The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-21
Old Wine In New Bottles.


Hall, in New York, last Friday evening, to
iuaugurate a new temperance movement,
have evidently taken a hint from human
nature. They have put head or title on
thcm> elves that is somewhat cumbrous, but
probably the exact nature and intention Of
the "BuSiness- Mems Society for the En-
couragement Of NIoderatiGnf''' 'co1rid not be
set forth in. fewer words. 1t cannot be
spoken so trippiDglv on the public tongue
rs the "Murphy movement" and il one
Yields to the irresistible cuphonical inclinn-
lion to call it Il society for the " encourage
mcnt OF moderate drinking" these gentle
men must not complain. They will speedily
be hndcystood; and SO soon rs their aims
and methods OF work arc thoroughly under
stood they will beappreciated and welcomed
as a new force in the reform iteld.
T.. The orieinators Of the "movemcnt en-
phaticallv diselaim any idea that this is anew
departure. They arc in entire sympathy
with total-ahstinence exhortcrS. They SIM
ply recognize the fact that prohibition has
tried to annihilatc the evil and failed;, that
LEGISLATION has tried and failed also ; aud that
religious societies that have undertaken, to
redeem the drunken world have not fully
succeeded. Now they propose to flank the
enemy. The new association is conservative.
They compromise between the inebriate aSy-
!um. which meets The mattcr'on purely ply
steal grounds. and the heroic treatment OF
the crusade. which woulG deal with q man
rs though he were a di>cmbodlcd spirit,
needing only abstract moral Influence. The
spccchcs made 1t thiS-Grst meeting were no.
;ircabic for their calm and moderate tone.
Nobody said that all lDen who sell alcoholic
lio,,ors are murderrrs. Nobody said tha.
all mcn who drink at all are on the down
Grade TO hell. There were no fervld per-
sonations OF lclirium trcmcnS. No special
drain was made on the sglnpathles OF the
audience, tlough an, unusual dcnlahd was
made on their commOn-scnsc. The speakers
EXPRESSED their profound sympathy with
total abstinence, and. their conviction that
if was the absolute test, not i'll view OF the
fact that after abstinence and prohibition
had had the field for century drunkenness
was on the iucfease, they raised the banner
of moderation, in the hope, by rational, and
practical means, or finally aGolishing the
evil. .:...
'rhis society. offers Tour pledges. The
first, called the red pledge, promises total
abstinence The second is white, and binds
the sigucr not 10 drink during business
hours. The third is blue, and prohibits
treating ut public bars, and the fourth. on
which is flag OF rcd white. and blue, lilu-
IFS the signer to nothing stronger than wine
and beer, and permits those only at meals
and in moaSratiCp r4IT oI@s These lGeEes 1eGes al AL
sacred honor" and The usual appeal
to God for help is omitted. This
is explained by saying that heretofore
:. entirely too much responsibility mas bcen
placed upon the Almighty" While all
ihcse pledees will be presented and urged
Inv the society, 1t is probable that the b!ue
njedec will do more immediate good than
any other, The custom OF treating WAS
denounced by several speakers as the most
fruitful source OF drunkenness, Drinking
is 4 social vice, and II the universal custom
OF treating can be abolished it VIII De i
death-bow TO intemperance. very lcM
men will drink themselves TO death III soii-
tude. 49,. =.
And lust here is where these gentlemen
have studied human nature. and are Apply
ing their knowledge like the solid business
men that they are. And it's greatly to their
credit; for they might have been enthusiasts
or Missionaries, or given themselves upto the
emotional insanity OF the crusade. But In
snite Of all temptations to work by othel
methods, they remain simple businessmen
who don't undertake contract unless ihe5
can deliver the goods. And reading ths
report Of the first meeting, We are lhclInet
TO agree with DR.. Crosby, wv ho said, "Gen
tlemen, this looks like business. rms iook
more like business THAI anything nav
seen for thirty ycars."- Washington Post
The Reformed Episcopal Church In Lou
tisyilie, Ky., has d;.sbandcd, the pastor, th
Rev. Benjamin johnson, having resignee
The church Pad been incorporated, an