Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-03
NOW SIXTY YEARS OLD
Coming Anniversary Of the Congressional
Temperance Society.
Brief sketch of the Organfratfon-
Some Noted Names on Its LAST
of Membership.


half century there has been In active
operation at the nations capital a temper
ance society Instituted by members Of Con-
gress manned by them. and composed Of
Senators and Representatives. So common
Is the impression that our public men are
given to habits of intemperance that people
living at a distance from the seat of gov
eminent would never dream OF the existence
OF such an organization. Legislative CEN
tiers are supposed to be centers Of corrup-
ton; men prominent In the national coun-
ellis are made to appear as patterns OF
everything save virtue. yet from the foun-
dation Of our government this great cause
has had some Of its most loyal supporters
in our legislative halls. and as early as 1774.
In the first continental congress this hold
action was taken:
Resolved. That II be recommended 20 the
several legiss lures Of the United States
Immediately to pass laws the most effectual
for putting an immediate stop to the per-
nicious practice OF distilling. by which the
most extensive evils are likely to be derived
II not quickly prevented"
Organized I'm 1893.
| The Congressional Temperance Society
was organized February &c. 1893. three
months before the first national temperance
convention ever held in this country, which
met at Philadelphia in May of that year.
In the old Senate chamber, now occupied
py the Supreme Court. under the leadership
OF such men as Edward Everett, Daniel
Webster, Horatio Seymour Lewis Cass
Felix Grundy. George NJ. Dallas, George N.
Briggs, John Blair and william Hendricks,
the society sprang into being. Mr.. Lewis
Cass, Secretary OF War; was chosen pres
ident, and Theodore Frclinghuysen, Sena-
tor from New Jersey, submitted a constitu-
ton, which was adopted and signed by one
hnn drn1 .ts..ru -. G
Of Representatives. The following is the
preamble to this constitution:
AS the use OF ardent spirits Is not only
unnecessary. but injurious; as IL tends to
produce pauperism. crime and wretchedness
and to hinder the efficacy OF all means for
| the Intellectual and moral benefit OF society,
and also TO endanger the purity and per-
| manence Of our free institutions; and as one
of the best means Of counteracting fits de-
leterious effects is the influence OF united
example:
Therefore We. members of Congress. ana
others. recognizing the principle of absti-
| nence from the use of ardent spirit, and
from the traffic In II, as the basis OF our
union, do hereby agree to form ourselves
into a society, ard for this purpose adopt
the following constitution" etc.
Object of the Society.
The object of the society is given, ito dis
countenance by example and by kind moral
influence the use of ardent spirit and the
traffic In 1t throughout the community"
Under this constitution the society went
| forward actively for nine years. holding its
annual meetings and adding many illustri-
| Gus names to its rolls; but in 1892, owing to
| the advance I'm public sentiment. the COM
| mon Interpretation of the term ardent
spirit" and a notable instance of the in
efficacy of the old pledge in the case Of
Thomas Marshall of Kentucky. a member
OF the society, a new constitution was
| adopted and a new organization effected
ha Tha
Abstinence Society,"
On this basis the association carried on
Its work with more or less activity for
many years. In 1876, under the inspiratjon
of such men as Vice President Wilson and
Senator Buckingham OF Connecticut the
society became specially alive TO the great
purpose OF Its existence. and has enjoyed
increasing usefulness and prosperity since
that time. On its roll from the beginning
appear such names, famous in history as
George n. Briggs of Massachusetts, Thomas
w. Gilmer of Virginia. Joshua r. Giddings
of Ohio. Rufus Choate of Massachusetts,
John Blair of Tennessee, Henry A Wise
of Virginia, Willard Fillmore of New York
Thomas f. Marshall Of Kentucky. w. W.
Ellsworth of Connecticut, Felix Gruniy OF
Tennessee, Franklin Pierce of New Hamp-
shire, William g. Rives of Virginia Thomas
Ewing of Ohio. Presidents OF the United
States signers OF the Declaration of Inde-
pendence justices Of the Supreme Court
cabinet officers, Senators, Representatives
and heads of departments. Among later
subscribers and active workers in the or-
ganization may be mentioned Thomas w.
Ferry, Henry Wilson, Schuyler Colfax
William Window, Lot NJ Morrill, John A
Logan. William B. Washburn, James Nom
roe, Hiram Price. James A. Garfield, F.
T. Freylinghuysen, Henry w. Blair. Alfred
ii. Colquitt, Henry l.. Dawes. John ID.
Long, Elijah A. Morse, ]. ID. Taylor, Nell
son Dingley, and scores of others well
The annual meeting Of the society is held
on the Lords day nearest the 22d of Feb
ruary, and one Of the largest halls I'm the
city is required to accommodate the people
who attend these annual gatherings.
Present Officers.
The present officers of the Congressional
Temperance Society are n. Dingley, VI. c.,
president: Senators Colquitt and Wilson,
and Congressman Blair, Picker, Morse,
Johnson and ex-M C. ]. ID. Taylor, wee
presidents. and Rev. F. d. Power, secre-
tary.
The usefulness of this organization at
the capital cannot be questioned. The or
ganization has a constantly changing MEM
bership on account of the fluctuations in
political life. Its present enrolment is
forty; sometimes IL has reached over 100
at other times II has fallen as low as
dozen. but it has lived and has borne aloft
the white banner of total abstinence, and
given its witness fearlessly, watched all
measures before the national legislature
bearing upon temperance and other moral
reforms; combated in every possible way
the most colossal infernity Of modern times,
and will continue. We trust, to stand for
these great principles that are most en-
lightened. phanthropic. statesmanlike.
Christian and vital, and without which the
republic must perish.
Its SfNtieth Anniversary.
The next public meeting Of this ancient
and honorable" organization will be It's six
tieth anniversary. The Sons of Temper
ance were organized in ls42, the Good Temp
lars came into being in 1851, the Templars
of Honor and Temperance in 1915. and the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union in
1874, so il will appear that the congress
sional society antedates them ALL The 10th
of March being the ninetieth anniversary
of the apostle Of prohibition, Hon. Neal
Dow of Maine, IL was determined at a re-
cent meeting Of the Congressional Temper
ance Society to hold its anniversary on
Sunday evening, March Il. instead Of Feb
ruary -, the regular time and TO make
IL Neal Dow meeting. The service will
be held in the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church.
l-2 and G streets, and there will be adj
dresses by Congressman Dingley. Picker.
Morse and others. and a report Of the prog
ress of the work of temperance during the
year by the secretary.
Unusual.
Jenkins-"That was a very peculiar pro-