The Russellville Democrat., 1886-02-18
The Temperance Movement
From its start.

The first of these temperance so
cieties Of which any record appears,
was organized in the County of
Lltchfeld, Connecticut, in 1889.
Upward of two hundred of the most
respectable Litchfield farmers formed
themselves into san association to
discourage the use of spirituous Il
quors." Temperance farmers of
that day, not only in Connecticut,
but throughout the country, were
marked men. Nobody would work
for them who could find more lib
eral' masters, for they Withheld from
them their usual eleven O'clock bit
ters,'' and the absence of rum from
the plougling matches, raisings and
husSing bees was regarded as an in
fringement Of the workers rights.
The next notable event in the his
tory Of temperance was the forma
lion OF the Union Temperance So
clety Of MORGAN, OF Northumberland,
organized il Saratoga County, New
York, April ID, 1908. A few extracts
from the constitution will snow the
fecbleness OF this beginning.
Section mo member shall drink
rum. gin, whisky, wine or any dis
titled spirits. except by advice OF a
physician or IN case OF actual dis
ease, also excepting at public din
ners, under the penalty of twenty
FIVE cents, provided this article shall
not infringe on any religious rites.
Section mo member shall be
intoxicated under penalty of twenty
Eve cents. This may be presumed
to have reference to ordinary DRINKS
and not the hiIarities of public din
ners and religions rites before men
toned.
Among the s'rcligious" rites cx
cepted IN the constitution OF this so
ciety at which member might be
drunk without loss of mem bership,
PROVIDED he paid twenty five cents
for that privilege, were funerals, we'd
dings, dedication Of churches, and
the like, it being the universal Gus
tom to furnish very strong refresh
ments on such occasions, where not
unfrequently the clergyman, rs well
as the lay members Of the company,
was brought under the influence Of
these evil spirits.
With such exceptions To the bind
ing force of their pledge it would
seem as if it were not necessary to
prosecute as fanatics" the members
OF these early temperance societies.
They we're certainly very temperate
with their temperance.
1t was not until 1888 that the con
clusion was reached, first, that ''the
traffic in ardent spirits to be used as
"a beverage is morally wrong aud
ought to be abandoned; second, that
an advance in the cause is demand
ed and that it is expedicnt to adopt
the total abstinence pledge as soon
as possible. If the members of the
temperance societies were 'fanatlcs"
what word could describe the total
abstinence men? II the first were
booted and annoyed these last were
sometimes actually IN danger of their
lives.
The Washingtonian movement
had its origin in tipping house in
the city of Baltimore in the year
lS40, with a company of half dozen
hard drinkers, who had formed them
selves into club ana who used TO
meet at a place called Chase's Tav-
ern. One night the Rev. Matthew
Hale Smith, a noted temperance
lecturer, was announced TO speak in
one OF the churches and they appoint-
ed two Of their number committee
TO 60 and hear HIM. The committee
brought back favorable report OF
the man and his doctrine, upon
which warm discussion arose.
This being over heard by the land
lord, he a: once broke GU. into a
TRADE against all temperance lect-
urers. The discussion resulted in
the six men forming themselves into
a temperance club which they styled
the "Washingtoniar. Total Abstin
ence Society" and adopting pledge
OF total abstinence from all intoxi.
eating liquors. They were soon in
vited TO other cities and towns. The
common people heard these men
gladly and drunkards by thousands
signed the total abstinence pledge.
Tho progress of the temperance re
form Tor the nine years from 1881 to
lS4O may be indicated by the follow
ing figures: In 1881 twelve millions
OF people drank seventy millions of
gallons Of liquor: in 1910, seventeen
millions drank forty three millions
Of gallons reduction of more than
one half. The Washingtonians ac-
complshed grand work, but their
one weakness was in separating re-
ligious services from their meetings.
Houston City. Texas, has a Little
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