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PERMANENT

TEMPERANCE DOCUMENTS

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AMERICAN TJBMPJBRANCJB SOCIETY.

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BOSTON:

SETH BLISS, 5 CORNHILL ; AND PERKINS, MARVIN, AND CO.

114 WASHINGTON STREET.

KBW tork: j. p. haven, 148 Nassau street; and leavitti lord and

CO., CORNER OF BROADWAY AND JOHN STREET. PHILADELPHIA: HBNRT PERKINS, 159 CHESTNUT STREET. BALTIMORE! JOHN W. TIL- TARD, SOUTH CALVERT STREET. WASHINGTON, D. C. : JOHN KENNEDY, PENN. AVENUE. CINCINNATI: TRUMAN AND SMITH, MAIN STREET. SOLD ALSO BY MANY OTHER BOOKSELLERS AND OTHERS, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

1835.

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ThU table is de8igii(;il bb a help lo all c1a>M« oreplril drinkers, from tlie mui who lines his gill per day, lo the man who uses hix lilnl, and tin) one who uses bii quart, and closes the day in a state of intoxicalinn. Each of these claasea may, by innpectioo of this table. Bee the ituuiiliiy they will drinh in one, two, or five years, aod m on to tliirty.

We have also cali-ulated the expense of drinkinj;, from one to lliirty yean at difiereul Bums per day, from three lo tweiiiy-fivc cents. Pew poisons who spend three, six, or twelve eenw per day, are aware how MM the BDiouot increases, or of how niany comforts they deprive theiii- Mhiet, by their habit of gmall expenditures. One thing, however, must be noticed in the expetue port of this table ; no interest is added to the principal, and no calculation is made for Ion of tinte, &e. These would gnuly iDcrense tbe respective sum total. — T^emf. Rtt.

(C^ All coinmuuicBtions, relative to the general coDcernsof the Amer- kHI Temperance Society, niay be addressi OomspoDdiDg Secretary, Ahooves, Mass

([^ Donations and the payment of Huhscriptioiw, and all commiioica- lions with regard to money, may be sent to Hon. tiEOftOB Odiokhe, Tntuunr o/Ot Saeitl^ 97 Milk Streoi, Boatoa.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

Connection between Aror in Principle mnd InunonUity In Praclice, 1 } Cooneqnenoee fhtnl, 1 ; TBetimony of Phyaieinns, Jnritts and DiTtnea, 3 } Slate preriooa to the Temperance 4 } Great Chaafe, 5 } Origin of the American Temperance Society, 6 } Testimony to the eflts of Abatinence, 7 ; ** The Well-conducted Farm," 8 } Formation of the American •nee Society, 11 *, Addreaa of the Execntive Committee, 12; The ln(Ulible Antidote, 14 { ]ff»- tional Philanthropiat, 15; Temperance Aaaociation in Andover, 15 ; Agents, 15; TemperaM* Pablications, 16; Resolutions of the Massachusetts Society for Suppression of lutempefMMa, 17 ; Testimony of Kittredge and Beecher, 18 ; Testimony of Medical Societies, 21 ; Stat* of Things at the dose of 1837, 22; Operations and Success in 1828, 23 ; Kittredge*s Addre« at the Annoal Meeting, 24 ; State of Things at the close of 1839, 27 ; Decrease of Mortality, 38 ; Increased Success of the Gospel, 28 ; Commencement of the Temperanra Reformatloa in Europe, 29; Operations and Success In 1890,80; Testimony of Members of Congresa, tt; Teatimoay of the President of the United States, 32 ; Testimony of the Secretary of War, tt ; Desertions trom the Army, 39 ; Reform in the Army, 33 ; RefcMrm in the Navy, 34 ; Refom In Merchant Vessels, 35 ; Efffects of Ardent Spirit on Seamen, 36 ; State of the Reformattaa at the close of 1830, 38 ; EflboU of one Man*s using a Little daily, 99 ; Eflbcts of another MaB^ ming None, 39; Drunliards reclaimed, 40; Great Benefits fltun small Expenditures, 41 ) timotiy of Physicians, 42 ; Perrons presented ttom becoming Drunkards, 44 ; Expense of soadlng Men to abstain from the Use of Ardent Spirit compared with the Expense of taking Care of those who use it, 45 ; The Good which may be effiwted by $10,000, 45; Reasons why morp Drunl^rds are not reformed, 46 ; Established Principle of Law, 47 ; Testimony of Mer- chants, 47 ; Principle of the Divine Government, 48 ; The great Ilinderance to the Temperaaee Reformation, 49 ; Belief of the Churches, 50 ; Success of the Cause, 50 ; Publications oa tlM Immoraliiy of the Traffic, 61 ; Progress of Reform in Foreign Countries, 52; Prospeeta of Extending througti the World, 52; Things to be avoided, 53 ; Dealers in Ardent Spirit tai Ibnr Cities, 53 *, Benellis of Temperance Societies, 55 ; Character of thoKC wlio continue in tke Tra(r;c, SC ; Tostimony of the New York State Committee, 57 ; Ot^ctious stated and answer- ed, 5C.

ArPEH Dix. — Nature and Origin of the Use of Ardent Spirita, 63 ; Lunatics in DnbUn aad Liverjool, 64 ; Statements in ^ The Well-conductrd Farm," 66 ; Origin of the Massachoaetts Society ft>r Suppression of Ij|teniperance, 68 ; Error corrected, 69 ; Judge Parker's Letter, 70 , Jodge HslIock*s Decision, 70 ;<Desertions fh>m the Army, 71 ; General Jones's Statement, 71 ; General Gaines's Statement, 71 ; Lieut. Gallagher's Statement, 72 ; Dr. Sewall's Letter,- 73 ; Dr. Warren's Remarks, 74 ; Letter from a Gentleman of the Army, 75 ; Judge Cranch'a 8Cat»- ment, 76; Cocneelion between Temperance and Religion, 81 ; The Iniquities of the FallMn ▼islted upon the Children, 85 ; Testimony of Dr. Sewall, 86 ; Testimony of Forty PhystekBa, •9; Dr. Hosack's Statements, 91 ; Dr. Hale's Essay, 91 ; Dr. Alden's Address, 95; TesttoMMy of Physicians in Scotland and Ireland, 97 ; Dr. Cleland'^ Tables, 97 ; Deaths by Ardent Spirlta, 98; Judge Cranch's Statement, 98 ; Barbour's Statement, 99; Resolutions of EcclestaatieBl Bodiea, 99 ; London Tamperaaoe Society, 100; Virginia Association to abstain from Tea, MX

PART II.

Tniths established by the Fourth Report, 111 ; Opinion of a Member of Congress, 111 } Gir- eolation of the Fourth Report, 112; Testimony of old Men, 113; Report re-published In Great Britain, 116; Lord Chancellor's Declaration, 116; Formation of the British and Foreign yeranoe Society, 117 ; ElTbct of Strong Drink in producing the Cholera, 118 ; Guilt of those ' ■dl Ardent Spirit, 119; Comparison with the Slave Trade, 120; Connection with Burking, 139} Chancellor Walworth's Opinion, 121 ; Meeting at Washington, 122; Wirt's Testimony, ISS|

CONTENTS.

Rnoltttltitu uulAdilren of American Temperance Society, 135', National Circular, 127} Cor- responding Secretary, 128 *, Profemor Ware's Testimony, 129) President Waylaud^s Inqulrtea, 129; President Fiske's Address to Cliurch Members, 132; Dickinson's Advice, 130; Beecher*s Address to the Young Men of Boston, 134 ; Judge Daggett's Declaration, 136; Opinion of Judge Craiicli, 135; Injustice or the Traffic in Ardent Spirit, 136; The Rum-eelling Chur^ Menil>er, 137 ; Venders of Ardent Spirit in the City of Washington, 188 ; Confession of a Re* lailer, 136 ; WiveH murdered by their husbands, 139 ; Children murdered by their Fathers, 141 ; l^osM of the Rothsay Cnstle, 142; Commodore Riddle's Letter, 143^ Letter from an Ollicer in the Army, 144; Massachusetts Lunatic Asylum, 145; Demoralising Eflfbct of the TraiTlc In Ardent Spirit, 116; Circular cxincerning Churches, 147; Connection between Temperance and Religion, 149; Influence of Church Members who traflic in Ardent Spirit, 150; Testimony ot the British and Fnruijrn Temperance Society, 151 ; The Great Obstruction to the Tem|.-erance Reformation, 153 ; Churches in which are no Memben in the Tralfic, 155 ; Family Temperance Societies, 155; Factsi in the Slate of New York, 156 ; Tavern Keepers ruined,*15G; 'lemper- •nce Taverns, and Groceries, IGO; Progress of the Cause and its Results, ICl ; The Sabbath the proper Time to speak upon it, 162; Duty of Ministers and Churches, 163, Temperance Societies in Africa and the Sandwich Islands, 164 ; Conclusion, 165.

AppsNDix.— Edgar's Speech, 178; Wealthy Drunkards, 174; Higgin's Letter, 176; Jeraey Temperance Society, 176 ; Licenaes in Glasgow, 177 ; British and Foreign Temperance Society, 178 { Maryland State Temperance Society, 180; Address of the Bishop of London, 181 ; Na- tional Circular, 186 ; The Immorality of the Traffic, 198 ; Letter, 221 ; Resolutions of Ministers of the Gospel, 222 ; Extract from the Minutes of the General Assembly, 222 ; The danger of ■elling Ardent Spirit, 223; Temperance EflTorts In China, 224 ; Imporunt Decision In Chan* eery, 224 ; Tax on the Sale of Ardent Spirit, 225; The sale of Ardent Spirit a Nuisance, 225 j Benefits of Ah«tinence from the use of Intoxicating Liquor, 226.

PART III.

Truths rstnblishcd in thr last two Reports, 227 ; Number of copies printed in this country, 228; Testimony of distir.gniKhcd men concerning them, 228; Object of those Reports, and of the present, 229; Additional A<rents, 230; Circular for Simultaneous Meetings, 231; Order from the War Depnrtmrnt, 235; Testimony of a distinguished Jurist, 235; Testimony of a Mail Contractor, iJCC; Temimony of Thomas Jefferson, 237; Testimony of the Secretary of the Navy, 238; Trutimopy of Naval O/llcers, 239 j Bribery of Electors by Candidate*! for office, 2-W); Ccirernl Conference rftlu* Methodist Episcopal Church, 241 ; Genera] AsKcmbly ol the rrcKbytt'riim Church, 2 12; d'eneral Association of New Hampshire, 243; General Aibio- ciations of MnKnachusrttn, Conrecticut, and Maine, 244 ; American Quarterly Temperance Magazine, 244: Cook's Speech nt tlie Capitol in Washington, 246; Testimony of a European writer, 248 ; Conduct of a Millwright, and of a Miller, 249; Doings of Legislatures, 250 ; Sale of Ardent B|)irit treatml as immoral, 251 ; Churches (tte IVom traffickers in ardent spirit, 258 « A great Mistake, 253 ; Testimony of a gambler, and a vender of lottery tickers, 2iA ; Temper- ance efforts in the City of New York, 255; Circular for a United States Convention, 256; Meeting at the Capitol in Washington, 257 ; Formation of the American Congressional Tem- perance Society, 259; Simultaneous Meetings in Great Britain, 260; Address of John Wilks, Biq. M. P., 260 ; Address of the Bishop of Chester, 261 ; Address of P. Crampton, Sol. Gen. Ibr Ireland, 262 ; English Temperance Magazine, 263 ; Insurance of Temperance ships, 264; Ihmnkards ce9!*ing to use intoxicating drinks, 265; The way to render reformation permanent, 969 } The great hindrance to the Temperance Reformation, 370 ; License laws morally and politically wrong, 271 ; License lawa promote intemperance, 271 ; Licenae lawa injurious to the wealth of a nation, 272; Testimony of a country merchant, 274; Testimony of a city merchant, 275; Amount lost by the traffic in ardent spirit, 276; Beneficial uses to whldi It might be applied, 277 ; The traffic in spirit injurious to the public health, 278 ; The traflic la ^irit productive of Cholera, 281 ; The traffic in spirit injurious to intellect and to morals, 282; Reasons why it produces such efiTects, 283 ; Obstacles to the Temperance Reformation, 286 ; License laws ricious, 287 ; License laws without foundation, 288 ; Licenae lawa highly expen- ■tre, 289; License laws detrimental to Agriculture, 291 ; Judge PlattHi Opinion, 298} The Turning Point. 294.

CONTENTS.

Amiroix. — ExtnMTta from Gerrit 8intdi*t Addren, 300 { Bxtncta from Judge Platte 4i- drcM, 905} Extracts from Prasident Fiak^s Addraia, 306} Lawa of MuMudiuBetts iigaiiwt Lat- teries, sod leLden plpee, SI 6 j United States Temperance CoDTOition, 317 ; Reasons (br e«i- plyinf with the Sesolutiou of the Convention, 325; Extracts of a letter ft>om a gentlemia •! Washington, 328 ; Constitution of the Am. Congressional Temp. Society, 329 ; Redaotlwi «f Taxes, 330 { Letter from a merchant in Alabama, 331 ) Letter from the Sandwich Iiilanda,B9t| Facts with regard to Catskill, 333} New York State Report, 338} General Association if Massachusetts, 338 } Laws which license the trafflc in ardent spirit mormiig wrongs 338.

PART IV.

Aoapicioas indications of the present time, 388 } OI^}ect of fbrming the American anoe Society, 341 } SUte of Temperance in 1833, 343} Meeting of the United Sutes* ance Convention, 343 ; Convention in Massachusetts, 343 ; Conrentlon in New York, M4} Conventions in Ohio, Mississippi, and Kentucky, 345} Conventlona In Vermont, U^iam, Mi New Jersey, 346 } Congressional Temperance Meeting, 346 } Conventions in Piiiiiiejlin«i% Missouri, and Delaware, 350 } Present sUte of the Temperance cause, 353 } InsoraaM fll Temperance vessels, 358} Dmnkards reformed, 855} Temperance Talea,307} The prtoeef blood, 380 } Conscience and the spirit vender, 363 } Temperance in England, 371 } Tempenmea in Sweden, 372 } Temperance in Russia, 373 } Temperance in India and Africa, 374 ; Tampar> aace in New Holland, 375} Reports of the American Temperance Society, 376} OpIaloM if Jorists and Statesmen, 380 } Remarks in a London Magaxine, 383 } TralBc in ardent spirH ftr- bidden by the Bible, 394 } Principles involved, 386 } Ellbcts on crimes, 397 } Effteta on 1Mb, 4084 TralSc dishonest, 406} Trafllc destroys the soul, 408} Letters ftt>m England, 413} B— ilyliaM of American Temperance Society, 416} Resolutions of Ecdesiaslical Bodies, 418} Teetim—y of Edtlors, 419 ; Objections, 432 } Address to Moderate Drinkers, 435 } Address to Vcaden^ 4i6t Addrcsa to Ministers of the Gospel, 439} Address to Memben of Churches, 433.

Appsiroix. — American Congressional Reaolutiona, 440} Extraeta from the Addi B. F. Butler, 441 } Extracts ftx>m the Address of Hon. H. L. Pinckney, 443} Extraeta Gerrit Smithes letter, 443} Extracts from ChipmanHi Report, 449} Summary of Resulla ef tte New York State Temperance Society, 450} American Temperanee Union, 450.

PART V.

Alcohol, the product of rinous fermenution, 455 } The process of extracting it, 458 ( O^a. of iu Medical virtues, 457 } Distilled liquor introduced as a drink, 458 } Reasons wkf continue to drink it, 469 } Reasons why they continue to increase the quantity, 481 1 TW way in which Alcohol causes death, 463 } Its ellbcu on Inlknt children, 464 } The testlneay ef God, with regard to it, 465} Violation of principle, and its results, 467 } Eflbcts of AloolMil an the soul, 469} Its production of pauperism and crime, 470} Its eflbets in counteraotiag Um elbcacy of the Gospel, 473} Its polluting and hardening influence upon the heart, 47S) State of Che Temperance Reformation in the U. S., 474} Do. in Great BriUin, 475} Ellbcto ef eheli- aence from all intoxicating drinks, 476 } J. S. Buckin^am*s statement, 484 } Addreas to tiM Drenkards of Great Britain, 485 } Progress of Temperance in Sweden, 486 } Do. in Ressliw Finland, and India, 487 } Do. in Burmah and Sumatra, 488 } Do. In Egypt, 489 } Plan ef iDHW •perationa, 491 } Dr. Mnssey's Prixe Essay, 494 } Experiments in the Auburn Sute Friaoa, 4ft s Otlier experiments, 495} The best protection against diseases, 496 } Eflbcts of Alcohol •• Ike Cholera, 496 } Testimony of Physicians to water, as the proper drink for man, 497 } of sea-foring men, 500 } Substitutes for Alcohol as a medicine, 501 } Restoratives from i 804 } Extracts from Dr. Lindsly's Prite Essay, 507 } Eflbcts of Alcohol on children and to am*. 807 } Substitutes for ardent spirit, as a medicine, 509} In Dyspepsy and In low TyplioM etaAaa ef the system, Ac. 511 } Opinion of Drs. Sewall, and Warren, 518 } EeaoluUoas of It* Mtw York Sute Temperance Society, 514.

