West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-07-06
Temperance.
NO. III.

NUMBERS spoken OF the formation Vi
Temperance organizations, for the
expressed purpose of combating
and overcoming the numerous and
untold evils of Intemperance, IN
our country, we now come directly
to the history of the Temperance
societies in this wood county.
Our notice of these will be
necessarily brief simply an outline
of the efforts made.
On the Goth of December, 1882,
while the Rev. James McAboy, OF
the Presbyterian Church, was en-
gagged in conducting a protracted
religious meeting in the old Court
House in Parkersburg, seeing the
vast hindrances to the spread OF the
Christian Religion, arising from
intemperance in the use Of intoxi-
eating liquors among the people
generally, gave notice that on that
day he would deliver sermon on
that subject, in which he would dis
cuss the sins, evils, crimes and ex-
penses to men, and to society, arts
ing from that source of Wickedness.
This he ably did before a large au-
dience, composed of the most en-
lightened citizens Of this commu-
nifty. His text was taken from the
I'd chapter and 18th verse of Hab-
akkuk. His arguments and reas-
onings were unansWerable. lie
was followed by an address from
the Rev. John H. Power, Of the NJ.
e. Church, in one of his most able
and brilliant efforts. His illustra-
tions and arguments made a telling
effect upon that large audience.
The results were that thirty-fve
prominent gentlemen, headed by
the Rev. Reece Wolfe, of the M. E.
Church, and thirty-thrce ladies
signed the following pledge, which
was embraced in the third article
of the Constitution of the Temper
ance Society then organized
PLEDGE.
1--WE, whose names are hereunto
annexed, believing that the use of
ardent spirits is not only unneces-
sary, but injurious and destructive
to the social, civil and religious in
terests of mankind, do solemnly
pledge to each other and the world,
our sacred honor that we will not
use them, nor traffic in them, nor
will we provide them for the enter
tainment of our friends, nor for per-
sons in our employment: and in
all suitable ways and manners we
viii discountenance the use Of them
throughout the community"
OF the sixty-eight members who
first signed this pledge, only five
are now living, known to the wri-
ter. Public temperance meetings
were held frequently, and soon
this society numbered hundreds.
Other temperance societies were
organized in various parts of the
county, and great good was accom-
plished through their instrument
talities. These temperance efforts
continued in this county until the
winter of 1S40-41, when the WASH
ingtonjan movement took their
place, in holding up the banner Of
Temperance. But of this we may
speak hereafter.
Again, in noticing the fruits Of
this Temperance reformation, in
in 1884, one Of the greatest and
most fruitful revivals of the Chris
tian religion followed in it's train.
1t was general among all the Protes-
tant churches. In the winter of
1888 the first Presbyterian church
was organized in this city, being
The result of the ministerial labors
of the Rev. James McAboy, aided
by the labors Of the Rev. Mr.. Cal
houn, Of Charleston, Kanawha Co.
Under the ministerial Iabors of the
Rev. John H. Power, Of the NJ. e.
Church, upwards of three hundred
members were added to that church
in the Little Kanawha Circuit.
The Baptist Church received a
large increase, and a Christian
church was organized and prosper
ed in those years, under the minis
terial labors Of the Rev Warwick
Martin. S. G. SHAW.
Leafy Glen, W, Va, !