Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-07

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| Our New York Letter.
TIE WAR ON ALCoHoL-A FLANK MOVEMENT ON
THE ENEMY-BRoTHER TALAAGE's TROUBLES
BROADWAY AND TIE STAGES.
NEW YORK. Feb. 4, 1879.
10 the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
The temperance question is. perhaps, the
most difficult to deal with of all the social
problems. Hundreds of devoted men have
dedicated their lives to warfare upon intem-
perance. The Francis Murphys plead and
declaim against it the John B. Coughs
hurl the myriad shafts of wit, sarcasm, clo-
quence, and impassioned denunciation
agannst it, the Neal Bows, the Crosbys
and the Cctters, legislate and organize
against it , but still the evil exists, compare
lively undated. What is the matter? In
temperance being freely acknowledged
evil, can nothing more effective be done to
mitigate il?
The solution of this question is about to
be once more attempted here in New York,
and in somewhat novel way. The expert
menters on this new line seem to have
reached the conclusion that total abstinence
may come as part of the millennium,
but is almost too much to hope for at
the present day. The result is the in
corporation of an association to be known
by the title Of The Business Mems Society
for the Encouragement of Moderation"
The purposes Of the society. as stated in the
certificate OF Incorporation, are to encourage
moderation in the use of alcoholic beverages
to promote a knowledge of science ard
statistics relative to the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic liquors to disseminate
among the people useful information re
garding the principles of moderation and the
means of carrying such principles into prac-
teal effect. The society intends to furnish
to applicants eithe. of three forms of pledges,
to wit total abstinence pledge, opera
tive for one year, and renewable there
after at the will Of the pied ger
a moderation pledge, binding the person
who takes it not to drink during business
hours; and finally, unique engagement
meant to prevent the person taking the
pledge from partakiDg Ofintoxicating liquors
at the expense of another person, and from
extending an invitation to any other person
to drink at his expense. Tho society is
also to exert its influence to induce retail
liquordealers to provide for teetotalers slim
ulating and nourishing beverages which
contain no alcohol. Still another purpose OF
the society is to encourage the establishment
of places. of cheap recreation and amusement |
where no intoxicating liquors shall be sold. |
The society will begin operations at once,
and its term of existence is fixed at twenty |
years. The incorpOrators of the society are
well-known citizens, and if its affairs are
wisely and vigorously managed. it may
render some practical service to the temper
ance cause.
Brother Talmage, the athletic and agile
of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, has
lively time Of it all around. lie breaches
widely advertised sermons on the gilded
vice" of New York, and most of the other
prominent American cities brooklyn always
draws great crowds to laugh and
applaud his performance and then, when
he pauses for echoes of commentator from
his clerical brethren, hears only stern rebuke.
At the meeting of the Brooklyn Presby-
terry. est,rday. Rev. Arthur Crosby read q
preamble and resolutions, charging, on the
OF common fame, that Dr. Talmage
rad been guilty of falsehood and deceit, and
with using improper methods in preaching
hereby bringing religion into contempt 4,
md providing that committee of three
minister's and two elders should be appointed
o investigate whether or not there was any
ruth in those rumors. DR.. Cuyler did not
ike Brother Crosby's resolution. 1t looked '
20 much like putting DR.. Talmage on trial, 4,
nd he, for one. was not willing to give
Brother Talmage the crown of martyrdOm c
Or sensational preaching. lie, therefore.
(iered substitute for Brother Crosby's a
,aper, which called for committee to visit
he Tabernacle and inquire into all the com 5
non reports. "Mo.e than this. :" said DR.. Q
'uyler, " we cannot do, and less We ought /
ct to do"
DR.. Cuyler's resolution WAS voted down, !
If, 81. Et,n Tai hn
elcomed all the committees they could send T.
the more the merrier DR.. Crosby's reso-
ition was adopted by vote OF y ayes to u
nays. So the committee has been APP =
ointcd and We shall all know, in tine. |
neither or no DIR, Talmage breaches sensa
Onal sermons. A
Some OF the facts which have led to this in C
cstigation were brought to light about ten u
avs ago, during the trial of a suit brought o
,c!c, to recover 81 ,342 claimed to he due o,
i'm from the Church. lt was shown that >
IT, Tamagc had sent telegram to his OF
,phew, John +. Talmage, ut Baltimore, II
king him and Mr.. Hobbs to subscribe y
5 900 each, and saying that if they would Il
, it three Others will do the same lie NJ
ljed For the Lords sake, say yes" "
bis despatch was followed by another, in .,
hich Mr.. Talmage asked his nephew 50
Will you and Mr.. Hobbs allow me to
edge you each for $4,000, provided ~ !"