INTRODUCTION.

Tbs great increase of dnmkenneM, within the last half century, nnuug the pBopb of the United States, led a number of phibuilhropic individuals, in the year la25 to eonsuh together, upon the duty of making more united, systematic, and extended eflbcts for the prevention of this evil. Its cause was at once seen to be, the use uf intoxicat- Mjl liaoor; and its appropriate remedy, aUtuunce, It was ako known, that the cne •Csuch liquor, as a beverage, is not only needless, but injurious to the health, the vutne, and the happiness of men. It was believed, that the &cts which had been, and Mrhich miffht be collected, would prove this, to the satis&ction of every disinteroited and candid miml ; and that if the knowle<!^ of them were nniversally disseminated it would, widi the divine blessing, do much toward changing the habits of tlie nation. It waa dtootfht therefore to be proper to make the experiment. Fur this purpose, was formed •II Ae 18th of February, 1826, The American TxMPXRAifoic Society. Its olysGl is, by the diffusion of information, the exertion of kind mural influence, and the power of united, and consistent example, to effect such a changi) of sentiment and oractiee, that drunkenness and all its evils will cease ; and temperaiice, with its atten- dant befits to the bodies and souls of men, will universally prevail. This ubject the Kciciety has now pursued for ten years; and the results of its efforts, are presented to ^ consideration of the community, in the subsequent volume* It is earnestly dcsiieJ that a eopy of this vohime may be put into the hands of every Preacher, Law}-er, Phv- •ieiaii, Magistrate, Officer of Government, Secretary of a Temperance Socictv, Teat Ja- W of youth, and educated young man, throoghoat the United Stales^ aad ihroughoul the workt.

The principles, foots, and reasoninn contained in this volume, liave special rcforence |» Afeohol, in the form of distilled bquor; but they will appl;^ to it, in every other form, in proportion to its quantity, the frequency with which it is need, and its power Cp produce intoxication ; or derangement of the regular and healthy action of llie Iftunaft llyiAem. The volume is divided into Eve parts, caUed Reports. Tliese, howe\-er, are «ot so mtR:h Reports of the operations of thto friends of Temperance and their results, as Reports of Principles in the Government of God, as illustrated by farts, with regard to men, which show, that for them to continue to use ardent spirit us a be^eraze, is a violation of his faiws; and will prove, by hs consequences, that, "the way of trans- gressors b hard."

llie frst part shows that it is imaoral to drink such liquor; and tlie second that it , fB inuBoral to manufactore, vend, or fomish it, to be drank by others. The third port ihows that the making, or continuing of Uws which license men to sell ardent n>irit» to be used as a bei«rage, and thus teachinf[ to the cominunity that the drinking ol it is rjjriit, and throwing over it the shield of legislative sanction and support, is also intmoro/r Tlie fourth part, exhibits those principles of Divine Revelation, wliirh the abuve men- Ctbned practices violate ; and the fifth part, shows the manner in which Alcohol, when wed tt a beverase, causes death to the bodies and sonls of men.

Hundreds of thousands of persons of all ages, conditions and employments, in view «£ its evils, have ceased to use it ; and so for as they or others can oiscever, have b^i gftaUff benifited by the chanj^. Let all do the same, and drunkenness will universally, and for ever cease. Pauperism, crime, hickness. insanity, wretchedness, and premature death, will, to a great extent, be prevented. Health, virtue and happiness will be ia- creaied ; human life be prok>need; the gospel, through grace, be more widely extended^ i»d generally embraced ; God oe more higlily honorra, and sotils in greater manben b^ MnMMiied, |Miri6ed, and saved.

Eaoh individual, therefore, into whose hand this volume may oome, b moat respeoc- iiU|r and earnestly entreated attentively to peruse it; and if he has not already done it» Mnowly to inquire whetbor it b not his duty to renounce for ever the use of intoxicating Ariflk. He b also requested to coumuaicatc as extensivdv as poesible the knowledge af the focts which the volume contains; and to labor, in allsuitaUe ways, to indflM all panoM to csempUiy its principles, by a united and cobsistfenit example.

FOURTH AJTPrUAL REPORT.

The Executive Committee of the American Temperance So- ciety, having been permitted, through the kindness of the Ix>r(i, to continue their labors in his service, would, as a testimony to his goodness, present their Fourth Report.

In tlie evils which tins Society aims to remove, the connection between error in prmciple, and immorality in practice, is strikingly exhibited. Less tliau Uiree hundred years ago,* tlie error began to prevail in Great Britain, that ardent spiiit, as an article of luxury or diet, or as an aid to labor, is useful. The cause of this error was, the deceptive feelings of tliose who used it. Being, in its nature, a mocker, it deceived Uiem. By disturbing heahhy action and inducing disease, it created an unnatural thirst ; the grat]6cation of which, like the gratification of the desire of inning in the man w1k> sms, causes it to increase ; and the end is death.

The consequence has been, as stated by a writer in Scotland, and as illustrated by facts, " There is reason to believe, that intern-

ferance has cost ttiat country more lives, demoralized more persons, roken more hearts, beggared more families, and sent more souls to perdition, than all other vices put together."

This fatal error, tliat ardent spirit is for men in health useful, did not prevail generally among the mass of people in this country, till after the American Revolution. In that mighty struggle which gave birth to a nation, and in the numerous hardships and dancers to which the soldiers were exposed, they were furnished, by ilie government, with a portion of tliis poison, under the fatal delusion that it would do them good. Tlie conseqtience was, as, under similar circumstances, it ever must be, tlie diseased appetite which thb poison creates, was formed by great numbers ; was carried out by them, at the close of tlie war, into tlie community ; and was ex- tended through the country.

At the close of the first half century of our national existence, this diseased appetite had become so prevalent as to denrand, annu* aSy, for its gratification, more than sixty million gallons of liquid fire. And while it cost the consumers more than thirty miuion

* AfiriEtrDit, A. 1

3 AlCCRICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

dolIarSi it caused more than three fourths of all the pauperism, crimes, and wretchedness of the community. It also greatly in- creased die number, frequency, and violence of diseases ; and, according to the testimony of tlie most intelligent and judicious physicians, occasioned annually the loss of more than tliirty thousand lives. The loss of property, occasioned by tlie consumption of ardent spirit, amounted, in forty years, to a greater sum than the value of all the houses and lands in die United States, forty years ago. The use of it caused a destrucdon — and, there is reason lo fear, for both worlds— of more dian half a million of men.

Though no exact account had been taken in tin's country, it was known that it had destroyed the reason of a great poilioii of all the maniacs in the land ; and had lessened the reason, as well as weak- ened the bodies, blunted the moral suscep'tibilities, and hardened the hearts of all who had freely used it.

Of seven hundred and eigluy-one maniacs in two hospitals i:i Great Britain, three hundred and ninety-two were made such by intemperance.* And had the inquiry been as carefully made in this country, die residt might have been substantially the same. The free use of this sumulant had, in many cases, caused a predisposiuon to insanity, not only in those who used it, but in their cliildretu and children's children. A tendency to this disease, and man)* others occasioned by strong drink, had become hereditary, and was transmitted from generation to generadon. A diminution of size and stature, a decrease of bodily and mental surength, a feeble- ness of vision, and a premature old age, told of a disease that had seized on the vitals, and was consuming die enei^gies of life. The use of this liquid was causing a general deterioration of body and mind, and was threatening to roll its curses, in broader and deeper streams, over all future generadons.

Yet, notwithstanding this, such was the nature of this poison, and such its power to deceive diose who used it, that the oj union was ahnost universal, that the use of it was salutary, and to laboring men neediiil.

Trotter, who had as good an opportunity and was as well able to judge as any man, had indeed said, " Tliat of all the evils of human life, no cause of disease had so wide a range, or so large a share, as the use of spirituous liquors ; and that more dian half of all the sudden deaths were occasioned by them ;" — and Aitinan had declared, *' That art never made so fatal a present to mankind as the invention of distilling them.''

Willan had said, '' That die use of these liquors, ui large cities* produced more diseases than confined air, unwholesome exhala- tions, and the combined influence of all other evils ;" — and Paris,

* Arrsiioii, B.

FOURTH RCPORT. — 1831. 3

**Tbat tbe art of distillation must be regarded as the greatest curse ever inflicted on human nature ; and tliat ai'dent spirits i)roduce more than half of all clironical ditseases.''

Danvin had testified, '^ That when chronical diseases arise froni tlie use of ardent spirit, they are liable to become hereditary, even to the third generation ; and if tlie cause is conunued, to increase till the family becomes extincu''

Frank had declared, "That the use of tliese liquors ought to be eniii-ely dispensed with, on account of their tendency, even when taken hi small doses, to induce disease, premature old age, and deatli ;" — and Cheyne had stigmatized them, as being " most like Oi)ium in their nature and operation, and most like arsenic in their deleterious and ])oisonous effects. "

Mosely had said, from his own observation, having resided in the West Indies, " Tliat persons who drink nothing but cold water, or make it their principal dnnk, are but litde affected by tropical cH- mates ; that they undergo the greatest fatigue without inconvenience, and ai*e not so subject as others to dangeix>us diseases ;" — and Bell, ^* Tliat mm, when used even moderately, always duninishes the Mrength, renders men more susceptible of disease, and unfits them fjr any service in which vigor and activity are required ; and that we might as well throw oil into a house, the roof of which was on fire, in order to prevent the flames fit)m extending to tlie inside, as to jx)ur ardent spirits into the stomach, to lessen the effect of a hot .-tun upon the skin."

Miniro had declared, "That a man had no more need of ardent spirit llian a cow, or a horse ;" — and Kirk, " That fifteen out of iwent}' cases of liver complaint were occasioned by the use of it ; and that men who had always been considered temperate had, by using it, shortened life more Uian twenty years." He had also ^iven it as his opinion, that the regular and respectable use of tins poison kills more men than dnmkenness itselL Barkhausen had testified, " That he had known persons affected even with delirium tremens, who had never been intoxicated in their whole lives."

Rush had maintained, *' That men in all kinds of business would be better without the use of spirituous liquors ; and that there are but one or two cases in which they can be used without essential injury ;" — and Chapman, " That the evils of using them are so great, that die emptying of Pandora's box was but die type of what has been experienced by the diffusion of these liquors among the human species !"

Others had given a similar testimony, and denounced the use of tliem altogether, except in case of necessity. But, with many who professed to adopt this rule, the difficulty was, the necessity, in their esdmation, came every day. The consequence was, if tliey and their children did not become drunkards, they raised no

4 AMERICAN TCSfPERANCE SOCIETY.

barrier to lliat tide of diiinkenness which was sweeping tlirough tlie land.

Judge Hale, after twenty years' obser\'ation and experience, had declared, '*That if all the murders, and manslaughters, and burglaries, and robberies, and riots, and tumults, tlie adulteries, forni- cations, ra[)es, and other great enormities, which had been commit- ted within that time, were divided into five parts, four of them would be found to have been the result of intemperance."

The Sherift' of London and Middlesex had said, " Tliat the evil which lies at the root of all other evils, is that, especially, of drink- ine ardent spirit ; iluit he had long been in tlie habit of hearing criminals refer all their misery to this, so that he had ceased to ask the cause of their ruin, so universally was it effected by spirituous liquors." And Mr. Poinder, in an examination before the Commit- tee of the House of Commons, had testified, " That from facts, that had fallen under his own observation, he was persuaded that, in all trials for murder, witli very few, if any exceptions, it would ap- pear, on investigation, that the criminal had, in the first instance?, de- livered up his mind to the brutalizing effects of spirituous liquors.'* And similar was the testimony from others.

John Wesley had declared, and published to the world, " Thai the men who traffic in ardent spirit, and sell to all who will buy, are poisoners general; that they murder his majesty's sul)jerts by wholesale; neither does their eye pity or spare. And what," said he, " is their gain ? Is it not tlie blood of tliese men ? Who would env)' their large estates, and sumptuous palaces? A curse is in tlic mfdst of them. The ctirse of God is on their gardens, their walks, their groves 5 a fire that bums to die nethermost hell. Blood, blood, is there ; the foundation, the floor, the walls, the roof, art- stained with blood. And canst thou hope, O man of bk)od, thoui^li thou art clothed in scarlet, and fine linen, and farest sumptuous!} every day, canst thou hope to deliver down the fields of blood to the third generation ? Not so — there is a God in heaven ; therefore thy name shall be rooted out. Like as those whom thou hast destroyed, both body and soul, tliy memorial shall perish widi thee."

The Friends had prohibited their members from engaging in the traffic in ardent spirit, and discountenanced the use of it as an immorality.

Yet such was the power of ardent spirit to blind the understand- ing, sear the conscience, and harden the heart, that, notwithstanding these, and other similar testimonies from physicians, jurists and divines, many were engaged in the traflic ; some who professed to be Christians, who had covenanted to do good, and good only, as ihey had opportunity, to all, were making, and, for the sake of gain, were fiirnishing to all who would purchase, that which tended to niin them, and their children after them, for both workls. And so do-

FOU&TH BEfORT, 1831. 5

ceived were the community, that it was generally thought to be. proper. It was licensed by tlie government, and sanctioned bjr Christian churches. Some who were officers in these churches, and who profess to be ministers of tlie gospel, were actively en- gaged in lumishuig that which tended, witli its whole influence, to, prevent tlie prepress of the gospel, and to perpetuate spiritual death to all future generations.

But a great change has been commenced ; and one which, in tlie rapidity and extent of its progress, has no parallel in tlie history of man. Already is it spoken of, by tlie wise and the good in du^ and other countj;ies, as one of the wonders of the world.

" The great discover)''," says a European writer, " has at length come fortli like tlie light of a new day, that the temperate memben of society are the chief agents in promoting and perpetuating drunkenness. On whose mind this greot truth first rose, is noC known. Whoever he was, whether humble or great, peace to fab memory. He has done more for tlie world than he who enriched it with tlie knowledge of a new continent ; and posterity, to tlie re- motest generation, shall walk in the light which he has throwqi around them. Had it not been for him, Americans and Europeani might have continued to countenance the moderate ordinary use of a substance, whose most moderate ordinary use is temptation and danger ; and, amidst a flood of prejudice and temptation, urged on- ward by themselves, they would have made rules against drunken- ness, like ropes of sand, to be burst and buried by the coming wave« Temperance Societies," he says, " have not only made America trulj the tiew world, but in a few montlis they have produced an un- paralleled change in many districts of the United Kingdom.'*

And says another writer, " Temperance Societies have arben on our darkness like the cheering star of hope. They now flash across, our Ek^tem hemisphere with the bright and beauteous radiance of the bow of promise." ,

And says another writer, " It would be an act of ingratitudei towardi our American friends, were we in any degree to throw into the shade the obligations under which we lie to them for having originated this noble cause. If the names of Washington ana others are deservedly dear to them for their stnis;sles in the cause ef freedom, there are other names which wiu descend to tha latest posterity, as die deliverers of their country from a Uiraldom more dreadful by iar than that of any foreign yoke."

" The American Temperance Society," says a writer of our owi^ country, " has accomplislied more good than any other ever formed, in ilie same space of time. The precipice over which we were falling has been described, tlie alarm has been sounded, and we are not lost. Heaven has decreed that we shall not be lost. Goil has said to America, as he did of old to ancient Sodom, ^ I will savflt

1*

6 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

you, if ten righteous, sober men can be found.' They ha^e been (bund, and we are redeemed."

And says another, " The greatest improvement of modem times consists in the discovery tliat alcohol, as a beverage, is poison for the mind, as well as the body ; and the greatest invention of our day is, that of constructing those moral machines, called Tempe- rance Societies. They as far exceed steam-engines, railways, cotton-spinning machines, &ic. as the mind is superior to matter ; and the bodies and souls of mankind, are of more consequence tl:an money, and merchandise. We hope, therefore, that the time will soon arrive, when all the inhabitants of the United States will com- pose a Temperance Society ; of which every man, woman and child, who has arrived at years of discretion, will be a member."

Multitudes now believe, that tliey cannot continue even to use ardent spirit, without the comjnission of known and aggi-avated sin ; or furnish it for others, without being accessory to the ruin, temporal and eternal, of their fellow men. Hundreds of ministei-s of the gos-

Eel, thousands and tens of thousands of professed Christians, and undreds of thousands of distinguished and philanthropic men, have become convinced, that the traffic in ardent spirit, as an article of luxury or diet, is inconsistent with the Christian religion, and ought to be abandoned tliroughout the world.

