The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-01-05

AOA ~ WY 49, : NFeff $50
efforts for the suppression of intemper-
ance assumed an organized and sys-
tematic form. although for twenty-five
years thereafter but limited results
were apparent. In that year the
general assembly Of the Presbyterian
church appointed a committee of
seven ministers to devise means for
preventing the evils arising from the
intemperant use Of spirituous liquors.
In 1912 this committee recommended
that all the Presbyterian ministers in
the United States should deliver dis
courses on the evils of intemperance
and that extended efforts should be
made to circulate addresses, sermons,
tracts and other printed matter on
this subject Also, in June, 1911, the
general association of Massachusetts
appointed a committee Of four minis
tiers and four laymen to operate
with the general assembly of the Pres
byterian church and general assembly
Of Connecticut in deyising means for
the promotion OF temperance.
In 1918 this committee organized
the Massachusetts, Society for the
suppression of intemperance which
in 1883 changed its name to that Of
the Massachusetts Temperance Society
under which title it was incorporated
in 1S45 and still holds a corporated
existence. In 1925 the American
Society for the promotion of temper
ance was formed in Boston, with Mar
Gus Morton as president, and Or JUS
tin Edwards of Andover, Mass,
became the correspondent secretary
in 1929. and travelled extensively
preaching total abstinence and organ
izine state and local societies. The
five annual reports Of the society
written by him are among the best
contributions to the literature Of this
subject.
In 1886 this society became by
change of name the American Tema-
erance Union. which the Rev. DR.
John Marsh as secretary 1t was then
established in Philadelphia but in
October 1888 was removed 10 New
York Although total abstinence was
publicly advocated as early as 1920,
if was not till many years later that
any of the temperance organizations
insisted upon this requirement. In
1882 the war department abolished
the "Grog' ration substituting coffee
and sugar. AS early as 1886 the
license question was agitated and a
strong public opinion against license
laws was soon formed. In 1898
bill was introduced in the Maine
legislature to repeal all license laws o.
the state and TO forbid the sale O
ardent spirits as beverage in less
quantities than % gallons was lost by
one in the senate. Maine was the
first state to prohibit by law the sal,
of strong drinks. A prohibitory Law
was passed in that state in 1916 will
only ordinary fines for its violation
The Maine seizure and destruction O
liquors held for illegal sale, fines
and Imprisonment came in 1851, but
was repealed in 1856 and a stringent
license law substituted, but after two
years with increase of poverty, crime
and public disorder they voted prohi,
bition again, Michigan's license and
prohibition laws changed seven times
from 1855 to 1875 and ended with a
tax law which was vetoed by Governor
Seymore.
In 1854 the candidate of the Tenn
perance party for governor, Myron H.
Clark, was supported by the remnant
of the Wing party and elected. Then
in 1872 Hon. James Black of Pennsyl-
vania, was nominated fol president
and received in Connecticut, New
Hampshire. New York, Pennsylvania.
Ohio and Michigan total abstinence
societies. The Washington Temper
anee society was formed in Baltimore
April S, 1910, by six incorporate men
and in one year 1000 members of re-
formed drunkards belonged, who had
signed pledges of total abstinence.
The Sons of Temperance was formed
BY the Oliver brothers in 1912. The
Independent Order of Good Templars'
was formed in 1852 on the basis of
total abstinence. This society took
into its work passwords, grips, signs
and signals with four degrees. The
'subordinant degrees were the Degree
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