, 1874-12-20

will be able to accomplish very important results
Temperance reyivals, however, have failed thus
far in permanently redee1ning any consider
nble number OF fallen men. The req
sons for this failure are obvious. and
will readily suggest themselves to anyone who
will take the trouble to investigate the circum-
stances under which such REVEALS arc usually
held The members OF ths Club bave in numer-
ous instances attended temperance meetings at
we're eloquent and earnest. At such meetings
they have observed that papers containing
THE USUAL PLEDGE
were signed BY men who, carried away by tho
enthusiasm of the occasion. thought themselres
willing and alta to abstain in the future from
intoxicating lie2~rs. They have observed. also,
that most Of tll> signers who succeeded in keep
ipr their pledge woro men who would not in all
human probability hnye allowed themselves to
become drunkarls. even it the pledge had not
been presented to them. The other c1asa gen
orally consisted OF men who were either iuto1i-
Gated at tho time Of signing, or who we're just
recovering from the effects OF recent debauch.
With the latter class tho observance Of the
pledge has generally been but momentazy.
While the 1efor1natory mood lasted it vas
indulge, but in nearly every instance. the appe-
tito proved stronger than the will, and the rcso-
lutiou to reform only lasted until an opportunity
to drink presented itself. Your Committee,
however. docs not think that the kind Of meet
ings referred to should be abandoned. Such
worl; which it is proposed to enter upon, not
only bv inducing many to sign the customary
pledge, but also By furnishing the names Of those
who are desirous, hut unable unless assisted, to
reform themselves. Your
COMMITTEE WOULD THEREFORE, RECOMMEND
that, at as early day as practicable, proper
places in various parts OF tho city BE- secured, at
which meetings can be held and pledges present.
ed to all those desirous Of reform, aud that the
work Of individual effort should be then iume-
datelv entered upon.
Organized societies whose purpose it is to
redeem individuals have thus far proved,
to limited extent, successful. This
result. while in great measure
gratifying to the friends OF temperance. has not
been a. extensive IS it might have been, and has
have adhered to or departed from few princi-
pics to which the Committee now invites the at
tention OF the Club
TIE DESIRE FOR STRONG DRINK
Is undoubtedly a disease. In Bomc cases 1t is
easily cured in others It is we'll nigh incurable
go overpowerlug that neither personal ambition,
pride. hope, or love, on the one hand, nor dis
tress, shame sickness, or poverty on the other,
can resist it. In others. however, this desire,
having been but recently acquired, and not hay
ing taken strong hold upon the victim, can be
more readily overcome. The extent OF tue ap-
petite being thus varied, will. in almost every
case, require different treatment. Some men
will, upon being convinced thai they are wrong
ing either. others or themselves. Immediately
parent effort, and will remain for years, aud
often during their whole lives,
STRICT TEMPERANCE MEN.
To such men only arguments and facts need be
adduced in order to persuade them to abandon
the Use of intoxicating drinks. and while your
AkA1 -4xf1 nd
to do nothing more than to sign the pledge aud
to abstain. yet it feels that if large proportion
Of that class in this community can be secured
in the manner suggested, very important end
will be accomplished. Others are not so easily
although the work required to effect
times appears. Individuals belonging to this
class are numerous and are generally known as
moderate drinkers. They are usually Of
PuLEaMAT1c TEMPERAMENT;
are not men either Of large capacity or quick
and are usually both self-opinionated
only by those who know them and the means
best calculated to influence them. The i'm
portance OF reforming this class is very great.
Tile influence which ia welded by it;
the impression that moderate drinking is
not hurtful. to which it giyes currency; and the
example which it sets, are among tho most pow
erful OF the obstacles which temperance reform
ers will hayc to overcome. Your Committee feels
that the plan which it ia about to submit will ba
found, upon trial, to DO the most ef1ectual OF
sny that have heretofore been devised. and TINT
for the reason that the means which it is pro-
posed to employ will be those OF reason and not
of force.
Another class Of men whose reformation will
70 found to be diiiicult is commonly known as
OCCASIONAL 6pnEgns,
he obstacles in the way OF whose reformation
ire much more numerous than is usually sup
An q
II good education, considerable talent, and gem
,rous impulses. Flo il always ready to admit
hat drinking is at once hnrtfu1 and degrading.
md will abstain OF his own FREQ will for consd-
eryals, which, az he increases in rears.
,row shorter and shorter. allows himself
o become influenced ty the opportunities Of
supposed friends. and when ho has permitted
himself to he persuaded into one indulgence
eela that he is freed from all restraint, and then
,lunges into excesses which are unknown both
o the moderate drinker and confirmed inebriate-
This class is composed in great measure OF
'oung men who are dependent upon their
a!ar1es rs means Of livelihood, and who, while
u an intoxicated condition, expend all the means
hoy possess, and oftentlmes lose thoir Eitua-
ions. When such results occur they are over
covered with feelings OF
HUMILIATION AND nENonsR,
nd often plunge deeper and deeper into ex-
esses which short time before they thought it
IMPOSSIBLE to reach. Ills claea can only Do
aved by interesting it's members strongly in the
york Of temperance reform, aud by engaging |
hem actively i'll doing tl'oae things which
ri1l serve to remind them constantly Of
he dangers they themselves arc passing |
Lrough. But Que class remains to be noticed,
nd that is the ole called habitual drunknrds or |
onfirmed inebriates. This class is composed |
7holly Of the graduates Of the three classes !
bove mentioned. The degradation raached BY |
Is members has never been felt, although often !
iitnessed, By any others than themselves. Your |
committee does not propose to indicate even the |
2tent Of it. It is sufficiently great however, |
0 cause most OF those who havs known it to |
esre honestly and sincerely to reform, and |
our Committee believes that, by proper effort,
uch reformation may bo effected
THE DIFFICULTY
'hich all such drunkards experience is to be |
ouud both in the incredulitv with whicl, their
romises to reform are met by the great mass OF
lankind. and in that state OF despondency which |
produced by troubles, either actual or lmagin-
r, which surround them. It they could see .
~ by which they could again gain the conf
eucc Of men, and could be convinced that their |
.oubes we're not serious, or had, as q matter OF |
vet. no existence whatever, their reformation
mid he eirnr1a eaav and rnrnlfata.