When great changes take place in tlie natural or moral world, many are anxious to know the cause; and the means by which those changes were effected. This b now the case with regard to *the Temperance Reformation. Numerous inquiries have l)een hiade, during the past year, in this and other countries, witli regard to the ongin of the American Temperance Society ; and die rea- sons which led its friends to adopt abstinence from the use of ardent spirit J as the first grand principle of their operations.

These inquiries the Committee are disposed to answer ; both as a testinK)nv to the divine goodness, and an encouragement to aU who are disposed, in dependence on divine aid, and in the use of suitable means, to attempt to do all for tlie benefit of man which needs to be done.

About seventeen years ago, a communication was made by a member of this Committee, on the evib of using intoxicating liquors at funerals ; and reasons were presented, why this practice, which had become common in some parts of the country, should be done away. One reason was, the tendency of this practice to prevent the benefit that might otherwise be derived from providences, and the religious exercises of funeral occasions. The effect showed that such labors are not in vain in the Lord. The practice de- clined, and was soon, in a great measure, done away.

Not long after, ^je made another communication on the evils of fiirnishing ardent spirit as an article of entertainment, espcciaUy to

y

POCJRTll R£POBT. — 1831.

ininislers of the gos^iel ; a practice which was also common, and was diought by many to be a suitable expression of respect and kind- ness toward llie ministerial oflice. Tlie effect of this also was strongly marked ; and some pei'sons from that time adopted the plan of not using ardent spirit on any occasion. The benefits of Abstinence were striking; facts were collected, and arrangements made for a more extended exhibition of this subject. Men were found who had been led by their own reflections, m view of the evil which it occasions, to renounce the use of this poison ; and others who had never used it. Yet, as a body, they enjoyed better heakli than tliose who continued to use it, were more uniform and consist- ent in their deportment, and more ready for every good word and work.

In 1822, a teamster, paitially intoxicated, by using what some persons, for less, probably, than twenty-five cents, had given him, fell under the wheels of his wagon, and was ciiislied to death. Anoth- er man, tending a coal-pit, became partially intoxicated, fell asleep on some straw, and was burnt to death. These e\'ents occasioned the delivery of two discourses, viz. one on the wretchedness of in- temperate men, and another on the diity of preventing sober men torn becoming intemperate ; Uiat, when the present race of drunk- ards sliould be removed, the whole land might be free. The means of doing this, tlie sure means, and the only means, were shown tb be, ahstinetice from the use of intoxicating liquors. Tliis was shown, by facts, to be both practicable and expedient, and was urged OS the indispensable duty of all men ; a duty which tliey owed to God, to themselves, their children, their country, and Ae world.

This doctrine appeared to many to be strange ; excited great at- tention, occasioned much conversation, and, through the blessing of the Lord, produced great results. It was again and again enforced. A conviction of the duty of abstinence was fastened on many con- sciences ; and it became evident from facts, that this doctrine is adapted to commend itself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

A man, for instance, distinguished for sobriety and influence, said, *^ When I first heard the doctrine of abstinence, I did not believe it. I was sorry to hear it. I thought it was going so much too far, that k would only do hurt. I was opposed to intemperance as much as any one, but I thought that the temperate use of ardent spirit was, (or men who labor, in hot weather, necessary. I did not believe that men could work without. My father used it; though I recollect, when I was about fourteen years old, two gallons would carr}' hira and his workmen through all tlie business of the season ; and when I left him at twenty-one, it took twelve or fifteen gallons to do the same work. However, I began in the same way, and continued,

8 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

dll I heard tlial sermon. And 1 then thought, that iJic man who could say, that all men, in all kinds of business, would be better witli- out the use of ardent spirit, did not understand the subject. How- ever, I thought of it as I went home — ^I tliought of it the next day — it kept in my mind ; and, seeing its awful effects among the j)oor, I said to myself, If it is true that men can live without, and would be belter without, it would be a great improvement, and would save property, character, life and soul, to a great amount. So I resolved to know whether it is tme or not. I resolved, that I would not use any myself for three months. I said nothing, however, to others, lest they should think I was becoming wild ; but before the close of three montlis, I began to suspect that it is true. I certainly fdt belter than before ; and I resolved to try it three months more. At the end of six months, I was as perfectly satisfied as I ever was of any thing, that the idea which I had, and which most men have, that the use of spirit does good, is a delusion. O," said he, " it is one of tlie greatest delusions under which sober men ever were. I after- wards mentioned it to my workmen, and we agreed that we would not use any for a year. And now, for almost two years, we have not used a drop ; and we are all persuaded, that w^e are vastly bet- ter without it.''

Others tried it, and came to the same result. All who made the experiment were satisfied that men in all kinds of business are bet- ter without it.

And the question arose. Who know^s, should the subject be pre- sented kindly and plainly throughout the United States — ^be illus- Irated by facts, and pressed on the conscience — but that it n^ay, through the divine blessing, change the habits of the nation ? Who knows, but that our children, and children's children, may be raised tip fi'ee from this abomination, to be instnimental in perpetuating the blessings of fi-ee institutions — to be themselves made free by the Son of God — and to spread the light and glory of that freedom round the globe ?

In 1826, the present Corresponding Secretary wrote the Tract No. 176 of the American Tract Society's series, entitled "The WELI/-CONDUCTED Farm," exhibiting the result of an experiment made by an original member of this Committee, upon an extensive fiuming establishment, in the county of Worcester, Mass. This tract was the same year printed, and circulated extensively through the country.

The following are some of the advantages of abstinence, which were shown to have resulted to the workmen, viz. They had a better appetite for food, and were more nourished by it, than be- fore. They had greater vigor of body and mind ; they performed more labor, with greater ease, and were free from many of the diseases to which they were before accustomed. They acctimu-

FOURTH REPORT. 1831. 9

lated more property, were more happy, and were more usefiil to themselves and others.

The following were some of the advantages of abstinence which were shown to have resulted to their employer : — ^Tiie men did more work, and in a better manner. It was easier to have a place for every thing, and to have every tiling in its place. The walls and fences were kept in good repair without direction from the owner. The cattle did not, as before, break in and destroy the crops. Tlie farm was more productive, and the fruits were gath- ered in better season. The tools were kept in better order ; the bams exhibited greater neatness ; the cattle and horses were more kind — and showed, in various ways, the benefits of abstinence from strong drink. The men were more respectful and uniform in their deportment ; were more contented with their living ; more desirous of being present at morning and evening family devotion ; were more attentii'e at public worship on the Sabbath, and were more interest- ^A in the welfare of all around them.

It was then shown that, should all the people of the United States adopt die plan of abstinence from the use of ardent spirits, the following would be some of tlie beneficial results, viz.

They would enjoy better health, be able to accomplish more business, and live to a greater age. None of them would ever be- come intempemte ; and as soon as the present drunkards should be dead, intemperance would be done away.* They would save a yasi amount of property ; remove one of the principal causes of pauper- ism and crime, disease, insanity and death ; one of the greatest dangers to our free institutions, and one of the mightiest obstructions to the efficacy of the gospel, and all the means of grace ; and would greatly increase the prospect of their happiness and use- fiihiess, and that of their children, for both worlds .f

The same year, die following senlunents were delivered by John Ware, M. D., before the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression

of Intemperance4

" It is an impression almost universal among the laboring classes, that ardent spirits, if not absolutely necessary, are, at least, of great use and importance, as a support during labor ; and that, moderateljr used, they are a salutary, or, at least, an innocent stimulus. But no impression can be more unfounded, no opinion more fatally false, than that which attributes to spirituous liquors any power of promot- i'.ig bodily strength, or supporting the system under labor or fatigue. Elxperience has in all quartei*s most abundantly proved tlie contrary. None labor so constantly, so cheerfully and witli so little exhaus- bon, as those who endrely abstain ; none endure so well hardships and exposure, the inclemency of weather, and the vicissitude of season.^

* This, and all tinular statements are made on the supposition thai the/ do aoC fobstitote or use aleohol in any other form.

I APPB0OIZ, C. t Appsjtdii, D.

10 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE iM>CIETY,

Similar testimonies began to mnltiply. The evils of using, aiid t!)e benefits of abstaining from ardent spirit, became more and more conspicuous ; and also tlie necessity, as well as the encouragement, lr> make more systematic, general and persevering efforts on the subject. Individuals not only abstained, but, in some cases, agreed together, that they would not use or furnish to others that destruc- tive posion. But there was no system, no plan of operation, to cause such a union to become universal ; and it was evident that, unless something more universal, efficacious and persevering should be done, our country would be ruined ; the gospel would never have its legitimate influence over the human mind, and the reign of dark- ness and sin would be perpetuated to the end of time. l\^st efforts,' tliough they had on some spots, and in some cases, done good, had not struck at the root of the evil. Their object was, to regu- late the use of ardent spirits, not to abolisli it. Those who made tliem admitted, and most of them practised, the fundamental error, that men in health might, without injury, and, of course, without sin, use the poison, if they did not use too much. This was the cnj^e with members of Societies for the Suppression of Intem- perance. Thus, while they only retarded the growth, or clipped off a few of the top twigs of this poisonous tree, the roots were con- stantly nourished, and daily struck deeper and deeper. While the friends of temperance were reforming one old drunkard, their own habits, if followed, would make a hundred new ones. They were, indeed, sounding the alarm, but were treading in the footsteps of the lost ; denouncing intemperance, and encouraging the use of , strong drink ; bewailing the effect, and perpetuating the cause ; warmng men not to be dmnken, and urging them to drink. Many were enraged, almost to madness, at those who represented the ase of ardent spirit to be a sin ; and, though they had followed a

Promising son to the drunkard's grave, and were expecting soon to >llow another, and another, they would denounce as enthusiasts, and treat as enemies, diose who urged them not to drink.

Tlie husband, who had lost his wife by intemperance, would, for the sake of money, furnish that which killed her to all who would purchase, and even give it, as a token of kindness, to his nearest urtends. The wife, who had seen her husband die by this poison, would use it herself, and give it daily to her only son.

And it was perfectly evident that, unless a new movement could be started, on a new plan, and one which should be commensurate, in place and time, with the evil, — one which should strike it at the root, and exterminate it, — drunkenness could never be done away. The people would never become " all righteous," nor the day of nnillenniai glory ever break on the world.

A meeting of a few individuals was therefore called, to consdder (he following question, viz.

TOURTU B£POBT. — 1831. tl

^' JfOiot aAaU be done to banish intewverance from the United States T'

After prayer for divine guidance, and consultation on the $ui^ ject, the result was, a determination to attempt the fonnatioo of an American Temperance Society, whose grand principle should be, abstinence from strong drink; and its object, by light and lortL to change the habits of the nation, with regard to the U9a oi intoxicating liquors. Some of the reasons of this determiaatioa were,

1. Ardent spirit, which is one of the principal means of drunks enness, is not needful, and the use of it is, to men in health, alwajs injurious.

2. It is adapted to form intemperate appetites ; and while k b continued, the evils of intempei*ance can never be done away.

3. The use of this liauor is causing a general deterioration of body and mind ; which, it the cause is contmued, will continue to increase.

4. To remove the evils, we must remove the cause ; and to remove the cause, efibrts must be commensurate with the evil, and be continued till it is eradicated.

5. We never know what we can do by wise, united, and powe- vering efforts, m a good cause, till we try.

6. If we do not try to remove the evils of intemperance, we cannot free ourselves from the guilt of its effects.

A correspondence was therefore opened, and a meeting of meii| of various Christian denominations, nolden in Boston, January 10, 1826.

Hon. George Odiome was called to the chair, and Rev. Willitm Jenks, D. D., chosen clerk.

The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Timothy Merritt, of the Methodist Ep'iscopal church ; and after consuha- tk>n, the foUowing resolutions were introduced by Jeremiah tivarti, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the American Board of Commb- sbners for Foreign IVIissions, and adopted, viz.

"1. Resolved f That it is expedient that more systematic axid more vigorous eSoria be made by the Christian public to restrain and prevent the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors.

'' 2. That an individual of acknowledged talents, piety, industiy and sound judgment, should be selected and employed as a ponna- nent agent, to spend his time, and use his best exertions tor ihe suppression and prevention of the intemperate use of intoxicating TiqiKwrs."

A committee was then appointed to prepare a constitution, and the meeting was adjourned to February 13th, 1826.

At the adyoumed meeting, a Constitution was presented and adopted, and the following persons were chosen bv the members of tbe meetiiig, at the commenc>ement, to compose tne Sodety, m.

13 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

«

Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. ; Rev. William Jenks, D. D. ; Rev. Justin Edwards ; Rev. Warren Fay ; Rev. Bemamin B. Wisner ; Rev. Francis Wayland ; Rev. Timothy Merritt ; Hon. Marcus Mor- ton ; Hon. Samuel Hubbard ; Hon. William Reed ; Hon. Georce Odiome ; John Tappan, Esq. ; William Ropes, Esq. ; James r. Chaplin, M. D. ; S. V. S. Wilder, Esq. ; and Enoch Hale, M. D.

The Hon. Heman Lincoln, of tlie Baptist church, then ofiered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted, viz.

. " Resolved J That the gentlemen composing this meeting pledge themselves to the American Society for the Promotion of Temper- ance, that they will use all their exertions in carrying into effect the benevolent plans of the Society."

The Society tlien held its first meeting, and chose the following officers, viz.

Hon. Marcus Morton, President ; Hon. Samuel Hubbard, Vice- President ; William Ropes, Esq., Treasurer ; John Tappan, Esq., Auditor.

Executive Committee — Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. ; Rev. Jus- tin Edwards ; John Tappan, Esq. ; Hon. George Odiome, and S. V. S. Wilder, Esq.

On the 12tn of March succeeding, the Society met, and chose eighty-four men, from tlie Northern, and Middle States, as addi- tional members of the Society.

The Executive Committee then presented, through the press, the ibllowing address to the public : —

" In view of the transactions above mentioned, and in accordance with the Constitution of The American Society tor the Promo- tion or Temperance, the Executive Conmiittee solicit the atten- tion of the Christian community to a few remarks relative to the iipportant subject here presented before them.

" The evils resulting from an improper use of intoxicating liquors bave become so extensive and desolating, as to call for the . im- mediate, vigorous and persevering effoits of every philanthropist, patriot, and Christian. The number of lives annually destroyea by this vice, in our own country, is thought lo be more than thirty thousand ; and the number of persons who are diseased, distressed and impoverished by it, to be more tlian two hundred thousand. Many of them are not only useless, but a burden and a nuisance to society.

" These liquors, it is calculated, cost the inhabitants of tliis country annually more than forty millions of dollars ; and the pauperism occasioned by the improper use of them, (taking the common- wealth of Massachusetts as an example,) costs them upwards of twelve millions; making an annual expense of more than 6fty niiKioDS of dollars.

^Oat often hundred and stxty-onecasesoTcriniiiidproseeutioM

founTtt liEi'Oii'r* — 183L 13

itt Uie year 1820, before the Court of Sessions in the chy of New York, more tlmn eight hundred are stated to have been connected with intemperance. And so it is in all our prmcipal cities. Mtvre than three quarters of the crimes committed in the countir aro probably occasioned by this hateful vice. And if we aad to these the loss of time which it occasions, the loss of business, the loss of improvement, the loss of ch^cter, and the loss of happiness for time and for eternity, tlie evil swells to an bver- wlielming magnitude. The guilt and wretchedness resulting from it sur))ass all finite conception. Scarcely any thing has a more

Cowerful and fatal efficacy to weaken, pollute, and debase the uman nrind. It palsies every effort for improvement, hinders the success of the gospel, and prevents the progress of the kingdom of Christ. It destroys, by hundreds and thousands, both the bodies and souls of men ; cutting them off from the possibility of enjoy- ment, and plunging them mto endless darkness and wo.

" No sooner is a person brought under the power of intoxicating liquors, than he seems to be proof against the influence of aU tlie means of reformation. If, at any time, the truth gains access to his mind, and impresses his heait, by a few draughts of this fatal poison, the impression is almost sure to be efiaced. Hence tlie notorious and alarming fact, that a person addicted to this vice is seldom renewed in the temper of his mind, or even reformed as to hb outward character. If a single instance of the kind occurs, it is so uncommon, that it quickly becomes the subject of remark through a neighborhood, and ofien over a large extent of cmmtry, and lor years is mentioned as an extraordinary event. Most persons given to intempei-ance, proceed from one degree of wickedness to another, till, having been often reproved, and hardened their necks, they brine: sudden and remediless destruction upon themselves. And they ilesJiroy not only themselves, but p multitude of others. The intemperance of a father has extended to three, four, five, and even to seven of his children. The in- temperance of a family has extended its contagion through a neighborhood, and its baleful effects have been felt by numerous individuals and families. Many persons, in all classes of societ}', have been destroyed by tliis vice ; and no one is free from dan- ger. A father has no security that his children will not die drunkards; and no security that the evil will not be extended, through them, to future generations. And with the continuance of die present feelings and habits of the community, there is no prospect that the evil will be lessened, and no possibuity that it will DC (Kme away. All persons, especially the young, must contmue to be exposed. Dangers meet them in the street ; overtake them in bunness ; follow them to their dwellings ; attend them in the private btenriew, and in the social circle, and assail them wherever 2

14 AMEBICAN TEMPERANCfi SOCIETY.

they go; and without a change in the sentiments and practices of tlie community, the evil roust continue to increase, till the animating prospects of this great and mighty republic are darkened, its precious institutions ruined, and thousands and millions of its populadon borne on a current of liquid fire to a world of wo.

