Smyrna times., 1874-10-28
For the Smyrna Times" GNO.Ll
A Brief History Of the Smyrna Tenn
perance Society from February 1888
to June 1888.
For the Smyrna Times. "

This Society believe was formed in 1881,
though | am not in possession of any record
stating the fact The recollection of friend
whose memory can be relied on, says it was In
existence in that year.
The burst of indignation that spread over
the land at the waste of property, aud mental and
moral ruin of the men Of that period, who fell
victims to the Demon Intemperance, was par
ticipated in by the inhabitants of our own little
village. Even in this unpopulous and secluded
neighborhoOd, (where nothing was prominent
but merchandise and 1aethOdiSDI,) and in the
villages scattered round for the distance of
twelve miles each, were found a number of
young men, who might have been blessing to
their several communities, and made the homes
of their nativities renowned through the length
and breadth of the land, by the proper use of
the talents which God had given them. In an
hour of mirthlul glee, perchance in the ball or
barrOom, or in the vestibule OF the theatre, or
circus, they raised the Circean cup to their
| lips, and became enamored with its contents,
and fell victims for lite to the intoxicating
| beverage.
A similar history was repeated all over the
land Then broken hearted parents,-sorrow
stricken widows, impoverished children lifted
up their hearts to God for help. Then re-
action took place. Upon investigation it was
found that thirty thousand men in these United
States were annually going down to the drunk
ards grave.
Public attention was aroused, and men OF
high degree united with men of low degree,
and children with their parents, servants with
their masters, and ministers with their congre-
cations to arrest this dire disease, this infamed
appetite, this moral evil that was depopulating
the country more than war, pestllencc OF
famine.
Temperance Societies were formed all over
the country. Temperance speakers were abun
dant, and our own church aud people were
foremost in the ranks An old frame building
Situated on retired lot) denominated thu
Asbury NJ. E. Church, threw open its doors
r for the accommodation of the moral retormers
Sometime in February 1888, the Board o
managers appointed committee to wait OIL
the Rev. Messrs Highly aud Scott to solici
them to address the Society at its next meet
ing on the 2Gth instant
E The Rev. Mr.. Highly here alluded to wa
, Rector of the p. +. Church of this place.
am at a loss to know who the Rev. Mr.. Scot
, was, unless it was he who is now one of tn
, Bishops Of the NJ. Il. Church. At this time ther
were ninety eight male members, and seventy
eight female members Of the Society, maxim
in all one hundred and seventy-six. The mem
bership was large, considering that the pOpuls
, tion of Smyrna was small at that time.
; Among these members are the names
. many ministers of the NJ. Z. Church, boil
: itinerant and local, who took an active part
= the Temperance Reformation. There are ais
), the names of a number among the young lay
men Of that day, who afterwards becam
!, travelling or local preachers astonishing I'll
4 communities in which they lived by their talen
! and usefulness. Among those names is or
:. which 6its before my mental vision who was
!, good little Methodist boy, who lived near tt
f writer, who is now a Bishop in another churcl
. Not only the people in America, but those
= Europe are astoniShed at his successful care,
in establishing Reformed Protestant Episc
n pal Church.
q In the above history We have a suficie
r. verifcation of the old adage, that men a
so known by the company they keep.
" 1t is a strong argument in favor of Temper
al ance Societies, that they have tendency
\ develop the good and useful traits of charaCte
N While | look over thes: records | can ira
h the increased benefits of these assocatio
h. upon human life. In looking over the oppOsi
IN course, its tendency to evil, its sinful associ
n. tiOns, its morbid appetitcs, its culrable negle
nt of health, fortune and character, its reject
he Of scriptural authority and the short lives of
4 votaries, we should say good Lord deliver o
ii young men from its baneful Influences
lv October 18th, 1874. =.