Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-03
Washington.

The temperauce cause is said to, bear thesams. relation to rayivals, as John tthe Baptist did to the ministry of our Savior, preparing the way. We will not stay to argue this pomt, but ,certainfit is, that previous to the general revivals of 1851, the first general movement in this cause was made ia this country by, the organiza- tion of temperance societies &c. The first society in this county, if not in the state, was formed at Lime Rock, in Salisbury, in 1926, among the colliers of that. place.
 This led to the consideration of the evils of intemperance and the only available remedy, vlz..total Abstinence, and also the benefits of especial action, and mutu- al abstinence. A county society was or ganized in 1827gorg i28 with ex-Governor John Colton Smith of Sharon as Presi- dent, Elijah Sherman of Woodbury. Eras- tus Lyman of Goshen and others as Vice Presidents and Epaphro Goodman of Torringford as secretary.
 | The " Wasiington temperance society " as organized, April, 1892 We have sad that the way had been prepared by the revival of the, proceeding year. As the Spirit of God and the espirit of alcohol can not abide permanently in the same heart, one or the other must be excluded. Sev- eral of the subjects of king Alcohol be. came the servants of Christ, or freedmen hop ko fhoir
 Meetings were held monthly, communica- tions were held with other societies by the appointment of delegates, who returned with encouraging reports. Addresses were given, Temperance papers and tracts distributed and the pledge circulated throughout the community. Several of the most influential men entefed with their whole heart into this work and wo- men and youth generally. Within the period of four years, from 1928 to 1884, if we are not mistaken. two merchants dis continued the traffic, and one distillery ex- tinguished it's fires. The other continued many years longer, we think, with dimin- ished business, and at least one half of ot the cider mills discontinued operations as it was thought tlfat apples were worth moro for feeding than for distillation. We suppose at that time vinegar was not as scarce in New York as it has been the past season. It is true the cause encountered some opposition. Hard things were said on both sides and some relapsed, but we believe the moral sentiment of the com munity was against tue manufacturing, sale. and use of distilled spirits as early as 1883. About this time the Washington Total Abstinence Society was formed, en- bracing about three fourths of the old so- ciety and ]suchgnew members as they could induce to sign the pledge to abstain from
 all intoxicating drinks as beverage. In 1S4l the Washingtonian movement was inaugprated by reformed mens~ some of whom did good service to the cause, and some we regret to say did more injury than good. But still the good work went on until as we thought iptempefapce was banished from the place, men of all par- ishes uniting to, prevent its sale. For nearly twenty-five years we do not recol- lect seeing an intoxicated person in this place. But Q change has taken place since. In our next we propose to ask some questions. and point to the dangers and duties of the present time. s.