*< The AiraRicAN Societt for the Promotion of Temper- ance have, therefore, after deliberate and devout attention to the subject, resolved, in the strength of the Lord, and with a view to the account which they must render to him for the influence they exert in the world, to make a vigorous, united, and persevering eflbrt to produce a change of public sentiment and practice ^ith legard to the use of intoxicating liquors.

" For this purpose, they deem it of primary importance that tliey should obtain an adequate fund for the support ot a man of suitable

Sialifications, in the office of Secretary, who shall devote himself to e service of the Society, and, in the various ways pointed out in the Constitution, labor to promote its object.

" In attempting to procure this fund, the Committee cheerfully make their appeal to men of known and expansive benevolence, who are blessed with property, and are firiends to Him, who was rich, yet, for our sakes, became poor, that we, tlirough his poverty, might be rich,— 4uid request them, from love to Him and to their fellow men, to take into serious consideration the magnitude of the evil which tliis Society aims to pi*event, and the immeasurable good which it aims to secure, and to furnish the necessary means, if a man of the right character may be wholly and permanently devoted to this object, with the aid which he may receive from good men, throughout the country, the Committee are confident that, with the divine blessing, a system of general and powerful cooperation may be formed, and that a change may in a short time be efTected, which will save an incalculable amount of poperty, and vast multi- tudes of valuable lives — a change which will be connected with the highest prosperity of our country, and with the eternal salvation of millions ot our feUow men.

" And may God Almighty crown with glorious success this and every other effi>rt to do good, so that Chrisdan morality, and piety, and happiness, may universally prevail.

L. WOODS, N

J.EDWARDS, / ExtcMtk^

G. ODIORNk. C ^•«'»*«««- S. V. S. WILDER, / •• Boston, March, 1826."

On the 1 6th of January , Rev. Calvin Chapin, D. D., ofWethersfield, Conn., commenced the publication of a series of thirty-three num- bers, in the Connecticut Observer, entided " The Intallible An- TiDOiE." His motto was, '^ Entirt abitinencefrom ardent spirits is

rOCRTH REPORT. 1831. 1ft

the only certain preventive of intemperance.^' This was str'ikingly illustrated in the various numbers, and strongly urged upon all as an indispensable duty. He had himself, as had a number of others, practised it for many years, and urged it as the duty of all men.

In April, 1826, the National Philanthropist, a weekly paper, de- voted to the cause of temperance, was established, in Boston, by the Rev. William Collier. Its motto was, " Temperate drinking is the downhill road to intemperance ^ This paper has been con- tinued, and, with some inf)drficatio!is, is now published by Messra. Goodell and Crandall, in New Yoi-k. It is an able and efficient pa- per, and, under its successive editors, has been a valuable auxiliary to the cause.

In September of the same year, an association of more than fifty heads of families, and mo^e than one hundred and fifty young men, was formed in Andover, Mass., on the plan of abstinence, witli the following constitution, viz.

" Believing tliat the use of iiitoxicating liquors is, for persons in healtli, not only unnecessary, but hurtful ; that it is the cause of forming intemperate appetites and habits ; and that, while it is con- tinued, the evils of intemperance can never be prevented, —

" Therefore, we, the subscribers, for the purpose of promoting our own welfare, and that of the community, agree that we will abstain from tlic use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine in case of bod- ily infirmity ; that we will not allow the use of them in our fami- lies, nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends, or for persons in our employment ; and diat, in all suitable ways, we will discountenance tlie use of them in the community.

Andovett Mcua., Sept., 1826.*'

In January, 1827, the present Corresponding Secretary visited Bos- ton, and commenced an effort to obtain means for the support of a per- manent agent. At the first meeting, although the evening was ex- ceedingly stormy, the amount subscribed was more than $3500* At the second meeting, the amount subscribed was more than ^1200; and at the third meedng, more than j(700. h\ Salem, Newburyport, Andover, and Northampton, were obtained upwards of $2000 more.

As the pastoral duties of the Secretary did not permit of his con- tinuing his agency, the Committee appointed the Rev. Nathaniel Hewit, of Fairfield, Conn., who was known to have preached and acted successfully on this subject, who spent twenty weeks in the service of the Society. He visited various places in Massachusetts, Khoda Island, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania ; preach- ed on the subject, addressed public bodies, and in various ways promoted successfully the great and good cause.

16 AMERICAN TEllPERA^vl. bOCIk.TT.

In September of the same year, the present Secretary was again appointed to an agency of three months, and visited various places in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

The prospect continued to brighten, and the evidence to increase that the work was of God. Numbers were found who had been led, within a few years, from their own reflections, without concert, in view of what they saw, to the conclusion, that tliey could not con- tinue to use ardent spirit, or to furnish it for tlie use of others, with- out ihe commission of sin. These were evidences which God had prepared, when the duty of abstinence was preached, to rise up and say, " We have felt it ;" and when tlie utility of abstinence was exhibited, to say, " It is true ; we have tried it, and found it so." This was said by men in various kinds of business, and in all conditions of life, and it gave a powerful impulse to the cause. " I wish," said an old man, as he rose at the close of a temperance meeting, " to say to tlie people, before they go away, that all which they have heard with regard to the utility of abstinence from ardent spirit is true. I know it is true. I have tried it. More tlian a hundred tons of hay I have galliered this summer off my own fai*m, and not a man in my employment has used a drop. I never got through the business of a season before without having some of my men sick. In the hot days of haying and harvesting, one was taken off a day, another a week, and so on. But this summer, not a man has lost a meal of victuals during the season. They have not broken the tools, as they used to ; tliey have not Quarrelled among themselves, as they used to ; and I finished the business of the sea- son much sooner than my neighbors who kept on in the old way, and much better than ever before. Oli ! it is a great improvement."

In the course of the year, were published Kittrec^e s Fu*st Address, Dr. Mussey's Address before the Medical Convention of New Hampshire, Mr. Palfrey's Sermons, and Dr. Beecher's Sennons on the Nature, Signs, Evils, and Remedy of Intemperance ; and they were all powemil auxiliaries to the cause.*

To show the state of the public mind at this period, we present a few extracts from the publications of that year.

The Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, in their Annual Report, Nov., 1827, say, " It is becoming unfashion- able to drink ardent spirits in decent company ; and it is no longer considered a necessary mark of hospitality to offer them. People are beginning to yield to the con\iction that they are injurious to health, even when used in moderation. It is presumed that the im-

* Dr. Beecher's Sennons were preached the year before, at Litchfield, Conn. This fact, howerer, was not knoi;^ n to those who formed the American Temper* ance Society, thus showing that different minds, in distant places, without ooa* cert, were taking substanUoUy the same views of this great subjecLf

f ArP£]iDii, £.

rOURTH REPORT.— 1831. 17

provement whicli has begun will go on, and they wiU be at len^i universally banished. It seems now to be generally admitted oy those who have had an op|)oitunity for observation, or have made themselves acquainted with the various facts, which have been col* lected with regard to intemperance, that we are to attribute much of the prevalence of immoderate drinking to erroneous opinions and prac* tices of societ}', with regard to moderate drinking. No man probably ever became at once a drunkard. Drunkards have all once l>ecn moderate drinkers, and have only gradually and insensibly become immoderate drinkers. It would seem, then, that there must be some- thing wrong in this habit of moderate drinking, since it leads, in so large a proportion of cases, to so depk)rable a result."

They also passed the following resolutions, viz : —

" 1. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, there is suf- ficient evidence that ardent spirits are not necessary as a refresh- ment or a support to the strength during labor, but, on the contrary, are absolutely injurious to the health ; that to the general moderate use of them is to be chiefly attributed the prevalent habit of in- temperance; and that entire abstinence from their use, except when prescribed as medicines, be recommended to all classes of society.

" 2. Resolved, That it be recommended to ship-owners, masters of vessels, farmers, mechanics, proprietors and superintendents of manufacturing establishments, and aU others having the care of young persons when first entering upon laborious occupations, to endeavor to induce those under their charge to form the habit of labor without any use of ardent spirits.

" 3. Resolved, That it be recommended to all having the charge of the education of the young, to endeavor to produce upon their minds a strong impression of the dangerous tendency of even a moderate use of ardent spirits."

The conviction had now become extensive, that the use of ardent spirit is wrong. Many had come to the conclusion, that no man in health, who understands its nature and efTects, can continue to use it as an article of luxury or diet, or to traffic in it, without guilt.

Kittredge,in his Address, said, " Ardent spirits are said to be usefiil and necessary. It Is false. It is nothing but the ajpology that tlie love of them renders for their use. * There are only two cases in which, Dr. Rush says, they can be administered witliout injury ; and those are cases of persons likely to perish, and where substi- tutes may be applied of equal effect. What rational man would use them for the sake of these two possible cases ? As well might he introduce rattlesnakes among his children, because tlieir oil is glDod in diseases with which they may possibly be afflicted. What! drink none } Yes — ^I say. Drink none. One gallon for tliis town is

2*

18 AMERICAN TEHPERANCfi SOCIETIT.

just four quarts too much. In addition to the miseries of debt and poverty, which they entail upon a community, tliey are tlie parent of one half the dbeases that prevail, and one half the crimes that are committed. It is ardent spirits that fill our poor-houses and our jails ; our penitentiaries, mad-houses, and state prisons. It is ar- dent spirits that furnish victims for the gallows. Tl>ey are the greatest curse tliat God ever inflicted on the world, and may well be called the seven vials of his wrath. They are more destructive 'u\ their consequences than war, plague, pestilence or fambe, yea, than all combined. They are slow in their maich, hut sure in llieir grasp. They seize not only on the natural, but the moral man. They con- sign the body to the tomb, and the soul to hell. But have not ar- dent spirits one good quality, one redeeming virtue ? None, I say, none. There is nothing, not even the shadow of a virtue, to se- cure them from universal and everlasting execration. The parent should instil into his children a hatred of ardent spirits as much as he does of falsehood and theft. He should no more suffer his chil- dren to drink a little, than he does to lie a little, and to steal a little. No longer use that which is the source of infinite mischief, w^iihout one redeeming benefit ; which has entailed upon you, upon your children, and upon society, woes unnumbered and unutterable. Banish it from your houses. It can be done. You have only to will, and it is effected. Use it not at home. Let it never be found to pollute your dwellings. Give it not to your friends or your workmen. Touch it not yourselves, and suffer not your children to touch it And let it be a part of your morning and evening prayer, that you and your children may be saved from intemper- ance, as much as from famine, from sickness and deatli."

Dr. Beecher, in hb Sermons, said, " The traffic in ardent spirits is wrong, and should be abandoned as a great national evil. The amount of suffering and mortality, inseparable from the commerce in ardent spirits, renders diem an unlawful article of trade. The commerce in ardent spirits, w-hich produces no good, and produces a certain and an immense amount of evil, must be regarded as an unlawful commerce, and ought, upon every principle of humanity, patriotism, conscience, and religion, to be abandoned and pro- scribed. It seems to be a manifest violation of the command, * Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,' and of various other evan- gelical precepts.

" No man can act in the spirit of impartial love to his neighbor, who, for his own personal emolument, inflicts on him great and ir- reparable evil ; for love worketli no ill to his neighbor. Love will not bum a neighbor's house, or poison . his food, or blast his reputa- tion, or destroy his soul. But the commerce in ardent spirits does all this inevitably and often. Property, reputation,, health, life and salvation fall before it.

'^ POtmTH REPORT. — 1831. J9

**The direct infliction of what is done iodirerdv*, would subject a aian to the ignominy of a public execution." * » « ♦

** It is scarcety a palliadon of this evil, that no man is destroyed maliciously, or with any direct intent to kill ; for the certainty of «vil is as great as if waters were poisoned which some persons would surely drink, or as if a man should fire in the dark 'jpon masses of human beings, where it must be certain that death wouW be the consequence to some." « ♦ * «

** Can it be denied that tlie commerce in ardent spirits makes a fearful havoc of property, morals and life ? Does it not shed blood as really as the sword, and more bbod than is shed by war ? In this point, none are better witnesses tlian physicians, and, according to tlieir testimony, intemperance is one of the greatest destroyers of virtue, healdi and life. ♦ ♦ * ♦

" The consideration, that those, to wlK)se injury we are accessory by the sale of ardent spirits, are desltDyed also by the perversion of their own fi-ee agency — and that the evil is silent, and slow-paced" in its march^-doubtless subtracts, in no small degree, from the keen Bense of accountability and crime, which would attend tlie admmis- tration of arsenic, or tne taking of life by the pistol, or the daggei^— «s does also the consideration that although we may withhold the cup, yet, from some other source, the deleterious potion will be obtained.

*' But all this alters not the case. He who deliberately assists bis neighbor to destroy his life, is not guiltless because his neighbor is a free agent and is also guilty ; and he is accessory to the crime, though twenty other persons might fiave been ready to conmiit the same sin if be had not done it. Who tvould sell arsenic to his neighbor, to destroy himself, because he could obtain it elsewhere ? Who would sell a dagger for the known purpose of assassination, because, if it were refused, it could be purchased in another place? We are accountable for our own wrong-domg, and liable to punishment at the hand of God, as really as if it had been certain tbat no one would have done the deed, if we did not.

^* The ungodUniess m time, and the everlasting ruin in eternity, in- separable from the conmierce in ardent spirit, proscribe it as an nuawfiil article of traffic.

** Who can estimate the hatred of God, of his word and worship, and of his people, which it occasions? or number the oaths and blasphemies it causes to be uttered ? or the violations of the Sabbath ? die impurities and indecencies, violence and wrong-doin^, which it originates ? How many thousands does it detain every Sabbath- day ttom the house of Grod-^utting them off from the means of grace, and hardening diem against their efficacy ! How broad is the road which intemperance alone opens to hell, and how thronged with travelers J" ♦ * « ♦

20 AMCRICi^N TEKTERANCE SOCIETY.

'' Here is an article of commerce spread over the land, whose effect Ls evil only, and that continually, and which increases an hundred-fold the energies of human depravity, and the hopeless victims of future punisiiment.

^' Drunkenness is a sin which excludes from heaven. The coid- merce in ardent spirits, therefore, productive only of evil in time, fits ibr destruction, and turns into hell, multitudes which no man can number.

" I am aware that, in the din of business, and the eager thirst for

Sin, the conseouences of our conduct upon our views, and the :ure destiny oi our fellow men, are not apt to be realized, or to modifv our course.

'' But has not God connected with all lawful avocations the welfare of tlie life diat now is, and of that which is to come ? And can we lawfully amass property by a course of trade which fills tlie land with beggars, and widows, ^d orphans, and crimes ; which peoples the grave-yard with premature mortalitv, and the world of wd with the victims of despair ? Could all the forms of evil produced in the land by intemperance come upon us in one horrid array, it would appall the nation, and put an end to the trafiSc in aitlent spirits. U in every dwelling buut by blood, tlie stone from the wall should utter all the cries which the bloody traffic extorts, and the beam out of the timber should echo them back, who would build such a house ? — and who would dwell in it ? What if, in every part of tlie dwelling, from the cellar upward, through all the hails and chajubei-s, babblings, and contentions, and voices, and groans, and shrieks, and waitings, were heard, day and night? What if tlie cold blood oozed out, and stood in drops upon the walls, and, by preter- natural art, all the ghasdy skulls and bones of the victims destroyed by intemperance, should stand upon tlie walls, in horrid sculpture widiin and without the building — who would rear such a building? What if, at eventide, and at midnight, the airy forms of men destroy- ed by intemperance, were dimly seen haunting the distilleries and stores, where they received their bane — following the track of the ship engaged in the commerce — walking upon the waves— flitting athwart the deck — sitting upon the rigging — and sending up from die hold within, and from the waves without, groans, and loud laments, and wailings! Who would attend ^uch stores? Who would labor in such distilleries? Who would navigate such ships ?

