces OF the friends of temper
ance. When young men drank at the tables-thc
hosts OF which they esteemed more than any other
OF their lriends-they certainly could not be eX-
pected to heed the advice they heard from the pull
pit on the day previous He wanted TO put it to
the good sense OF Christian people whether young
people would abstain from drinking when they saw
the glass OF wine at the lips OF their father or
mother. he had seen the bride watching with
lpst - WIN
that was being freely offered should rouse in him
THE WORST PASSIONS OF HIS NATURE
man needs to be strong one 10 resist the
temptation of drinking with his everyday friends
When the smallpox threatened them in this city
they were all substantially agreed upon measures Of
prevention. When the contagion had been most
dreadful II was still limited: but here was con-
tagion compared with which all the ravages OF
smallpox were mere tribes The social customs
OF the present age tended also to demOraiize those
that served them. What was 1.-THE thing for the
paror was also 1.-THE thing for the Kitchen. The
cook and the coachman wanted a lew "stimulants"
till they finally became drunk and had to be dis
missed. They were responsible for this form Of
moral decay Ne did not mean to say that ali the
evils OF this system could be CLASSIFIED or enumer-
ated. Every man and every woman who con-
tributed be It only IN the smallest degree to these
laTnehtable results was responsible for them before
God Almighty. He would venture the statement
that there was much more
DRINKING AMONG THE HIGHER CLASSES
than was commonly supposed: there was much
more drinking among females-young females
than was commonly supposed. II things would 20
on in This way for the next ten years the country
would DE in sad condition indeed 1t was ser.
vile spirit OF imitation which led them TO adopt
what were supposed to be the usages OF good so.
ciety across the water. II was d,sgraceful spirit
OF imitation. Applausel. He wished 10 say to
Christian women especially 10 set their faces
against those customs that made drinking respect
able.
Mr.. DODGE said he was reminded OF a fact that
came to his knowledge last week. A scholar in one
OF the most respectable schools oil the city said to his
mother :-"lf did not love you so much would DO
as the other boys are dong-they go to the bars at
lunch time and have a glass OF wine with their
lunch" People who gave parties and furnished
champagne and wine knew the condition OF the
young men at o late hour OF the evening. ne knew
OF one OF the weathest ladies on the Filth avenue
who had always had champagne at all her parties,
but had been compelled to iorego the habit on ac-
count OF the condition In which she saw some OF
her young guests.
The Rev. CYRUS Foss said that the ladies' who
were In all matters the great moral relormers,
could bring this matter to triumphant issue.
AARON NJ. POWELL offered the following resolu.
tons, which were adopted
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this conference that
large proportion OF the prevailing ntemperance has ITS
ORR III the drinking usa2es associated BY custom and
THAT S az ScoSoc aor aSs
pooSc ue e me pesi sepE u rr 70 DC wsy
manus tneir disuse alike IN the family The social circle
Resoyea That u the words OF Bishop Potter fash
those whose education position gives them command.
ing sway over the OPINIONS and practices Of Others
lesson OF temperance relom-toal abstinence from all
liquors as beverage
The Rev. o. X. FROTHINGHAN said he aid not
agree with some remarks o. the Rev. John Hail.
hS thought that the drinking usages OF fashionable
society were much more harmless than thew mad
been in former times. He would be very sorry 10
think that every time man was spping glass OF
champagne he was dragging an unfortunate mortal
down 20 perdti0n.
The Rev. Mr. PAGE said there was a Congress.
sional Temperance society in Washington. en-
bracng some sixty senators and Representatives
which was very encouraging indeed. The condi.
ton OF foreign countries was even more lamenta-
Bile than IL was III the United states. In Cork lie
saw wine and brandy on the tables at meetings Of
Christian workers.
Alter lengthy discussion the meeting adj
burned.