Smyrna times., 1874-11-04
For tha I" SIN, rna Times"
For tha SMYRNA Times" mo 81
A Brief History of the Smyrna Tenn
p9rance Society from February 1888
to June 1888.

An adjourned meeting Of the Smyrna Tenn
perance Society was held on the evening of the
10Th of February, 1888, according to appoint
ment At this meeting an invitation was given
to all persons who wished to join, TO come for
ward and give in their names, of which a
number availed themselves. In this instance
we find the minds of the people were fully
made up to unite with the Society. They
seemed to be convinced of the necessity of such
an organization to effect deliverance from the
iron rule OF the despotic king Alcohol. We
see they required no begging, no argument to
induce them to unite in the Temperance ranks.
They we're ready and willing to work and fight
against an enemy from which they had suffered
SO much.
The committee appointed to wait on the
people Of color reported they had received the
names of thirty-tour. The colored people of
that day wOrshipped in tie same church with
the white people, having their seats in the gal
| leries. They met at the same time and place
for preaching and prayer meeting, having only
separate meetings for their Glasses and Love
Feasts. When a child often frequented their
Sunday class, which was very popular with the
white membership. Quite number of the
old people belonged to it, and some of them
were very piOus aud gifted, yet somewhat Pc
culiar, and their experiences were very interes-
ting. | have heard of preacher who was so
amazed when he first led this class, that he
said if the colored people spoke in that kind
of style he did not know what he should do
when he led the white people.
At meeting for the election Of delegates
, during the same month, to the State Conven-
ton, the Secretary read very interesting letter
from Judge Hall, exhorting them to diligence
, in the cause, affirming it to be his decided
opinion that, by perseverance,, they would be
? able to accomplish all their desire in roofing
out the great evil of intemperance. 1t wa'
then resolved that the Secretary address copies
= of Judge Halls letter to each society in tn,
. neighborhoOd. In order to understand thu
y magnitude of the work the Smyrna Temper
ance Society had undertaken, we have only t
refer to the 5th article of thei: bylaws, which
t reads thus: 1.-The present operation of tn
g board Of managers shall be more especially
$ directed to the following named School dis
trcts-in New Castle County No. 67, 68, G.
II and TO- in Kent County, No. |, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 7, aud to each district a committee shall b
o appointed according to the provision made i
the 4th Article, thus In order that the effort
r of the Board may be more systematic and eff
e cient, the managers shall be divided into com
n mittees, and district of county assigned t
y each in which it shall be their duty to circu
n late such tracts (under the direction of the eS
)f ecu.lve cOmmltteel as may be put into thei
h hands-to ascertain the number of persons i
ID their district who are willing to join the Ten
O. perdnce Army and when, and wherever praC
10 ticable to organize Societies"
le From the earnest and persevering effort
ID which the managers OF this Society entere
upon their work, which was nothing less lha
G. a moral revolution. they could not but Obtai
re victory. Their frequent business meetings {
r. the Offices OF their members, their MONTH
t, meetings at the NJ. Il. Church, where speecht
were delivered, and books opened. to registt
}" the names of new members. who were col
~ stantly being enrolled, indicate their eerne
h, determination to conquer this sin introduce
ly among our soldiers during the war of Ind
pendence, and which h d become in less tina
IN fifty years the besetting sin OF the nation.
tn October 2Sth, 1874. -.