** Oh ! were the sky over our heads one great whispering galleiy, bringing down about us all the lamentation and wo which intemperance creates, and the firm earth one sonorous medium of sound, bringing up around us, from beneath, the wailings of the damned, wiiom the commeice in ardent spirits had sent thither; — these tremendous realities, assailing our sense, would invigorate our conscience, and

TOUBTH REPORT. 1831. 31

pve decision to our purpose of reformation. But tliese evils are as real as if the stone did cry out of the wall, and the beam answered it ; as real as if, day and night, wailings were heard in every part of the dwelling, and blood and skeletons were seen upon every wall I as real as if the ghostly forms of departed victims flittea about the ship as she passed over the billows, and showed them- selves nightly about stores and distilleries, and, with unearthly voices, screamed in our ears their loud lament. They are as real as' if the sky over our heads collected and brought down about us all the notes of sorrow in the land ; and the firm earth should open a passage for the wailings of despair to come up fixxB beneath."

Tne Massachusetts Medical Society passed resolutions in favor of absdnence, and gave it as their opinion, that the best drink ibr man is water.

The Medical Society of the Western District of New Hampshire declared, that spirituous drinks have no tendency to protect the system from diseases, but expose it the more. The New Hamp- shire Medical Society did the same, and gave it as their opinion, that distilled spirits are not essentially necessary in a sin^e disease. They resolved that they would abstain from the use of them them- selves, and discourage the use of them by others.

The President of the Society, in his address delivered June, 1827, said, *' Does a healthy laboring man need alcohol ? No more than he needs arsenic, corrosive sublimate, or opium. It has been proved a thousand times, that more labor can be accomplished in a month, or a year, under the influence of simple nourishing food, and un- stimidating drink, than through the aid of alcohol.'' ♦ « «

" From a commercial friend in Massachusetts I have lately re- ceived the following information. * I visited,' says he, * four or five years since, in New Jersey, an iron foundery belonging to Mr. Wood, of Philadelphia. I think there were thirty or forty men era- pk>yed in the establishment, and all they drank was pure spring water. I saw them often while lading out the liot metal, and sweating at every pore, take a mug, run to the spring, and drink very freely of the water. I inquired if they did not feel any ill ef!bcts front drinking so much cold water. They answered, JVo. The furnace went into blast in April, and continued till October. All those eippfeyed liad the best of health during the whole season, and re- turned to tlieir friends in the autunm with better health and fuller purses than they ever had before.

" * A vessel belongii^ to my^ neighbor went from this place to South America, and from thence to India. No spirit was allowed to the crew during the whole voyage. They all arrived home in goe^ health. One of ray own captains kept grog from his men tbe irbole of an India voyage ; they all came home in fine health. For

22 AMERICAN TEMfERANCE SOCIET7*

tny crews In hot climates, I direct spruce beer, made with tl)e oil or essence of spruce, and molasses and water. I shipped two crews hisl week ior long voyages in hot climates, and named to the men that we should not allow diem grog. There was not a single objection made to signing the shipping papers. It is in the power of eveiy ship owner lo prevent the use of ardent spirit on boaird his vessels, by sending out a few barrels of molasses, and a few dozen bottles of tlie essence of spmce, for beer.'

" To the foregoing suggestion it may be proper to add, that, for laboi ing men in hot weather, sweetened water, sometimes with the addition of ginger, is a most salutary drink ; so also is a mixture of milk and water.

" The principle of life is aflbrded to every individual in such quan- tity, or hi suf h manner, as to admit of the living actions being car- ried on under the most favorable circumstances only for a limited period ; and as no human power or skill can increase this principle one jot or tittle, so neither can the actions of life be urged beyond tlie standard of sound iieallh (leaving casualties out of tlie question^ without necessarily shortening it. And tliis shoitening of life will he for minutes, or months, or years, according to the degree and continuance of tlie excitement beyond the natural and uniiorm rate of healthy action.

" This vital principle has been likened, not altogether inaptly, to oil in a lamp, which is capable of sustaining flame only for a reitaiii length of time. If the wick be raised higher dian necessary to produce a fidl and clear light, a part of the oil goes off in smoke, and the whole is sooner consumed."

Many of the ecclesiastical bodies m the Nonliem and Middle States passed resolutions in favor of abstinence ; and recommended to all the churches and congregations under their care, to cooperate with the friends of the American Temperance Society in extending its principles and operations throughout the land. The members of several churches resolved entirely to abstain from the use of ar- dent spirit themselves, being persuaded that the gpspel required it, and to use their influence to lead all others to do the same. The yotith in various colleges, and tlie citizens in numerous towns, united in Temperance Societies, on the plan of abstinence from the tise of this poison ; and the impression was rapidly extending, that no man could continue, as an article of luxury or diet, to use it, or be accessory to the use of it by others, without the commission of sin, and, in proportion to the light which he might liave on the subject, the accumulation of tremendous and ever-growing guflt.

ilie facts which had been developed sliowed that the use of tilts article is not needful, not salutar}% but is uniformly hurtful ; that it caused more than three fourths of the pauperism, crimes, and wretchedness of the community ^ greatly increased the number.

rOUETH EEPORT 1831. 93

frequency, and violence of diseases ; destroyed the reason oTinttl^'' titudes ; and brought down greater, and still greater multitudes to iui untimely ^ve. They sliowed, conclusively, that it tended, wkh a mighty mfluence, to obstruct the progress of the gospel, to htiider the e/iioacy of all Uie means which God has provided for the moral ' and spiritual illummation and purification of men, and thus to nAi' them forever. And die prospect was, that, should suitable meaaii be used, and the whole community be made acquainted with the' bets, the conviction of this truth, unless prevented by avarice or appetite, would, with the divine blessing, become universal.

in November, 1827, the Committee reappointed Rev. Na- thaniel Hewit to an agency for three years. And, having beeii dismissed from his pastoral care for that purpose, he accepted * the appointment, and entered upon its dudes January 1, 1828.

In May of the same year, they appointed Rev. Joshua Leavkl ' to an agency for four months. A commission was also given to Mr. Daniel C. AxteU, to labor as an agent in the western parts of the state of New York. His salary and traveling expenses were paid by a benevolent individual in that part of the state.

Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, of Hadley, Mass., at the request of die Hampshire County Temperance Society, performed an agency through most of tfaie towns in that county. Other individuals per- formed voluntary agencies in their own towns and 4istricts. At the close of the year 1828, there were formed and reported 13 ^ Temperance Societies in Maine, 23 in New Hampshire, 7 in Ver- nMHit, 39 in Massachusetts, 2 in Rhode Island, 33 in Connecticut,' ' 78 in New York, 6 in New Jersey, 7 in Pennsylvania, 1 in Del-* aware, 1 in Maryland, 5 in Virginia, 2 in North Carolina, 1 in ' South Carolina, 1 in Kentucky, 1 m diio, and 2 in Indiana. Oth- ers had been formed in different parts of the country, which had not been reported. State Societies had been fonned in New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Illinois. A So- ciety had also been formed in Lower Canada ; and it is supposed' that there were not less tlian thirty thousand persons who had agreed hot to use ardent spirits.

In Belebertown, Mass., the quantity used in 1825 was adf^ about one fimrdi as much as in 1824. In Plymouth, New Hanip- shire, the etiHt of ardent spirits was not one sixteenth part as mucli as in 1826. Similar changes had been effected in (Ak&t

Restrfotions of abstinence had been passed by more than 90 nufitury companies, by the officers of 4 regiments, b^ 10 med- ical societies, and a great portion of all the ecclesiastical bodies _ ia the eountry. The lawyers of 3 counties had voted to abstiii^" from ardent spirits,* and the members of the House of Ref-

* ArriiiDii, F.

24 AWCRICAIf TKMPICRANCC SOCIETT.

reseotatives of New Hampshire, not to use them doring die sion of the Legislature^

A number of distilleries bad been stopped, and more than s

; iiuodred merchants had renounced the traffic ; vessels were sent to foreign ports without carrying tlie poison.; and the impressioD

. continued to extend, that no person, acquainted with the subject, could continue to use or to traffic in ardent spirit without the guilt of blood.

Tbe language used at the annual meetings, to which thousands

of the wisest and best hearts in the land responded, was,

. ^' There is no longer any doubt of the part which the Christian

. . should act. He is imperiously called upon, by the principles of hb religion, to abandon all connection, of whatever kind, with the m-* toxicating cup. Every glass he drinks is a warrant for his neighbor to do the like } and intemperance Is sure to follow the use of ardent spirits. There is nothing on eartli that can prevent it ; and as k>ng as human nature remains the same, this will continue to be the

. case. No man can theretore encourage that use ; no roan ctm ad-* minister the poison, without being responsible for the consequences. ^ The trader knows that every barrel he purchases will spread sorrow ^nd grief wherever it is carried. There is a moral certainty, that every gallon that is carried into tlie country, will help to keep alive that baneful disease, which rages with a fury that knows no re-^ straint, and with a force that cannot be resisted. Every man,

. therefore, who carries it into the country, is direcdy concerned in nroducing diat mass of pauperism, disease, and crime, whidi results jirom intemperance. He supplies the fuel that keeps alive the flame, and ne is the incendiary who spreads that liquid fire which , involves the peace and happiness of the domestic circle, the promise of youth, and the hopes of old aee, in one general ruin.

** The vending of ieirdent spirits cannot be carried on without guilt. Every groe-shop exhibits scenes that religbn cannot wittiess ' without horror. Here every evil passbn is fed ! Here every base propen^ty is nourished ! Here is kept the food of dmnkenaess, and hither resort all those miserable victims of the disease wba would rather die of it than be cured ! Here is found the fcisoa dial vitiates the taste of the temperate, and prepares them to supplv the places of those who die of tliis plague ! Here the temperate orink, and here the temperate learn to be di*unkard». All the drunk* ards in the country are brought up at these stores. They are tbe schools of intemperance, a^id as lone as they continue the traffic in ardent spirits, they will continue to be the poison of the kmd. As long as they furnish the supply of ardent spirits called for, they will continue to send forth tlirougfi the towns m which they are found, a pestilence, laying waste ever}' noble and manly feeling of the imman bearti and every lovely trait in the human character, b

fOUlKTH ll£PORT.«-«-183L 3f

not this 80? Where were the drunkards of our village formed, but at those places where ardent spirits are sdd ? Where is the origin of all that poverty and crime which are traced to intemperance, but at these Aceldamas of human blood ? Where can the wife and the mother find the cause of that fountain of tears which thev are coD" strained to shed, but at these fountams of ardent spints ? And can the Christian cany on this traffic ? Can be supply the lava which scorches tlie land, and be innocent ? Does he find nothing in that benien religion which he professes, to forbid it ? Can he be the agent of intemperance, the commissary of the drunkard, and feel no remorse? I know die vender tells you he is not an- sweraBle for the consequences ; that he frowns on intemperance, and withholds the cup from the drunkard. But this is not so* Does not the vender Know tlie effects of ardent spirits ? Does he not know the consequences which they will assuredly produce ? Does he not know that of those who drink, many vnH be drunken ? And can he supply the cause, and detach himself from the eflect? Can he hurl firebrands through your city, and witness the confla- gration, and claim exemption fit>m blame ? Can he spread the contagion among your families, and, when he hears the dying groan and sees the funeral, tell you that he is innocent ? Yet the vender of ardent spirits does all this. He ^reads the intoxicating caose ; he sees the drunken effect ; he hears the drunken curse ; he wit- nesses the drunken revel ; he is surrounded with it; he is producing it ; and yet teUs you that he b innocent ! Wonderful fatuity ! But he knows the responsibility is so great that he shrinks fitxn acknowledging it.. He sees the guilt and the wo, and shudders at the thought of bemg its cause. And well he may ; but he cannot escape. As long as he furnishes the means of drOnkenness to others, he is a partaker of the crime. And he should be so held in public opinion. He should be held directly responsible for the conseciuences of his acts, and the same odium which attaches to the nnncipal should attach to all accessories. But he tells you he frowns on intemperance. So, perhaps, he does. After produ- cing it, he frowns on the wretch that he has made drunken, and abhors his own offiqpring. But every retaQer should remember that the drunkards with whom he is surrounded are his own children and apprentices, and that they afford a living exhibition of the char- acter ot his own deeds. When he looks upon them, ragged, filthy and debased — ^when he hears the noon-day curse and the midnight broil, he should say, 'Here is my work ; this is what I have done. It is my trade to make such men. I have spent my life in it.' And if he is a Christian, and duly appreciates his guilt, he will raise his hands to Heaven, and before God declare that he will make no more such.

''But the vender teDs you again that he withholds the cup

3

26 AMBBICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIBTT.

from the drunkard. So, perhaps, he may. He will iumish the cup till the wretch is made drunken, and then refuse him tiU he is sober ^again. But this is too late ; this refusal comes when it can do little or no good. The crime is already perpetrated. The guik is ab*eady incurred, and in vain does the vender attempt to escape. But it is not true, that he withholds the cup from the drunkard. Every retailer does sell to the drunkard, and, however well mean- mg he may be, he cannot carry on this trade without contributing to the support of intemperance. And this traffic should be abandoned by the Christian public. Conscience should be aDowed d triumph over interest and custom, and the merchandise of spirits ;ihouid be classed with the merchandise of blood. No Christian should contam'mate his hands and his soul with this most destructive and demoralizing commerce. And I am happy to say, that many merchants have lately viewed this as they ought, and forsaken the trade, as being a curse revolting to the feelings of patriotism and Christianity. They have given a noble example of the triumph of principle, and one that deserves the universal approbation of the Christian public.

*' But tlie retailer is not alone. He is but a subaltern in that mighty army of the agents of intemperance which is scattered through the land. He is the immediate instrument of the ruin which spirituous liquors occasion, but the wholesale dealer, although one grade above him, is equally a partaker of the guilt. He sup* plies the numerous streams which issue through the land, laying waste every thing in their course. Could the vender learn the history of a single hogshead of this liquid ; could every drop return to him, and give a faithfiil account of the effects it liad produced, — he would shudder at the narration. Could he collect before him, and be enabled to see, the cri^ie, the disease and death, the poverty and distress, to count the tears and hear the groans, which every cask of spirits occasions, he would revolt with horror from the trade. But he may conceive it. Let him learn the history of intem- perance, and then let him reflect diat he is constantly engaged in sjsreading its horrors ; diat he is supplying from day to day the hquid fire that is scattered by an army of retailers through the land, scorching and destroying every thing within its reach, and he will be constrained to pronounce it an unchristian occupatk)n. And let the distiller remember, that he stands at the bead of the stream, and lets loose the flood-gates to deluge and destroy ; that his occupation is to poison the land, and that the more he does, the more wretched is the world ; and he will not find one single consolation to cheer and support him." ♦ ♦ ♦

'' Does the Christian pray for the spread of his religion, and is he at the same time engaged in the spread of intemperance ? Does lie pray for the reformatkm of the world, and, while his prayers are

rOUBTH REPORT. 1831. 27

ascending to heaven, is he spreading the plague, that poisons the heart, and renders mankind incapable of reformation ? is he sup- porting the missionary In foreign lands, from funds which he has collected as the wages of drunkenness ? And does he believe the God of heaven will smile on the labors of him who is supported by food taken from the moutlis of the children of the intemperate, for the drink that destroys them ? While he is attempting to teach tlie heathen the way to heaven, is he binding his own countrymen in chains strong as the bands of death, and leading them ui tlie road to hell ? Is he training them to practices and habits which will as surely bar them from the reaUns of bliss as tliough no redemption had been provided for them ?

" I venerate the Christian's character, and whenever I find him acting in consistency with the principles of die eospel, I do indeed regard him as the salt of the earth. But I Jear on this subject there b an awful inconsistency in the conduct of some. I believe all connection with spirituous liquors, in the present state of society, to be sinful. Since the way, and the only way, to banish intemper- ance from the earth, has been pointed out, it is the Christian's duty to adopt tliat course, whatever may be the sacrifice, and to disclaim all connection between rum and religion.

" They cannot agree. Every feeling that the former inspires is hostile to the latter ; and if there be any thin^ on earth that can eradicate piety from the heart, it is the use of ardent sp'u-its. Its inspiration is unholy and impure ; and I call upon the Christian to abstain, not only for his own sake, but for the sake of the worid, for the sake of the exaniple, as tlie means, and the only means, of effecting a reformation of mankind from intemperance. I believe the time is coming when not only the drunkard but the drinker will be excluded from the church of our God — ^when the gambler, tlie slave dealer, and the rum dealer, will be classed together. And I care not how soon that time arrives. I would pray for it as devout- ly as for the millennium. And when it comes, as come it will, it should be celebrated by the united band of philanthropists, patriots^ and Christians throughout the world, as a great and most glorious jubilee."

lu several cases, the efforts for the promotion of temperance were followed by remarkable success of tlie gospel, and numbers were led hopefully to embrace the Savior ; and the connection br-gan strikingly to appear between these efforts and the salvation of men:

In 1829, the Committee established a weekly paper, called The Journal of Humahity, to be the organ of their communica- tion with the public, and appointed Rev. Edward W. Hooker^ editor and associate general agent. The present Correspond- ing Secretary was also reappointed as general ageat, and thft

S8 AMERICAN TSMPSRANCC SOCltTT.

following persons as local agents, viz. Rev. Asa Mead for Maine, Rev. Andrew Rankin for New Hannpshire, Rev. Daniel O. Morton for Vermont, and Rev. Talcott Bates for Connecti- cut. Rev. Messrs. Coggin, Barbour, Mann, Shepherd, Clark, Bond, and Woodbury, were also appointed, each as an agent for a county in Massachusetts. Otlier agents were employed by State Societies ; and benevolent individuals performed voluntary agencies in various parts of the country.

