Year: 1861

Prepared by F. NJ. Baldwin to de-
liver before Northern Star Lodge OF
G.. 7. New Oregon Iowa.


The mission of cur organization, is to pro-
mote in every possible manner the Temper
ance Reformation We are, or should be, the
creatures of an influence extending itself to
all Glasses of society. ~


propose tonight to give, iu brief length
of time my views concerning how this intlu-
ence can be brought to bear upon society, SO
as to be most effectual in producing the de-
sired object We cannot be too thoroughly
impressed with the necessity of an immediate
temperance reformation. The evi of intem.
perance are too apparent to need much COM
ment from, me. We know that intemperance
consamnates pubic health, we know that it
retarcs public prosperity; we know that it un-
dermines public virtue; we know that it des-
troys individual and social happiness; We
know that every day brings sorrow and mis-
era to thousand hearth stones. We know
too, that unless effectually arrested it will prey
like vampire upon the life blood of posterity
1t is in vain to deny these assertions, intem-
perance is a monster that stalks abroad in
the land. and want, es-itutlon, vice and
crime fellow in its wake. Ii those engaged
in vending alcoholic drinks in the United
States were collected together, they would
form an army sufficiently numerous to defend
this country in almost any emergency. 1t the
deserted wives, and starving and destitute
children of our land whose sorrow and desti-
tuition have been caused by the 1um traffic
were collected together, they would form al
army more numerous than Xcrxes led into
Greece. and their united wall would tsrrity
mankind If the grain which our aistilleries
every day convert into poison was converted
into food and raiment, it would afford comfort
aud sustenance to this army ofdeserted wives
and destitute chlldlen. Ii the money which
is YEARLY thrown away in the Unitel States
in supporting this army of Liquor Sellers was
collected into a general fund, it would be sut-
icient to scatter the blessings of science and
benign influence of religion all over our broad
land. If this traffic could he Immediately
stopped, our prisons would lose haf their in
mates, and the gollows half Of its victims -
In view of these alarming facts, it is the part
of no sensible man to deny that something
must be done. and speedily to arrest the
progress of this great evil. Now return to
my tormrr question; how can we bring our in
fucnce to bear upon society, so Us to he most
effectual in efectlng this reformation! | an
swer our influence must first be brought to
bear upon those who traffic in Intoxicating
drinks. know that a man who will get a
living by selling liquor must have q perverse
nature, but every human heart is humaR.-
Every man is capable Of being approached to
a certain extent by argument; every man is
capable of being touched by rem ,rse. We
cannot expect to effect reform by exerting
our influence on Liquor sellers merely, but we
can succeed in removing few of these dens
of temptation and corruption that threaten to
draw our children into the vortex Of intem-
perance. We would say to the Liquor Sell
lers, your course is most unjustiiaole one.
the State affords you protection, and IN turn
yoa degrade, poison and murder ita citizens
Society confers upon innumerable benefits


and in turn you destroy its peace and contain
mate it with every vice. Look upon the
criminal list OF our cities. They show that for
three-fourths of the crimes there committed
yon are responsible. You open the doors OF
prisons and erect scaffclds for innumerable
victims. The next midnight wind that
| comes to your ears will bring the cries of de.
serted mothers and children, whom you have
distressed There is nothing dear to mankind
| in health and peace and happiness, that you
| are unwilling to sacrifice upon the altar O


your insa.iable ayorlce; quit then this nefa


rious traffic, or your crimes vii! be mountains
on your heads


Our influence should be brought to bea1


upon the drunkard; for humanity demands it


have no heart to look with contempt upol


an unfortunate inebriate; he is my brother
! and Yours Howeyer debased he NAV he


we are children Of the same great Father
We are both children of that parent tina


makes his sun to shine on the good and o.


the evil, and that sendeth rain on the jus


and on the unjust This misfortune is tn


result of diseased appetite, quicken by tn


temptations that have been thrown aroun'