Smyrna times., 1874-12-16
For the Smyrna Times" mo. IL
A Brief History Of the Smyrna Tenn
peranoe Society from February,
1888, to June, 1888.
DEsULToRY REMARKS ON THE INCIDENTS
Connected WITH THE SMYRNA lem
PERANCE SOCIETY.

The members of this Society repudiated the
practice of separate effort, to effect any great
or speedy reformation. They knew this gigan-
tic immortality must yield, when the combined
influence of the temperance element was
brought to bear against it, They were unlike
the soldier in our Revolutionary struggle, who
belonged to no arrangement, and answered the
nterrogations put to him by saying, he was
fighting on his own hook. They vallanty
preferred the regular army for combat, to the
optional position of a straggler. Their scien-
tiic man9uVring insured success, and unabed
them to get supplies from the opposing army.
to form an additional society in the village, and
eleven in the country. | am unable to tell the
number Of members belonging to all these soc
eties, but from what know of only three. to
give the balance the moderate number of fifty
each, would make more than 1,l00 members
The efforts of this Society were continued until
it eliminated in the main ld,0 in about twenty
years from it's origin.
A great deal is said about the prevalence Of
Jug tGUerns during the two years existence OF
the law, which the lovers of alcoholic beverages
bring forward to prove that the law was only a
dead letter. TO the temperate, it seemed oil
inestimable benefit, as it banished from our
village thousands of gallons yearly, and con
fined the traffic to few paltry jugs, and boxes
labeled glass" Then, good order prevailed
in the town; and if intemperance was INDUCED
in, it was confined to some sequestered spot
and made no exhibition of itself in our prlnci
pal streets and thOrOug hfares.
cannot conclude this history without paying
a tribute of gratitude and respect to the msm
ory of the Rev. jacob Moore, who has lonl
since gone to his heavenly home. Five or sil
years previous t. the formation of this Societ!
he was the Presiding Elder of this district, t
which Smyrna belonged. Smyrna was not a
that period known as q separate station, bu
was a component part OF the circuit. He ha,
q good opportunity OF being acquainted will
the habits of the people on this Peninsula
He ascertained in his travels that stron
beverages were resorted to, not only as preVeu
tive of the chills, but as pleasant and collie
quial beverage. This habit was not cOn6ne
to the irreligious, but practiced among his ow
people. His heart did not quail before tn
gigantic work that lay before him, and like
; faithful messenger Of God, he boldly made a
onslaught on the prevailing and popular sin {
the day. His was the first blast Of tn
bugle sounded for war on the habit
of the church members on this PENN
; sula. He drew his sword from its scabbar
and threatened war to the hilt. lie expose
the practice called hospitable, of furnishing tn
, dining table with the brandy decanter. Iii
efforts to eradicate this unmitlgated evil frOI
the social life of religious professors, found OF
pOnents even smOns the clergy. Truth
! omnipotent and must prevail so did the worj
: he spoke. He was good man, preacher
: considerable ability, and an enthusiastic adm
: rer of the church to which he belonged. Th
: doctrines, usages and peculiarities of Motl
v odism were to him fruitful topics Of discussion
. . He contributed his full share to the enHghte
! ment of the public mind on the subjs
:. of this history, and we find in the course
q events, that societies for the promotion
f temperance sprang up, and like the falling
). the gentle dsws upon vegetation, nurtured Il
n precious seed wherever sown This realizatiC
a of the Scriptural promise which says Ca
h thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt fr
% it after many days" is encouraging to Il
!, philanthropist and christian.
" December 7th, 1874.