At the close of the year 1829, there had been formed, oh the plan of abstinence, and reported, more than 1000 Societies, em- bracing more than 100,000 members. Eleven of them were State Societies. Of those known to the Committee, 62 were in Maine, 46 in New Hampshire, 56 in Vermont, 169 in Massachu- setts, 3 in Rhode Island, 133 in Connecticut, 300 in New York, 21 in New Jersey, 53 in Pennsylvania, 1 in Delaware, 6 in Mary- land, 52 in Virginia, 15 in North Carolina, 10 in South Carolina, 14 in Georgia, 8 in Alabama, 30 in Ohio, 9 in Kentucky, 5 in Tennessee, 4 in Mississippi, 13 in Indiana, I in Illinois, 3 in Michigan, and 1 in Missouri. Societies were also formed in Upper and Lower Canada, in Nova Scotia, and in New Brunswick.

More than 50 distilleries had been stopped, more than 400 merchants had renounced the traffic, and more than 1200 drunk- ards had ceased to use the drunkard's drink. Pi^rsons, Y^^'ho, a few years before, were vagabonds about the street, were now sober, respectable men, providuig comfortably, by their labor, for their wives and their children.

In a number of towns, ardent spirit was not sold, and, in sev- eral cases, not even kept at the public houses. And in some places, no person who was acquainted witli the subject, and yet continued to use distiUed liquor, as an article of luxury or diet, or to traffic in it, was viewed as a proper person for admission to a Christian church. The business was viewed as an immorality, in which no person could continue, and yet give credible evidence of being a good man.

The guilt of aiding and abetting in this work of death, became more and more obvious ; and the number rapidly increased, who saw that the effect of enlightened Christian principle would be» to banish this awful immorality from the globe. And the ben- efits which would result, from such a change, to the property, character, health, reason, lives and souls of men, became more and more apparent.

In one town in Vermont, individuals, by abstaining from ardent spirit, saved, in one year, more than $8000. In the state of New Hampshire, they saved, in the same way, more than $100,000. In Lyme, New Hampshire, in which had been .sold annually about 6000 gallons, the quantity sold that year was onljr

FOURTH REPORT. — 1831* 39

600 gallons. The bill of mortality, which had, (or six years, upon an average, been annually 24^ was reduced, for two years, to 17^. In 1826, the year before the formation of the Temperance So- ciety, the number of deaths under 40 years of age 'was 15; in 1828, only 9.

Had every town in the United States pursued a similar course, that is, used but one tenth part the usual quantity of ardent spirits, and had it been followed by a similar result, the number of deaths, that year, would have been lessened more than 70,000.*

In a number of towns, the Holy Spirit followed, with his life-giv- ing power, the ethrts for the promotion of temperance, and hundreds, under his gracious influence, hopefully embraced the gospel.

In one town in Massachusetts, a temperance discourse was delivered near the close of 1827. Numbers renounced the use of ardent spirit, and conducted all their business without it. Many were anxious to form a Temperance Society ; but some, among the aged and influential, thought that they could not do without a little, and no society was formed, till tlie young men, impatient at the delay of their fathers, called a meeting, and formed a Society among themselves. They resolved to have stated meetings, collect information, and spread it tlirough the town. At the first meeting, many were solemn, and at the second, anxious for their salvation ; a prayer was offered, and the Holy Spirit descended upon tliem : the anxiety increased, became general, and extended through the town ; and more than 200, it is believed, have passed from death unto life. Ten of those young men are now preparing for the gospel ministry ; and, should their lives be spared, and dieir talents consecrated to the Redeemer, they may be instrumental in preparing many for an exceed- ing and eternal weight of glory. And, could we trace the influ- ence of that single Temperance Society, in all its various con- nections, bearings, and consequences, upon the temporal and eter^ nal interests oi men, the vision would be transporting. And when the Committee saw these Societies rising, and extending their benign influences not merely over one, but over a thousand towns, and promising to extend them through the whole land, and to all future ages, they could not but thank God, and take courage.

This year was also rendered memorable, and will be marked as an era in the history of Europe, from its having been the OQOimencement of the Temperance Reformation in the old world.

* h the CoDoecticitt State Prison, with an average of 190 connctf , more tkan 90 of mfnm mre iK>toiioaf^ iai#upjienae before tbey caron tlMre, not one of wbmaym jMfti^iXBd to takie a 4rqp of intoxicaiuiff liquor aAer.he. eniered the w^Jln of Uie pnaoa, min WMi mo dentil Ibr'KflMiktK awi but one death ftr ahno' ^.

30 JLII£)UCAN tSMPfitUKC^ SOClCTir.

A meeting was holden, in July, at Belfast, in Ireland, to deViMi ways and means for preventing the profanation of the Sabbath ; and, in order to this, for preventmg, on that day, the sale and use of spirituous liquors. It was found, as it ever will be, impossible to prevent the one, without first preventing the other. The use of ardent spirit will, in all countries, and all ages, cause tlie profanation of the Sabbath, and all its abominations. To remove the effect, therefore, they undertook to remove the cause. And this they attempted to do in the old way, by the force of civil law. But a certain individual (Rev. John Edgar, professor of divin- ity in the college at Belfast) expressed his dissent from tliat mode of attempting to accomplish the object, and his desire to employ moral means only, in attempting to effect moral refor- mation.

He was therefore appointed to prepare an appeal to the public on this subject. While engaged in this preparation, he learned, for the first time, by a friend from America (Rev. Mr. Penny, of Rochester, New York), the nature, means and success of the Temperance Reformation in the United States. Eagerly seizing on its grand principles, and the grand principle of all moral refor- mation, viz. t^oluntary abstinence from doing evily as an essential pre-reqvisite to doing well ; and voluntary associations^ exhibiting this principle in practice, as the grand means of effecting it ; he embodied his thoughts, and published them b the Belfast papers, on the Hill of August, 1829. This was the first appeal on this subject to the Christians of Europe ; and was followed by results similar to those which had been witnessed io the United States. The first Temperance Society in the old world, on the plan of abstinence, was formed by Rev. George Carre, of New Ross, in Ireland. Special pains were taken to furnish them with the Journal of Humanity and other temperance publications from this country, and before the close of the year, they had numerous Temperance Societies in Ireland and Scotland, em- bracing more than 14,000 members. The subject had been taken up in England, and bid fair to extend through the king- dom. More than 65,000 temperance publications had issued from the press, and were in a course of rapid and extensive circulation. Persons were employed to go from house to house, and distribute them, and make known to the people the benefits that would resuh to them and their children, for both worlds, from the Temperance Reformation.

Thus had the subject, at this period, taken deep root on two con- tinents ; and the proroect was increasing, that, should Providence continue to smile, and temperate men to do tlieir duty, it would hold on its way, till there should not be a drunkard on the dobe.

In the earty part of 1830, Rev. Mr. Hewit visited the Middle

FOURTH RRPORT. 1831. 8l

mhA Southern States. He was received with kindness, heard with attention, and was insirumental in awakening new interest in tiint

Eart of the country. In March, he returned, and continued his ibors in New England, tiH within three months of tlie close of his engagement. Having been invited to take charge of a church in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and believing it to be his duty to ac- cept the invitation, he resigned his laborious and successful agen- cy, Sept. 30th, 1830. And while the Committee would grate- fully acknowledge the kindness of the Lord in his preservation and success, they would affectionately sympathize with him in his recent domestic affliction,* and express tlieir earnest hope that both mercies and trials may be overruled for his greater useful- ness on earth, and his more distinguished glory in heaven.

Rev. Edward W. Hooker, associate general agent, and editor of the Journal of Huhianity, after die judicious and able di^ charge of its duties till tlie paper was established, and had taken strong hold on the interests of the community, resigned his connec- tion with the Society 5 and Mr. E. C. Tracy was ap|)ointed editor in his stead. This paper still continues to be a powerful auxil- iary in the great and good cause. It is read with deep interest, by intelligent and philanthropic men, in this and other countries ; and should its circulation be extended so as to render its publicaliou permanent, it would accomplish unspeakable good to our countr}' and to the world. And the Committee would earnestly request the friends of the object, as extensively as practicable, to promote its circulation.

Other papers, and periodical publications, have exerted a power- ful influence, and rendered valuable aid to the cause ; and it is de- sirable that such publications should be circulated extensively throughout the country.

Rev. Wm. Kinher, a Baptist clergyman in Illinois, has been appointed to labor for one year, as asent, in that state ; and the American Tract Society has made a donation of temperance tractai to be distributed by our agents, in that extended and interesting part of our country.

The Corresponding Secretary, since his reappointment, August 27th, 1839, has continued uninterruptedly his labors in the service of the Society. He has visited vai'ious parts of the British province of New Brunswick, and the states of Maine, New Hamp- shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennr sylvaoia, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He has traveled more than 6,400 miles, and preached and addressed public bodies three hundred and eighty-six times. He has assisted in the formation, and attended the anniversaries, of numerous Tern-

* Mrs. Rebecca HewH, wife of Rev. Nathaaie) Hewit, died at Bridgeport. Conn., deepf^ iMMotad, Jan. id, 1831.

1

32 AMERICAN TEMPEOANCE SOCIETY.

perance Societies ; written a number of articles for publication ; ccm- ducted die coirespondence ; and superintended the general concerns of the Society.

At the request of a number of gentlemen, he, in January, 1831, vrsited the District of Columbia, and addressed the citizens of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. Three Temperance Societies had been formed, and ten others were formed, during his visit, embracing more than one thousand members. At the request of individusus of both houses of Congress, he addressed the members of that body, in the capitol, on the subject. The at- tendants were numerous, and the interest manifested wvls highly auspicious. From all parts of the country, members of Congress testified that a great change had been effected, and one in tlie highest degree salutary to adl the social, civil, and religious inter- ests of the community.

A member from one of the Southern States, and from a district in which it had been customary for candidates for office to bril)e the electors with spirituous liquors, declared, " that so great had been the change of public sentiment, that, should any man now pur- sue a similar course, that, of itself, would defeat his election."*

Another member from one of tlie Western States, declared, " that the change in his part of the country had been wonderful ; and that he considered the object of the Temperance Society as one of the most important, ana its operations as among the most useful, of any in the world. The children — the children," said he, " to all future generations, will experience the benefit. Any publi- cations on this subject, which you may wish to send into my dis- trict, I will cheerfuUy forward."

Similar was the testimony of others, and their readiness to cir- culate information on the subject.

There is no object, said they, of more importance than this, to the welfare of the country.

From a number of the principal boarding-houses in the city of Washington, ardent spirit was excluded ; and many of the mem- bers of Congress used none during the session.

The President of the United States gave it as his opniion, that, through an extensive region of countr\' where he had ti*aveled, the quantity used had been diminished more than half.

The Secretary of War stated, that, of more than one thousand desertions from the army, during the last year, nearly all were oc- casioned by drinking.

From January 1st, 1823, to December 31st, 1829, the number of desertions was 5,669 ; upon an average, more than eight hun- dred ; nearly one seventh part of tlie whole army (which consists

* Appkvdii, G.

rOURTH REPORT. 1831. ^

of about six thousand) every year. Tlie loss to tlie country by desertions in these seven years, exclusive of the expenses of con- vening courts-martial, and several otlier items, was $471,263; or about $70 to a man ; and during six yiears, ending December 31st, 1 828, the number of soldiers tried by courts-martial, was 7,068. In 6ve years, ending December 3 1st, 1827, there were 5,582 ; be- ing nearly one to each individual in the army, during one term of enlistment. And a great majority of the whole r^suhed from the use of ardent spirit. And if to this vVe add the cost of the liquor, the expenses ol a great increase of sickness, and numerous premature deaths, the loss, fi-om the use of this poison, in tlie army, the whole tendency of which is to injure the soldier, and unfit him for tlie de- fence 01 his country, must have been ver}' great.*

A distinguished officer of the army declared, " Nearly all the trouble we have with the men arises fiom «irinking." And in a letter which our Secretary lately received from him, he says, " Since 1 last wrote you, I have visited a militaiy post ; and, on looking over the sick list, with the acting surgeon and liospital steward at my el- bow, to tell me the cause of eacli man's sickness, I was assured that, out of forty-six cases, the diseases of more than forty bad their origin in intemperance. Probably more than five sixths of all military offences tried before our courts-martial, result Irom in- temperance." The same officer gave it as his opinion, that, since ijis acquaintance with the army, which has been for many yeai"s, more than three fourths of the deatlis among tlie soldiers were oc- casioned by ardent spirits. And he says, " The Secretary of War has, in my opinion, done incalculable good to the amiy, by with- holding the whiskey part of tlie rations. We want now a few tem- perance preachers to visit from post to post, and bring the subject of temperance before the troops ; form Societies ; furnish them with addresses, essays, and periodicals ; and I doubt not diat a happy- reformation would be witnessed in the army;"

And his anticipations seem to be justified by facts. In a num- ber of cases, Tempci*ahce Societies have been formed at various inilitary posts, and with the most cheering results.

From one of them, a correspondent writes, " Ardent spirit had been, as was customary, dealt out to the soldiers. The con- sequence was, the majority were in a state of degi"adation, and were going tlie broad road to ruin, as fast as the wheels of timei and the ruinous consequences of irregular living, would carry them. About one fourth, on an average, were unable to do duty on ac- count of drunkenness 3 which caused sickness, punishments, and descrtbns, not a few. In consequence of the visits and e&rts of individuals, a change lias taken place, so great, that the officers

* ArpcvDii, H.

iJ4 AMERICAN TtMFSBAN'CE SOCIETT,

cheerfully acknowlcMlge, that the Lord halh clone it. One hundred iuid sixty -nine, out of two hundred and ten Si^ldiers, sit^aed a petition to have no ardent spirit brought to tlie garrison. The petition was fj;ranted. With dieir grog-money, they have purchased a library ol more than five hundred volmncs ; and it is now a shame for any man to drink or be drunken. The Sabbath is spent in reading; itiid attending public worship. The Sabbath school is taught by the ofiicers and others, and conducted in an orderly and a useful manner."

The regulation above referred to, adopted by the war depart- ment, together with the remarks upon it of a gentkman connected with the army, and of distinguished medical gentlemen, wilt be iound in the Appendix ;* and should sudors and all others be pro- hibited from furnishing ardent spirits, and the troops from pur- chasing them, the result to the ai*my and to the country would be in the highest degree salutary. It would prevent a great portion of all the desertions and courts-martial; ol sickness and premature deaths ; and would save annually more than half a million of doilai*s.

Tlie use of aitlent spiiit has done more than every thing else tc deteriorate the character of the soldier, and unfit him for the de- I'cnt e of his country. And so long as the cause is continued, whether it ii kept in operation by ilie government or by individu- als, uie effect can never be done away.

Tiie Secretary of the Navy also expressed his conviction, tl:at tlie use which is made of ardent spirit is one of the greatest curses ; and declared his intention to recomniend a change with regard to Jie r.avy. A distinguished officer gave it as his opinion, that nine tenths of all the difticulties which the cflicers have with d:e men arise from ardent spirits ; and expressed bis strong conviction, fitMn what he had witnessed on board Ias own ship, and otliers^ which had made the experiment, of the practicability and great utili- ty of entire abstinence througiiout tlie navy. He said, *' If Con- gress would pass a law, prohibiting the use of ardent spirit in the navy, and giving to the men the value of it in money, there would be no difficulty ; and it would be one of the greatest blessincs that could be conferred upon thera." There is now a provision that all who will voluntarily relinquish it, shall be allowed six cents per ration, as a subsutute. But what is needed 'is, that the government should cease to furnish it for any.

On board the United States sloop of war Falmouth, in her late ( niise, seventy of the men abstained entirely from the use of ardent spirit ; and between forty and fifty on board the Brandy wine ; and tii^y were among tlie most healthy, cheerful and orderly in tlie

* AFrKJIDlX» I.

rOURTU REfORTw — 1831. 33

ship. " During the cruise," said the chaplain, '^ I never knew a complaint against one of them ; and the total disuse of spirit is in- creasing in the navy generally. The inquiry, ^ Can seamen advan- tageously and comfortably dispense with spirituous liquors, while at sea ? is satisfactorily answered, by a cloud of witnesses. Both in our navy and in our merchant ship, the question is at rest.*' A later communication, from the Mediterranean squadron, states, " That, out of the whole ship's company of the frigate Brandywine, amounting to four hundred and eighty-six souls, only one hundred and sixty men drew their grog."

