New-York tribune., 1874-05-16
A TEMPERANCE EYPEDIENT.


isolated reform, unaccOmpanicd by thorough
change OF character, may be depended upon az
permanent and conclusive. Excitement, whether
moral, political, or religious, cannot be forever
maintained at a fever heat-the important
question is what waits the receding waves Of
a revival of any sentiment or opinion may
leave upon the solid shore, to be Incorporated
into the general structure Of society. Looking
for temperance intelligence, we find nothing
new of more importance OF fuller Of sugges-
ton than the meeting OF Boston clergy
men held recently "tO consider and take
"such measures as could be agreed upon
"for general temperance movement
"throughout all classes in the city" There
was, we are sorry to say, upon this
occasion, very little unanimity manifested.
even of general and fundamental opinion. So
many professional speakers being together.
there was, of course, a plenty OF speaking.
and it was curious TO see how scctarian ear
nestness asserted itself at time when cath
olicity of labor would seem to have been ab-
solutey essential. We do not mention this TO
censure it but we are bound, for full un-
derstandlng of the subject, to register all tho
facts. The pastors being assembled, the Rev.
Mr.. McKeown suggested that no other organ
ization than the Boston Evangelical Alliance.
already in full bloom, was necessary. Another
gentleman tmdly suggested that this would
cut off all the Unitarian and Universalist
workers in the good cause. The Rev. Mr.
Clark thought that too many societies would
lead to confusion. 1t was finally decided
that mans opinions about dogmas OF
theology should not be regarded as rendering
q. - hn
voted to appoint Committee to report plan
of organization, but the interest n the ALTAR
seemed TO be over, for while the Chairman
was arranging the Committee "two-thlrds OF
"those present left the hall" There had been
a good deal of debate also about the question
whether moderate drinkers" should DO
allowed to join the movement, and the very
prospect OF this filed several souls with some
what Incorporate horror. Really we do not
think that the new Association in Boston IS
likely to 90 very far, even though 1t should
get upon its legs; but it has our best wishes.
if it considers them of any value.
This matter of hard drinking is one about
which it seems to be next to Impossible Tor
people to think philosophicaly. The fact that
temperance depends upon character is persist
emily ignored. A man who has ruined him.
self and his family by tipping, who has
spoiled his fortunes, damaged his reputation,
and weakened his will by self-indulgence, IN
q moment of uncommon penitence or OF des-
perate lack of money is persuaded to sign
"a pledgen He promises not to drink even
iager-beer but does he promise to be Wise
and industrious ITO fill his life with worthy
actions 7-to be unselish and truthful, save
upon single point7 A great deal is said
about "breaking the pledge" but pledge
hcedlessly or carelessly taken is broken from
the start and in certain sense, in the very
act of taking it, 1t is seldom understood that
character should be fully rounded and uni
| versal, and that the mere writing OF ones
name is no guaranty of regeneration. 1t may
put him in the right way, but he must keep
himself there. The pledge is no taisman, no
costly charm, no amulet to make It's taker
sober. Many man has suddenly arrested
himself in his downward career, has promised
his own soul to stand by new resolutions, has
kept the unuttered or unwritten vow, and in
the end has conquered; and on the other
hand many man has died in drunken fit
| after signing forty pledges. What reformed
man ought to understand ia that he must. by
constant vigilance, by calm reflection, and by
honest endeavor, reform himself upon all
sides-that he is not at liberty to be idle or
lcentious, uncharitable or selfish, simply be-
cause he has become temperate. Without
conscience thoroughly armed for all emer-
gencies without an honest desire to do right
in all things, without continually enlarg-
ing views Of duty to himself and to
others, the reformed man will almost
always, through the operation of natural
causes, break down; or III he is preserved, it
will be by accident. And what is true Of in
dividuals is true Of the aggregate population.
After great spasmodic revival of temperance,
how often have We witnessed a lamentable
backsiding, with all vitality turned to death.
and all earnestness to Indifference. The causes
of this are hardly far to seek. The true re-
formation is that which is based upon honest
thought, upon o repentance which touches
| every fiber Of the reformed mans nature, upon
| clearer notion Of the value of life and Of tho
sacredness of this first gift of God. Our ad-
vice to those who are struggling for dlsen-
| thrallment is to seek for general growth or
| the whole nature, and for complete and nos
a one sided manliness. 1t is failure to recog-
nize this which gives rise to continual dis
putes among temperance men, and when
makes great deal Of excellent and earnest
| work of no avail.