Year: 1859

0rtgtnal Rapsrs+


For the Yorkville Enquirer.


TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.


WHY SHOULD TEMPERATE MEN JOIN TEN
he. pERANcE SOCIETIES?


1t is said such personssafe already temper
ate and it will do no good to join Society.
But this is q mistake. The benefits from
association in the Temperance cause are not
limited to the members of such societies
but extend to the community at large and
posterity. True, one advantage is to confirm
aud strengthen individual members in their
resolves to abstain from all that intoxicates ;
and an open advocacy and an intimate ALI
ance with others of similar views and feel
ings tend to this. But there are other rea-
sons which ought to have weight with every
sober minded man. Some of these I will
state


The evilto be removed very great. 1t
is found in every section of country. tits a
common evil. Fortified by antiquity, our
fathers used intoxicating drinks as bever-
age =; it is strengthened by individual habits
and by the customs of society. 1t is in fa-
vor with many in high places, and with whom
to drink is happiness and to abstain is misery.
It is also to some extent legalized.


With these advantages it would be almost
hopeless to attempt to remove the evil by in
dividual effort. Many temperate and good
men, in days past, stood up against intem-
perance. But the evil increased; for they
acted without concert and but little was a.
chieved. Even if an impression for good
could be made by persevering effort against
a given point, yet human life is short and
s'we must needs die" and perhaps, none re-
naming to continue the opposition, soon all
that was gained is lost. Not so in the case
of organizations. They are kept up by con-
slant accessions, and hence success.


Many will not do any thing for the reno
val of this evil if only individual effort is
made to bear against it. Some are measur-
ably Indifferent, others have but little conf
dence in their wisdom and ability successful
ly to resist. While very many stand appall-
ed at the magnitude of the evil. What can
an individual do to stay intemperance as it
rolls its dark waves over society leaving mis-
cry, ruin and woe in its track But when
associated with others they feel strong and
are willing to go forward. They have con.
6dence in the ability of others to plan and
direct. Thus by combination their energies
and influence are concentrated and brought
to bear against Intemperance and its causes
with telling effect. And were all the friends
of Temperance even now thus united the
reign of Alcohol would come to speedy end


Combination accords with mans nature
We are social beings. Welive in society
And men associate for almost every purpose
under the sun from the building of Babel
to the present time. But few banks, rail-
roads or colleges would exist if only individ.
ual enterprise were relied on. But they are
easily secured by union and cooperation. In
uniting for such purposes men only yield to
dictate of their nature. And when the
evil from Intemperance is fully seen, it is
natural for man to seek the aid Of others for
its suppression.


This course is according to the Divine pur-
pose. When the world was to be evangeli-
zed and the Gospel preached to every crea-
ture, the church was organized and all were
required to enter its pale, not only for the
ritual support and encouragement of each
other, but that they might become co-work-
ers with others for an end so noble and
good 1t was not left to individual effort
The church is the depository of all Religious
Truth and the great earthly agency for its
universal diffusion, having secured to it the
Spirits agency and the SaViour's presence,
while each member is required in their
private capacity to labor for the same great
end In this case united effort is perfectly
compatible with individual duty. So in
the temperance cause. 1t will always be
the duty of individuals to be sober and to
promote sobriety amongst men. But this is
no reason why they should not associate
with others that the same end may be at
tanned more certainly and speedily.


Some think the church is the only agency
for the suppression Of this evil Now while
I would advocate organizations for the pro-
motion of temperance, would be the last to
undervalue the church. 1t stands first above
all institutions for amelioratiDg the condition
Of man. 1t alone is of Divine appointment,
and claims the services of all. Yet I cannot
believe that we are confined to this agency
in our endeavors to do good. Or then we
must abandon all those charitable institu-
tions which distinguish protestant christen-
dom; all organizations which look to the difu-
sion of knowledge amongst mankind. This
no one will think of doing, for they interfere
not with the church of God. Neither will
associations for the promotion ofTemperance.
Certainly there is as much religion in scien-
ti6c and moral truth, as there is in total absti-
nence. And if men can associate for one
of these purposes and not encroach on the
prerogatives of the church, they undoubted-
lv NAV for the other,