Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-20
W. C. T. q.
Monthly Meeting OF the "Weman's
Christian Temperance UniOn.o

Monthly Meeting of the "W0man's
Christian Temperance Union"
REMARKS BY REV. R. sMITHsoN, PRESIDENT
ANDBY REV. ]. e. NOTWITHSTANDING STA
TIsTICs.
A Regular Monthly Meeting of the "Woman's
Christian Temperance Union was held in the
room of the Y NJ. C. a." at haIf-past3 O'Clock
last Tuesday afternoon. That our readersrmay
learn something Of the character Of lnese meet
ings we will state briefly the order of the pro-
ceedings Oh this OCCASION which was as follows
The singing of a hymn with Mrs. A. Il. Fultz
an accomplished vocal and instrumental mu
stefan, at the organ-reading OF a portion OF
scripture and prayer by Rev ]. E. Book
er, who prayed for strength to carry on
the work in which they were engaged. and for
the divine blessings upon all similar organfza-
tions throughout the world-singing OF hymn
hearing reports from the officers of the Asso-
citation in the following order: From the Vice
Presidents, of which there is one from each oil
the protestant denominations Of the city-Cor-
responding acknowledgements
dents of Coffee House, Colored Work, and Local
Press, followed by addresses from the Presi-
dent, Rev. r. Smithson, of the M. E. Church
South, and Rev. J. E. Booker, of the Second
Presbyterian Church.
REMARKS BY REV. RUMsEY sMITHsoN.
Rev. Mr.. Smithson said he would make some
remarks upon the purpose and working of the
organization. The name Indicated its charac-
ter-it was both a christian and a temperance
organization, and there could be no christiani-
ty without temperance. This Association here
was auxiliary to the State and National organ
izations. The w. G. T. U. was the largest or
ganization, exclusively of women. in the world.
Its purpose is to overthrow intemperance, by
saving drunkards, and by preventing persons
from becoming drunkards, which is to be eff
fected by the exercise of proper influences, and
setting the example Of total abstinence fl ON
the use of all intoxicating liquors as beverage.
The Bible forbids the use Of intoxicating
liquors, and the wine used in the sacrament OF
the Lords Supper should not be intoxicating.
The advocacy of total abstinence from intoxi-
eating liquors is not fanaticism, for it is the
doctrine of the Bible. II seeks in the end, and
as soon as possible, to destroy the traffic in in.
toxicating liquors. The traffic is wrong, be-
cause it causes so much evil. The destruction
of the traffic should be sought through legisla-
ton. These ends can be obtained by this Or
ganization by the establishment and success Of
a Coffee House; by getting into the local col
umns Of the Press articles in reference to its
work and by the dissemination of temperance
literature. The people should be educated upon
the subject of temperance, and that may be
done by circulating lavishly such literature as
'Ten nights in bar-room." Leaflets "Cru.
sader," &c.
When the public shall be properly educated
upon this subject then Staunton, which is now
sink Of 1niquity, caused by the liquor traffic.
will be as different from what it is now as heav-
en- is from earth. This organization is neither Sc
cret nor political-itsis simply for open and
earnest christian temperance work.
REMARKS OF REV. j. E. BOOKER.
He said he had never made temperance
speech. though he preached tempe ance every
Sund4y-never belonged to a temperance So
ciety before this one, and did not know what
may be expected in a temperance speech. He
said that we should be temperate in our words
and actions-that an Incorporate sermon did
more harm than good. He illustrated the evils
Of excess by reference to his own experience
when, young boy, he first went squirrel-hunt-
ing. In his ignorance of cunning. he supposed
that, if one loa of powder and shot would kill
squirrel at an ordinary distance, several 1 ads
squirrel on that occasion was at a considerable
distance, he put three loads of shot and powder
in his gun and fir. at the squirrel, when the
result was, that he was "kick ed" heels over
head. the gun burst, and the squirrel uninjur-
ed. His admonition was not to overcharge the
temperance gun. We should do the work of
Christ, and labor to save the dealers in liquors
as well as the drunkards.
The aid needed is the spirit of God, without
which nothing good can be done either in or
out of the Association. Pray. and then arise
from your knees and plead with the intemper-
ate, and then you will be temperate in word
and act. What is needed is practical plans
he first he would recommend is the establish
ment of q Coffee House in the business part of
the city. In this connection, he gave the his
tory of the establishment of such houses in
England, and their popularity and usefulness
and rapid multiplication; that capitalists soon
discovered that they constituted profitable in
vestments, even as mere business enterprises,
aside from the moral good they Effected
How" he asked, sis Coffee House to be made
a success here" and answered by saying that
"the watchword should be- 'Aduertise, ADVER-
TIsE, ADVERTISE that "pri1lter's ink must
be enployed"-that st does more than anything
else to ensure success in any enterpriSe-that "it
must be uSed." The advertisement should be
large and conspicuous.
It is important to publish the statistics on
the subject Contemporaries. They will stir the
hearts of the people to the very bottom. Think
of it-ten miles of barrooms in New York City,
where there is one barroom to every hundred
people, and one church to twenty-five thou
sand Statistics must be put before the people.
The Presbyterian Foreign Missions did not
succeed till the statistics were published and
made known.
He then addressed his remarks specially to
Misunderstanding that they should put on the
brakes-that they should make home the hap
piest place in the world for their children-that
they can do more than anybody else-that they
should exert their influence over their sons
when they are young, even in their infancy,
and then they would never have occasion to
say that "they cannot control the conduct of
their sons" eff this Association ever succeeds,
its foundation" he said, must be laid in the
family circle.'
Rev. Mr.. Smithson then made few brief re-
marks endorsing the views presented by Rev.
Mr.. Booker, and in the name of the AssOcia-
ton, thanking him for his address, after which
the Association adjourned with the benedic-
ton.
SOME STARTLING STATISTICS.
We suppose that the statistics we publish be-
low are of the character of those TO which Rev.
Mr.. Booker referred when he said that their
publication would stir the hearts of the people
to the bottom -
RUM VS.. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Education.
Schools in the United Statesman. 14l ,629
1eachers 2a 2d 0 0a
Annual Expense for Education. $95. 4O2 726
Rum,
Retail Liquor Sellers in the United
States. .,............ 1bUU.V
Cost of Liquor in the States and Ter .
ritorieS in 1878 0cJ
Reorganization.
Rum - .... S7I5, $500
Education. ............... 95 402,726
Rum over Education. $500, l72, 274
RUM VS. RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Religion.
Clergy in the United States.. S3,637
Church Mamb s..................... II ,459 53i