Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-16
Christian Temperance Union.

The first public meeting of this
Union, since its organization, was
held at MelOdeOn Hall, on Tuesday
the 18th inst. The principal bust
ness of the meeting was the deliver
ing of an address by the President,
detailing and enforcing the various
purposes which the Union had
determined to undertake in the
interest of Temperance. The Pres
ident explained that the associ-
alton now entered upon a new
phase of action; that its previous
efforts had been confined to urging
on individuals the great danger of
drinking intoxicating liquors, even
in moderation, and administering,
to such as could be convinced,
pledge to abstain from so doing and
persuade Others to do so. Without
halting in its efforts in this direction
twas stated that the organization
proposed now to act in collective as
well as an individual capacity, and
to consider itself a combined and dis
ciplined army fighting in declared
war against all these causes which
tend to foster intemperance in the
community. To this purpose the
Executive Board, which the speaker
was representing on this occasion,
had, after due deliberatIon, adopted
the following programme of opera
ations:
First-TO extend the usefulness of
the Union by appointing lecturers,
chosen from among its members,
whose duty it should be to visit
various points in the county and
deliver addresses in the interest of
temperance and establish auxiliary
temperance unions. 1t was an
nOunced that the following men,
bers had been already appointed by
the Executive Board: A. G. Good
lett, r. I'll. Burney, III. C. Bats,
Rufus N. Rhodes, Esqs., and that
Mr.. Rhodes had already done good
work by delivering a public address
at Spring Creek Church and admin
istering the pledge to % persons
there. The President pointed out
that these special appointments did
not relieve other members from the
duty of considering themselves adj
vOcates of temperance but that the
youngest boy in the Union could do
much to promote the cause if it was
nj NJ al I'M
and influencing them to abstain,
and, at the least, retaining from
setting them a bad examples.
SecOnd-TO use every legitimate
method for procuring the enforce
ment of the laws, now habitually
violated, relating to the sale of i'm
tOXicating liquors. The speaker ex-
planned that some difficulty had oc-
CURED when attempts had been
made to enforce these laws, by which
the authorities had been discour-
aged in their attempt, but that the
best legal advice would be taken
and every effort would be made to
have the law executed, and if it
could not be executed as it stands,
thent procure the necessary amend
ments at the next session of the
General Assembly. The laws whose
violation was chiefly spoken of were
those which relate to the keeping
saloons opens on Sundays, and to
selling intoxicating liquors to
minors.
Third-TOprOvide for young men,
not provided with means for recre-
alton at home, reading room or
other place of meeting in which
they could have social intercourse
and healty recreation without COM
ing in contact with inducements to
intemperance. In urging this object
the speaker dwelt on some of the
social arrangements to modern So
ciety which he considered adverse
to home associations which ought
to bethe greatest safeguard of youth.
FOurth-To provide for periodical
meetings, lectures, &C., as a means
of keeping up the interest in the
temperance cause, and generally of
keeping the members of the Union
together, and reminding them that
they are united body combined
for the carrying out of a holy pur-
pose. The hope was expressed that
these two last purposes could be
combined in one enterpize.
Fifth-Raising the pecuniary
means for carrying out these pur-
poses. 1t was urged that the heads
of families, if they should be con-
convinced that they had an interest
in forwarding the work of the Union,
should pledge themselves to a SUBJ
scription of one dollar and a quarter
each for that purpose.
The meeting was well attended