The Newtown bee., 1891-07-03
Early Temperance Movements.
"The mills of God grind slowly,
But they grind exceeding small. >

1.-THE mills of God grind slowly,
But they grind exceeding small"
The early temperance workers aimed
at moderation in the use of liquors, rath-
er than total abstinence. The first tenn
perance society in this country, entitled
1.-The Temperate Society of Moreau and
Northumberland, Gowns in the county
of Saratoga, N. Y.,) originated by Billy
Clarke, was based upon regulations like
the fol owing:
"No member shall be Intoxicated, under
penalty OF SOC. No member shall drink rum,
gin, whisl<ey, wine or any distilled spirits, or
compositions of the same, or any OF them, ex-
cept by the advice OF physician or in case of
actual disease (also excepting wine at public
dinners) under penalty of 25c, provided that
this article does not infringe any religious
ordinance. No member shall offer any of said
liquors to any other member urge any 9th
er member or urge any other person to drink
thereof, under penalty of 25c for each offense."
This was about 1908. Before this, the
first Continental Congress had, in IVA,
recommended ''the several Legislatures
of the United States Immediately to pass
laws the most effectual for putting stop
to the pernicious practice of distilling,
by which the most extensive evils are
likely to be derived, if not quickly pre-
vented" In 1899, 200 farmers of Itch
field, Conn.,, determined not to use any
distilled liquors in doing their farm work,
the ensuing season."
The Methodist church, from its foun-
dation in America, took decided ground
against the use and sale of liquors.
The writings of that eminent man of sci
ence, DIR Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia,
especially his Enquiry into the Effects
of Ardent Spirits upon the Human Body
and Mind" did much to awaken an inter-
est in the subject of temperance.
The general assembly of the Presby-
terrain church appointed committee of
seven ministers in 1911 to devise meas
ures for preventing the evils arising from
the Incorporate use of spirituous liquors.
In 1912, this committee recommended
that all Presbyterian ministers in the
United States deliver discourses ON the
evils of intemperance and that extended
efforts be made to circulate addresses,
sermons, tracts and other printed matter
en- this subject. The general association
of Massachusetts appointed committee
of four ministers and four laymen in 1911
to cooperate with the committee of the
general assembly of the Presbyterian
church and the general association of
Connecticut in devising measures for the
promotion Of temperance. In 1913, this
committee organized the massachusetts
Society for the Suppression of Intemper-
ance," which, in 1888, changed its name
to that of the Massachusetts Temper
ance Society,"" under which title it was
incorporated in 1916 and still holds cor
porate existence. The "American Soci-
ETY. for the Promotion of Temperance"
was formed in Boston in 1926. DIR JUS
tin Edwards of Andover, Mass, became
corresponding secretary of this society
and the five annual reports written by
him are considered among the best litera-
ture on this subject.
None of these societies insisted ON to-
tai abstinence; many of their leaders en-
couraged the culture of the grape and the
use of wine as preventive of intemper-
ance and we are told that 'sthe first re-
formers built brewery in Boston for the
accommodation of members of the tenn
perance society,"" At this time, out of a
white population of 100000, between
100000 and 1000, 900 are said to have
been habitual spirit drinkers, of whom
$4,000 drank daily on an average three
gills of ardent spirits, while an equal
number consumed more than twice that
quantity. The custom of treating visit
ors began to disappear in 1928. Even at
Washington, a congressional temperance
society was organized and some of the
most brilliant public men signed the
pledge. The poor said that, as they
could not afford to drink wine, the pledge
against distilled liquors took from them
the use Of all stimulants but cider and
beer, while the rich had wine which was
often az strong as Cognac brandy.
Accordingly, a new pledge was intro
duced, prohibiting the use of distilled
and fermented liquors. Tha first society
that adopted this pledge was the Eighth
Ward branch of the New York City Tenn
perance Society. This was called
the tee-total pledge, a name first given
to 1t In England and had its origin in the
suffering of drunkard who was taking
the s't-t-total pledge" Rev George b.
Cheever of Salem, Mass, published in
Salem newspaper Of 1885 dream de-
scriptive Of sDeacon Giles's Distillery,"
In which the liquors were represented as
containing demons. The foreman Of the
distillery paid Mr. Cheever visit one
night and punished him with rawhide.
He was also prosecuted for libel and sem
fenced to 80 days in Jail. This circum-
stance rather helped than hindered the
cause Of temperance and created great In
terest and excitement throughout the
whole land. Tshe war department abol-
ished the ssgrog" ration In 1882, substi-
tuting coffee and sugar. Six Baltimore
drinking men having met in a tavern
April 2, 1s40, 1t was agreed that four of
their number should attend atemperance
lecture to be delivered by a clergyman
and report. After the lecture, they re-
turned and all talked 1t over. One Of
them remarked, AFTER all, temperance
Il ! good thing" ss0h, Y said she land
lord, ssthey're ali i pAucel'of hypocrites.r
ss0h yea, 4 replied McCDrlsy, "I'll be
bound fof yop, NJ your interest 20 cry