Since January 1st, 1830, more than one hundred and fifty ves- sels have sailed from the port of Boston, which do not carry ardent ^irit ; and it is believed, that there are now afloat on the ocean, more thaa four hundred of this description. The longest and most difficult voyages are made without it; and greatly to the health, comfort and safety of the men. Of seven hundred sailors, who have called for a supply of books, at one office, more than two hundred abstain fix)m tne use of spirituous liquors ; and should this course be adopted by all seafaring men, it would prevent, accord- ing to the opinion of experienced navigators, more than half of all the shipwrecks on the ocean.

A captain, who had just arrived from Ekuope, said to our Secre- tary, '* I took seven men from a wreck just before my arrival, in a state of almost utter starvation. When wrecked, they took a keg of whidcey, but never thought of victuals ; and had it not been for a timely discovery, they must all have perished. And tljis habit of drinking is the cause of a great portion of all the shipwrecks. The moment sailors become frightened, they begin to drink, soon despair, give up all for lost, and drink till they are hst. Had they held on, and not touched the poison, they bad out-rode the storm, and been safe."

So say the facts. A vessel, htely coming from Virginia to New York, with a number of passengers on board, was overtaken with a storm, which raged with ereat violence, and ccmtinued a long time. All the sailors on board who drank ardent spirit, from intemperance, fatigue, or despair, gave up, and ceased to labor. But one man on board drank no ardent spirit ; and although he, with the rest, had bufieted the storm, he took the hehn, and stood for hours after the others had ceased to make exertion ; and the whole crew were saved. Had it not been for him, long before the storm abated, they had all probably been at the bottom of the ocean.

Said a distinguished navigator, " The great day of accotmt will bear terrible witness, when the sea shall give up the dead that are b it, of the vast aiid unsuspected extent of the sacrifice of life among seamen, firom shipwrecks, and other catastrophes oocasoned by drunkenness. One aistressfiil instance, anoong the numben that

36 AHJBAICAN TCMPCKAMCE lOCIETT.

will hereafter be brought to light, occurred within my own ol lion. A collier brig was stranded on the York coast ; and I bad occasion to assist in the interesting, but distressing service of rescu-* ing a part of the crew by drawing them up a vertical cli^ two or three hundred feet in altitude, by means of a deep-sea lead-line, the only rope that could be procured. The first two men who caught hold of this slender line, were hauled safely up the frightful clSf; but the next, after being drawn to a considerable height, slipped his hold, and he fell ; and with the fourth and last, who ventured upon this only chance of life, the rope gave way, and he also was plunged mto foaming breakers beneath. Immediately afterwards, the vessel broke up, and the remnant of the ill-fated crew, with the exception of two, who were washed mto a cavern in tlie cliff, perished before our eyes. But what was the cause of this heart-rending event ? Was It stress of weather, or bewildering foe, or unavoidable acci- dent ? No ; — it arose entirely from the want oi sobriety ; every sailor, to a man, be'ine in a state of mtoxication. The vessel, hut a few boors before, had sailed from Sunderland ; the men beins drunk, a boj, unacquainted with the coast, was intrusted with the helm. He ran the brig upon Whitby Rock, and one half of the miserable, dissi- pated crew awoke to consciousness in eternity ! To this solitary mstance I might add many ; but this must suffice, both as to illus- tration and proof of the terrible consequences of btemperance at sea.*'

Numerous other cases, and fixxn all parts of the world, mieht be mentioned, illustrative of the same truth ; and, should the use of spirit- uoiK liquors be done away, the risk of property on the ocean and the rate of insurance might be lessened probably m<nre tlian halfJ And it b hoped that the time is not distant, when no merchant will saSer tUs gitmd cause d" immorality, disease, and death, temporal and eternal, to be found on board his vessel ; and when it shall not be used, as an article of luxury or diet, or sold by any sober man, eq)ecially by any Christian, in our land.

Nor will the prevention of the loss of prcmerty, in that case, be ccmfined to the ocean. The Hon. Wflliam Cranch, chief judge of the District of Columbia, who is extensively known as a candid and accurate reporter of principles and facts, in an Address which he delivered before the Washington and Alexandria Tennperance Societies, estimates the loss annually in the United States, nom the use of ardent spirits, at not less than $94,425,000.'*^ In tbb esti« mate, he has taken no account of what is lost hy shipwrecks, sick- ness, and in various other ways. But even this sum wotdd, in thirty years, amount to more than the value of all the houses, lands and slaves in the United States. These were estimated, in 1815, at

!

rotTarn ]ibpobt.-«1831« ST

1,771,312,908. And if Uie value of them haa since increased I proportion to the increase of population, it would now be 12|5 19,009,222. And the loss to the consumers of ardent spirits, id to the community, in thirty years, would, according to the fore- xng estimate, be $2,832,750,000, which is 1^313,740,778 more lan the value of all the houses and land in the United States ; thus diibiting to the world the awful spectacle of a people losing, by the ie of strong drink, in thirty years, $313,740,778 more than the due of their whole country. And all for what ? To gratify an rtificial and destructive appetite, which men do not need, and luch they bad better be without ; which God does not give them, lit which they, by their own voluntary and wicked conduct, form. And if the crimes, wluch are prosecuted annually in the United tales, are only one fifth as many, in proportmn to the population, ! in the citv of New Yoik, and should they not increase with the icfease of population, they would, in thirty years, amount to ,800,000 ; more than 1,000,000 of which must, accordii^ to the admony of judges and jurists, be attributed to the use of ardent >irits. And of the 7,200 murders which will, shouki the present imtier not increase, in that time be committed, more than 6000 r them must be attributed to the same cause. And of all the eaths which will in that time take place, in the United States, lore than 900,000 must be consklered, according to the testimony r the most distinguished physicians, as occasbned bv strong drink. kf if we take the number who are killed by it in Philadelphia, as ated by a committee of the College of Phy^cians, as the average toportion, beuig in that city seven hundred in a year, it would take nK>re than 1,500,000. In one place, of only 6000 inhab- ants, the chief magistrate, being himself an eminent physician, in- tmed our Secretary, that twenty-eight in that place were killed by rong drink in one year. Tliis would make, m thirty years, eight imdired and forty. And if eight hundred and forty would be killed I a population of 6000, how man^ would be killed, in that time, noog 12,000,000? The proporucMi would be 1,680,000: while le use of this poison, without affording the least benefit, would peady increase the diseases, lessen the reason, and diminish the ippiness of all who used it ; and, u{)on an average, would shorten iQflr lives probably at least five years. And if drunkards, upon an rarage, sliorten life only ten years, and temperate drinkers five, id mere are only four sober drmkers to one drunkard, it would a bss in the United States, in thirty years, of 32,400,000 of human probation and of active usefulness ; in a world, too, 1 wAich every noble and benevolent deed might model the charac- sr, and tcU on the destinies of men, for eternity. Amazing loss ! Lnd when we con^der the efiect of this poison, in deteriorating the haracter, bfinding the understanding, searing the cooaoiencev and

38 AIIE&ICAN TEMPERANCK SOCIETY.

hardeoing the heart ; when we see it tend to hinder the success of the gospel, and prevent the efficacy of all the means of grace ; and to perpetuate and accumulate its deleterious influence over all future generations of men, — the evils become overwhelming.

And yet, by abstaining irom their cause, these evils may be doue away ; without injury to any, and greatly to the benefit of all. And as more than a thousand among the most intelligent physicians on the globe, have certified, that men in health do not need ardent spirit, and cannot, without injury, use it ; and as the correctness of this opinion is proved abundantly by facts, in the experience of hundreds of thousands of all ages and conditions, and in aU kinds of busmess, — the conviction is extending and deepening, and tend- ing to become universal, that no person can continue to use it, or be accessory to the use of it by odiers, witliout, if acquainted with the subject, the accumulation of awful and overwhelming guilt.

This conviction is manifqsted by the increasing numbers who are voluntarily withdrawing fix)m alj connection with this abomina- tion, and pledging themselves to use all suitable means to persuade all others to do the same.

Fifteen Temperance Societies, on the plan of abstinence, were, the past year, formed in the ci^ of Baltimore, embracing more than 2000 members. A State Society was also formed in Mary- land, in Delaware, and in seven other states. Eleven had been formed before, making, in all, at the present time, eighteen State Societies. There is one in each state, except Maine, Rhode Island,* Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois, and Missouri. And it is hoped, that a State Society will soon be formed in every state in the Union. And should each State Society, as is earnestly desired by this Society, employ an agent, and take the direction of this cause within their own limits, and temperate men do their duty, a Temperance Society may soon be formed in every county, town and village in the country.

On the first of May, 1831, there were reported 140 Societies in Maine, 96 in New Hampshire, 132 in Vermont, 209 in Massa- chusetts, 21 in Rhode Island, 202 in Connecticut, 727 bi New York, 61 in New Jersey, 124 in Pennsylvania, 6 in Delaware, 38 in Maryland, 10 in the District of Columbia, 113 in Virginia, 31 m Nortli Carolina, 16 in South Carolina, 60 in Georgia, 1 in Florida, 10 in Alabama, 19 in Mississippi, 3 in Louisiana, 15 in Tennessee, 23 in Kentucky, 104 in Ohio, 25 in Indiana, 12 in Illinois, 4 in Missouri, and 13 in Michigan Territory ; making, in all, more than 2200, and embracing more than 1 70,000 members. These members have been constantly increasing, and have, in many cases, been

* A State Society has since been formed in Rhode Iiltnd, making at thcMrafl- •nt time, 19 State SocieUea.

rOURTH REPORT. — 1831, 39

more than doubled since they were n^ported. There are also numerous Societies which have been formed, and some of Uiein embracing large disti'icts of country, not contained in the above list, and (rom which no returns have been received. The number be- longing to Societies which are not reported, in the state of New York, are supposed, by the Committee of the State Society, to amount to more than '30,000. In other states from which die returns have been less general and complete, tlie number, in pro- portion, is still greater. In Kentucky, in which but 23 have been reported to us, containiiig only about I GOO members, a correspond- ent writes, tliat tliey have, in his opinion, nearly 100 Societies, and not much short of 15,000 membere. So it may be in other states; and from the best information which has been obtained, the Com- mittee conclude tliat there are now formed, in the United States, on the plan of abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, more than 3000 Tetnperance Societies, containing more than 300,000 mem- bei's.

From the influence of these Societies, and other causes, 300,000 more may have adopted the plan of not using it^ or furnisiiing it fo;* the use of othei*s. Connected with diese, 600,000 of children and pei-sons in their emj)loyment, -and under dieir control, may be as many more. And thus 1,200,000 may already have beon brought under the influence, and may now be experiencing the benefit, of the Temperance Reformation. Among these, should they continue to refrain from intoxicating drink, there will never be a drunkard : whereas, had they continued m habits which prevailed five years ago, 50,000 of them might have come to tlie drunkard's grave.

So diat, sliould this i-eform now be merely stationary, and make no further progress, it may have saved 50,000 froni the drunkard's d.x)m ; and how many it would save of their cliildren, and children's children, none but God can determine.

In one case, as our Secretary was informed, a father adopted the plan of using a little ardent spirit every day. He was never intoxicateil, and never thought to be in the least intemper;ate. He only took a little, a very little, because he thought that it did him good. For the same reason, his children took a little, daily ; and so did their children. And now, no less tiian 40 of his de- scendants are drunkards, or in the drunkard's grave.

Another man adopted a different plan ; he would not use ardent s|^l; he would not purchase it; nor would he suffer it to enter ms house. He taught his children to treat it as a poison, a mortal poison ; and they, taught their children. And now, there is not a druidcard among them ; nor has one of his descendants ever oome to the drunkard's grave. Lon^, long may it be, before any one ever shall. And when the long hnes of descendants of these

40 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE 80CIBTT.

two men, tlirough all future ages, shall rise up before them, and before the universe, in the blazing Dght of eternity, who can es- timate the difTerence of results, of tlie different courses adopted and pursued by their progenitors ? None but He, who seeih tlie end irom the beginning, and to whom tliey have both now gone to render tlieir account.

If such may be the difference of result from a single indi\adual adopting the plan of abstinence, from what it might have been, had he adopted the plan of moderate drinking, and in two generations, who can estimate die difference, from the plan of abstinence having been adopted by 1,200,000, — 50,000 of whom might have been drunkards, and 1,150,000 habitual drinkers,—- down through all future generations to the end of the world-^and onward to eternity ? And here let it not be forgotten, that more dian 3000 of those who now abstain, actually were drunkards ; who, should they continue their present course, will have been saved with a great salva- tion. And this might have been the case with more llian 6000 others, who are drunkards still. They ceased to use stiong drink for a time, and were sober men. Sucli they nn'ght have been now ; and not only sober men, but respectable men, a comfort and a blessing to all around them ; had not some sober drinker, or some retailer, — whose name, were it to number the evils which he l:ias oc- casioned, would be Legion, for tliey are many,^-eniiced them to go back, and perish.

To a respectable stranger, in a province of a neighboring kingdom, our Secretary handed a temperance tract, and said, " Sir, tlie man who wrote that tract was once a drunkaid." ** And so," said the stranger, with tearful emotion, " was the man who now holds it." But he is not a drunkard now. No ; he adopted the plan of absti- nence ; has since, it is believed, chosen that good part which shall not be taken from him ; and is shedding on a wide circle of ac-

?uaintance the lifegiving and purifying influence of a consistent /hristian example. He is a warm advocate, and active promoter of the temperance cause ; and through his influence, ana that of others, there is reason to hope that it will spread tlirough the province.

A respectable merchant, in one of our principal cities, said, " 1 shall have reason to remember the Temperance Cause as long as 1 live. Had it not been for that, I, before now, should have been a drunkard." On relating this fact to a merclmnt, in another city, " And so," said he, " should I. I was on the brink of ruin ; but it saved me.'* And the grace of God came in, and he, it is believed, was doubly saved. " Yes," said he, with grateful emphasb, as he kx>ked on his wife and children, ^^ and I will give a hundred doUan a year, to spread the Temperance Reformation through the country."

rOURTH REPORT. — 183L 41

And who, that has a hundred dollars of the Lord's property, and can, consistently with duty, will not give it, to spread the Temper- ance Reform throughout our country, and throughout the world ? In what possible way can that amount, annually, fix>ni one hundred men, to whom the Lord has committed property, with the inscrip- tion " Occupy till I come," do more good to the temporal and eter- nal mterests of men ?

Suppose the American Temperance Society has, within the last five years, expended $10,000, and other Sociedes and individuals have expended, in this cause, as much more ; in what way did $20,000 ever do more good ? In what way was $20,000 ever more productive in the accumulation of propeit}' ? or, what is bettei, in the saving of property, character, health, reason, lives and souls of men ?

In the county of Baltimore, in Maryland, out of 1134 paupers, admitted to the alms-house from May, 1829, to May, 1830, 1059 were brought there by mtemperance ; viz. of temperate adults, 24 ; of adults whose habits were not known, 24 ; children of temperate parents, 13 ; children of parents whose habits were not known, 14 ; children of intemperate parents, 115; and intemperate adults, 944 : total of temperate adults, and persons whose habits were not known, and their children, 75 ; and oi intemperate adults and their children, 1059.

In the county of Cumberland, Pennsylvania, of 50 paupers, 48 were made such by intemperance. And in the county of Oneida, New York, out of 253, 246 were made paupers in the same way.

" According to a Report of the superintendents of the Wash- ington county (N. Y.) poor-house, out of 322 persons received intc that house since its establishment, 290 were sent there in conse- quence of their own intemperance, or tliat of others.

"According to a statement made by Col. Hoffinan, nineteen twentieths of the inmates of the Montgomery county (N. Y.) poor- house, owe their situation to intemperance."

And the superintendent of the Albany alms-house states, that, were it not for the use of strong drink, that establishment would be tenaiitless. And substantially so it would be throughout this coun- try ; and in proportion as the Temperance Reform has prevailed, alms-houses have become tenantless, and crimes been done away.

The solicitor general, at the sitting of the Supreme Court, in the county of Hampden, Massachusetts, remarked, that he found but one indictment for crime in the county of Worcester ; but one in the county of Hampshire ; and but three in the county of Hamp- den ; and that, in all parts of the state, the indictments for crimes had surprisingly diminished within two years. And he could ascribe this change in favor of virtue and good order, to no other cause than the influence of Temperance Societies, and the great 4*

42 AHLRICAN TEMPKIUNCE SOCIETY.

change, which they had been the means of eflbcting with regard to the use of strong drink.

