San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-06-10
National Temperance Society.
New York Observer.

The twenty-first annual meeting OF
the National Temperance Society and
Publication House was held in this
city, Tuesday May IL, 1886, Rev. DIR.
7. L. Cuyler, President. The report
of the Corresponding Secretary, Mr..
j. N. Stearns, as then presented,
calls attention to the fact that the
year just closed witnessed the cele-
bration of the One Aundredth Ami.
versary of the Temperance Reform
in America. Mention is made Of the
wonderful advance in public senti-
ment, and the gratifying progress in
the line of Legislation in almost every
State where legislatures have been
in session, and no backward step has
been taken. Laws have been better
enforced, organizations multiplied,
and public opinion strengthened
throughout the land.
The report continues: "Pulpits
have been more outspoken and church
deliverances more pronounced against
the drink and the drink traffic than
ever before. Liquor organizations
have sprung up all over the land with
immense funds, and the liquor inter
est is openly defying wholesome laws
and insulting the Christian sentiment
of the nation. The attention of the
Congress of the United States has
been more largely called to this ques-
ton, and it receives much more care
full and respectful treatment than at
any time during the century Just
closed. Meantime the imperative
necessity of emphasizing the educa,
tional work in all its branches, and
the vital Importance of using all NOR
al means possible to convince the peo'
pie of the uselessness and evil OF the
drink, is fast taking possession OF al
true friends Of the cause, and in this
department great progress has been
: made the past year.
The business of the past year has
been more in the tract and pamphlet
line than ever before, which brings
increased labor, but which reaches a
much greater number of people. The
Society has now 900 different temp
erance tracts upon it's catalogue
which have circulated to the extent
of 9O,OOO,OOO of pages These are
published at so low a. price as to
make this branch Of work largely of q
missionary character, but which is
one of the first importance.
: During the year seven new books
fifteen pamphlets and sixty-six tracts
lesson leaves and other publications
have been added to the list, making
} eighty-eight new publications, and @
!, total of 1,471 now on the catalogue
The missionary work of the Society
consists in part as follows:
l, The work among the freedmen
of the South, in sending missionaries
: and literature to ministers, churches
3 educational institutions, etc.
2. The work in Congress for Ma
tional Commission of Inquiry into
the results of the liquor traffic, ant
to look after other national temper
? ance interests at the capital of th'
] nation.
, 3. The holding of conference, con
, ventions, mass meetings, Sabbatl
1 evening services, and other gathering
t and meetings in different parts of tn
I, country.
:. 4. The endeavor to introduce tenn
3 perance textbooks into the publ
schools of the nation.
5. The furnishing of literature tc
! prisons, hospitals, penitentiaries
s shops, jails, and in other needy 10
+ calities.
. The Society may fairly claim T.
have made its influence strongly fel
5 in Georgia. The report says: 9Th
n State of Georgia has been coveret
J, witha a temperance literature for sev
= eral years through the two or thre'
=, hundred students of Atlanta Univer
sity, who carried it with them int
every county in the State as the.
!, went from the university in the sum
e me- season to teach public and pri
vate schools. to obtain a little none.
. to aid in completing their education
The six higher colored universitie
: and schools of Atlanta, with nearl.
n two thousand pupils, all Of whicl
0 have had q thorough temperance in
a struction and training, were unanl
i mously against the open dram-shol
in the recent campaign which re
u suited in the splendid victory 10
e prohibition few months ago.
e The following statement in refer
ence TO finances calls for cOngratula
tons: I'VE come to the close OF on
fiscal year with better financial e1
r hibit than ever before in the histOr.
r Of the Society. Not only have th
e receipts been greater in the Publica
o ton Department than ever befor'
but the donations for the MissiOnsr
Fund have been greater than TO
many years past. and our indebted
+ ness less than any preceding ann
] versAry day Mr. W d PorteI