" The keeper of the Ogdensburg (N. Y.) jaU states, that iet>tn eighths of the criminals, and three fourths o( tlie debtors, imprisoned tiiere, are intemperate persons.

"Of the first 690 children sent to tlie New York house of refuge after its establishment, 401 were known to be children of intemperate parents.

" In two districts in Upper Canada, 38 out of 44 inquests hehl by the coroners, were, in cases of death, caused by intemperance.

" The keeper of tlie Ohio penitentiary, in his Repot to the Leg- islature of that state, Dec. 1829, says, that, of tlie 134 prisoners under his care, 36 only claimed to be temperate men.

" The sheriff of Washington county, Pa., stated, last year, that, out of 24 committals, 21 were caused by intemperance.

" In Litchfield county, Ct., the proportion of criminals who are intemperate, is 35 out of 39."

" My belief is," says the chairman of the Committee of the New York State Society, "' that this state has saved, during the last year, in the lessened use of ardent spirits, $6,250,000. And it is entirely past all calculation to estimate the great increase of wealth to the state in labor, more usefully and more vigorously applied to every department of industry. And since rum has been dismissed, and the mind has recovered its healtliful tone, the Spirit of tlie Lord has a power, and has been at work, in various parts of this state, in a wonderful manner ; and all appear to agree, now, that the too common use of aidcnt spirits has been one great cause of apadiy on religbus subjects."

The Committee of the New York State Society estimate the saving, in the cost of spirits alone, at $2,000,000 the last year. " But," they say, ** our greatest gains from the Temperance Refor- mation are not to be estimated in dollars. They are manifest in our improved morals, and in the fresh vigor which is infused into every branch of industry. They are manifest in llie unexampled prosperity which pervades our state, and which all candid observem agree in ascribing so largely to tlie arrest of the desolating tide of intemperance. They are manifest, the Christian is sure, in the unprecedented attention to religion in all parts of the state ; ibr our greatest enemy to the work of the Holy Spirit on the minds of men, is more than half conquered."*

Equally conspicuous and salutary is the effect on the health of the communi^. Said a distinguished physician in Massachusetts, '' Since our people have given up the use of ardent spirits, the amount of siclaiess has been diminished about halA And 1 have

*Appbiij>», K. ^

irOURTH RfiPORT. — 1831. 43

W> doubt, should the people of the United Stales renounce t!ie use of spirituous liquors, nearly half the diseases of the country woulJ be prevented."

And said another eminent physician, after forty years' extensive practice and observation, "I have no doubt that half the men, every year, who die of fevers, might recover, had it not been for the use of spirituous liquors. No one but a physician knows iiow power- fully all inflammatory diseases are increased, even by what Ls called temperate drinking ; or how fatally the best remedies in the world are counteracted by the same cause. I have seen men who were never intoxicated, down twenty days with a fever, who, had it not been for the use of ardent spirit, probably would not have been confined to the hotise a day. And I have often seen men stretched on a bed of fever, who, to all human appearance, might be raised up as well as not, were it not for that state of the system, which daily temperate drinking produces ; who now, in spite of all that can be done, sink down and die." And the decrease in the bills of moi^ tality, among those who have renounced the use of strong drink, exhibits evidence, that, should this course be adopted by all, the number of deaths annually in the country, would be lessened more Ihan 50,000.

And facts, so far as they have been developed, as well as the nature of the case, give reason to believe, that the same amount of moral means, employed for human benefit, would mote than double their influence and their benefits over the minds and hearts of men* The special attention which is now manifested to the great interests of the soul, and of eternity, under the influence of the Divine Spirit, in fourteen coHeges, and more than five hundred towns, in which the eflfects of the Temperance Reformation have been most cotv- spicuous, speaks with a voice that will be heard, and heeded by toe friends of God throughout the earth.

Men who have given up the waters of death, have, in great num- bers, imder the means which God has appointed and blessed for that purpose, passed from death unto life.* Many more have been saved from becoming drunkards, and from the drunkard^ grave.

From a town of about 2000 inhabitants, a correspondent writes, ** We have not a drunkard in the place, except those that were such when our Temperance Society was formed, four years ago. Not a new drunkard has since been made." Yet, had the people of that town continued in the habits which prevailed five years ago, and iiimished new drunkards, in proportion to their population, they had made, in four years, not less than 24 new drunkards. And if 24 have been saved from becoming drunkards, among 2000

* Apfbrdii, L.

44 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETT.

inhabitants, how many may have been saved among 12,000,000? The proportion would be 144,000. But it may be said, that the Temperance Reformation has not prevailed through the countr)', as it has tlirough that town. This is true. Let us, dierefore, take another propoition. In that town are not over 700 members of the Temperance Society ; and if 24 have been saved from becoming drunkards, by 700 members of the Temperance Society, and such as act wiili them, how many have been saved by 300,000, and those who act with them? The proportion would be 10,285. An<l the Committee know of no reason to believe that this is more than tlie real number, who, in four years, have been saved from becoming drunkards. And if lo these we add the 3,000 who were drunkards, and who now do not use the drunkard's drink, we have 13,285 sober men, who would otherwise have been drunkards. And the prospect of their comfort and usefulness in this life, and their salvation in eternity, is increased, should they continue to abstain, a hundred fold.

And let the Temperance Reformation become as general, and as efiicacious throughout the country, as it has been in that town, and it might save, in 30 years, 1 ,080,000 from the drimkard's life, the drunkard's death, and the dmnkard's eternity.

It might save, also, multitudes of their children, and children's children, through all future ages, from being swept, by diat burning currciit, to "the lake of fire, which is the second death."

And $10,000 a year, judiciously applied, and attended, as past efforts have been, by the blessing of the Most High, might render the temperance efforts as efficacious, throughout our countr)', as ihey have been in that town. In what way, then, the Committee would ask again, can that amount of property be annually expended lo greater advantage to the temporal and eternal interests of men ?

3000 drunkards already reclaimed ; 10,285 sober men kept from becoming drunkards; 1,200,000 abstaining from the drunkard's drink, 50,000 of whom, had they continued to use it, might have become drunkards; and as many more of their children in eve- ry future generation; the quantity used by 11,000,000 more greatly diminished, and the pauperism, crimes, sickness, insanity and death diminished in proportion ; one of the mighuest obstruc- tions to the efficacy of the gospel and all the means of grace re- moved, and those means rendered proportionably more emcacious, b the moral and spiritual illumination and purification of men ^ — and all for how much? $20,000; which, if divided amone tlie drunkards reclaimed and the sober men, who in five years have been saved fi-om becoming drunkards, would amount to $1,50 to a man; or, if divided among the 1,200,000, who abstain from the use of ardent spirit, would be less dian two cents to an individual ; while

FOURTH K£PORT« 1831. 45

the loss to the country by desertions from the army, of the men who used strong drink, was, in tiie same space of time, more than ^50 , to a man : or more than $342,188, exclusive of the expenses of the courts-mailial to ti*y them. Is it not chea|)er, then, to induce men to renounce the use of strong drink, than it is to furnish it, and then take care of them ?

Facts justify the belief, that should 100 men give 100 dollars annually to promote this cause, they may be instrumental in annually saving ten thousand lives, and ten million dollars ; and may exert an inauence in the highest degree salutary to the social, civil, luid religious interests of men ; which shall be felt in its efTects to all future generations, and sliall tell, in accents of glory, upon tlie destinies of millions to eternity.

in one town in Maine, containing a population of about 1000, a Temperance Society was formed about four years ago. Before the fonnation of that Society, the quantity of ardent spirit sold was 10,000 gallons a year ; and tliere were 17 retailers licensed to sell it. Now, there aie none ; and not more than 200 gallons are used in . tlie town. Before, diere were 53 diiinkards ; and now, there are but 29. 24 have ceased to use strong drink, and are at present completely reformed. Should an equal number, in proportion to the population tliroughout the United States, be induced to adopt tlie same course, which, by the use of suitable means, may be done, it would amount to 288,000. Yes, 288,000, who are now drunk- ards, may be led to abandon the use of that which intoxicates, and who, should they continue to abstain, will have been saved from an awful and overwhelming ruin.

But to accom))llsh this, means must be used. Men must not be licensed to poison and destroy their fellow men. No sober man, especially no professed Christian, must be willing, for the sake of money, thus to become accessory to their temporal and etei-nal ruin. If they are, numbers, who refrain for a time, will afterwards gp back and perish ; and the guilt of blood will rest on them,

" Not an individual," writes a correspondent from a town in Massachusetts, " who was an habitual dmnkard when our Temper- ance Society was organized, has been permanently reformed. Num- bers broke off the use of ardent spirit, for a time, and some even joined the Temperance Society. But they have all gone back^ every one."

What was the reason ? Some, who were not dmnkards, and some, too, who professed to be good men, and who had covenanted, before Heaven and earth, to do good, and good only, as they had opportunity, to all men, for a mere pittance of that which will per- lah with tlie using, if it does not eat the soul like fire, would furnish these men with the drunkard's drink ; and dius, knowingly, become accessory to tlie drunkard's ruin.

16 AMKKICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETT-

From a town in Connecticut a gentleman states, ** We succeedetl in forming a large Temperance Society. Several of the drunkards ceused to use spirituous lifjuoi-s. They appeared like new men^and, ch ! their laniilies appeared to be in a new world. The change was wonderful. But tliey have, almost all, gone back. And we Ciinnot help it, so long as one of our deacons will sell rutn. They say, ' If it is not wrong for the deacon to seD it, it is not wrong for its to buy it. He tliinks diat a little does good, and so do we.^ And thus they go down to ruin. And, oh ! their families, their

wretched families ! ^but we cannot help them, so bng as the

deacon will sell rum."

No ; if deacons, and church meinbei-s, and sober men, will con- tinue, for llie sake of money, to seUrum, and make drunkards, and thus become their tempters and destroyers, good men, and the tiends of Immanily, cannot help it. Nor can lliey, but to a small cxtt^nt, furiiish relief to tlieir wretched families. Thoiigh they go with an angel's kindness and with an angel's freeness pour it out upon tlieii* — the deacon, or the church member, or some other retailer of |)auperism, crime, sickness, insanity and death, for 25 cents will throw that whole family, for days, into all the agonies, the heart-rending, heart-breaking agonies, ol having a drunken and an infuriated maniac for a husband and a father. Yes, for 25 cents^ he will hear the scream of ilie children, and see them run away and hide, and hear the groans of her who cannot get away ; and though slie comes, when the stonn is over, and beseeches him, with tears, not lo sell her htisband the madman's poison, for she and her cJiildren — and her tongue falters as she says children — cannot endure it ; yet, for 25 cenlSj he will sell it yet again and again,— ^ill, as was the case in one instance, the husband and the father went home from die deacon's store, and, under the influence of what the deacon had given him, murdered his wife. She wiB never again beseech him, for her children's sake, and the Savior's sake, not to sell her husband rum. No ; slie will not complain,, nor will ?he beseech him any more. But his own children may da both. One of them, on hearing of this murder, and the circum- stances, said, " Father, do you not think, that, in the day of judg- ment, you will have to answer for tliat murder ?'* And must not conscience, when awakened, echo, " Murder ! — Murder /" Why f Did he murder that woman } No ; but he gave her husband that which excited him to do it ; when he knew, from the testinxmy of jiidges and jurists, that it caused more than three fourdis of all the murders in the United States. And why did be do it.^ For money. How much } A sum so great that a man could not with* stand it ? No ; for less than 25 cents. Yes, for less than 25 cents those children were made orphans ; and their father, when our ftj^eui passed tlirough that part of the country, was in prison ta bit

FOURTH KeroRT. — 1831. 47

tried for his life, for murdering their mother. And all his excuse was, he was excited to do it by what he received from tlie deacon No wonder his child should beseech him to give up the traffic^ and warn him, with tears, that, if he did not do it, he would be, ai the day of judgment, stained with the guilt of blood.

It is an established principle of law, for the violation of wfaicl^ men have been hanged, that the accessory and the principal, in the commission of crime, are both guilty. If this principle is correct, and applies to divine as well as human law, and the drunkard cannot enter heaven, what will be the condition of hiin who is accessonr to tlie making of drunkards ? who iiimLshes the materials, and, for the sake of gain, sends them out, to all who will purchase them, when he knows the nature and effects of this eni« ployment ? Can he enter heaven ?

The Committee do not ask these questions concerning those who were engaged in this traffic when its nature and effects were not kno\vn, and when it was supposed to be consistent with tlie Chris- tian religion ; but only concerning those, who, since its nature and consequences are known, and known to be ruinous to the temporal and eternal interests of men, still continue it. And they do not make such inquiries concerning them, but with the kindest feelings^, both toward them and the community.

But when it is known that more than two murders in a week« upon an average, are committed in the United States, through the influence of ardent spirit, and that more than 500 persons in a week are killed by the use of it, they cannot but present this sub- ject, kindly and plainly, to the consideration of all sober men.

Said a man, who, in those days of iniorance which have now

fone by, was engaged in this traffic, " I have no more doubt thai have kUled a hundred men, than if I had taken a gun and shot them, and saw ever)*^ one of them fall dead at my feet."

Said another merchant, as he read a temperance tract, which our Secretary handed him, — and the tears rolled plentifully down his cheeks, — ^^ I never thoudit of it. I have been sellins ardent spirit for many years. I don t know about thb making ourunkards. 1 am pretty much like the hearers of Paul, almost persuaded ;** meaning diat he was almost persuaded to abandon the traffic as an immoral, and a wicked, destructive business. He went to a tem- perance meeting — ^the first he had ever attended— and then to another ; and said he, " It is now settled. I will never purchase any more ardent spirit to sell. I could make several nundired dollars a year by the sale of it ; but what would that be ? Should . I continue to scatter the estates of my neighbors, make wives widows, and children orphans, I should expect ray own chQdrep would become orphans, and their wives be widows, as God visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children to the third and

48 AMETIUCAN tE3l]>£RANCr£ ft^ClKXT*

fourth generation.* If you will take soioe money, and send me a parcel of those little books — I know all tlie merchants for a hundred miles up the river — they have, many of them, purchased their niro of me, — I will take a journey, and get them to give up the traffic.* The little books have been sent to him, and the result of bis labors eternity will disclose. As he was returning from the temperance meeting, he met one of hts old customers, who had come neaii^ a hundred miles to purchase goods, of which rum had always formed a part. And ire said to him, who had also been at the temperance meeting, ** What do you think of it ?" " What P* said he ; ''I think that the man who will continue to seU rum, is worse than a drunkard. The dnmkard k31s himself^ and ruins his family ^ but the man who sells rum, makes drunkards by htmdreds. And though I intended, when I left home, to buy it, I have condiided to purchase the rest of my goods, and leave the rum behind.'^ And why shoidd he not leave it behind ? Is it not certain that the injury which the use of it would occasion to others, would be greater than the benefit of the avails to him ? And has any one a right to benefit himself by the destruction of his fellow men ?

There is a great principle of the divine gorremment, which is brought to view in the Scriptures, and which applies strongly to this case. If an Israelite had a beast which was dangerous, but the owner did not know it, and that beast kiRed a man, tlie beast, by divine direction, must be slain ; his flesh must not be eaten; the owner must lose the whole, as a testimony to tlie sacredness of hnmnn life; and as a wammg to all, not to do any thing, or connive at any thing, which should tend to destroy it. But as the owner did not know that his beast was dangerous^ he wa9 not otherwise to be punished.

But if it had been testified to the owner, that the beast was dan- gerous, and he did not keep him in, but suffered hhn to go abroad, and he killed a nran, both the beast and his owner were, by God'» direction, to be put to death. The man wad held responsible for the mischief which the beast might do.

Although we are not required^ or permitted, now, to execute ih» law, as they were when God himsell was Judge, yet the reason of this law remains. It is founded in justice, is etexiial^ and the sfiA of it will be enforced at the divine tribunal.

There was a time when the dangerous and destmctive qualiue^ of ardent spirits were not generafly known to the owners. Tboueb they killed hundreds and thousands, the owners would not, by the tlbore rlile, be held responsible. But now they are known, rhy- aicians of the first eminence, and in great numbers, with a unanimity almost unparalleled, have testified that ardent spirit is dangerous and destructive ; that men in health cannot use it without injury ;

* ArrBHPffs, M.r

rOUBTH REPORT.— 183h 40

that it Induces and aggravates disease, impairs reason, and shortens life^ and that muhitudes are killed by it every year.*

Jurists, too, of distinguished character, and judges, in great num- bers, have testified, that this liquor occasions a great majority of all the crimes which are committed. One says^ ** Of eleven niur^ ders commitied^ all, except one, were occasioned by strong drink." Another says, " Of eleven murders committed, all were occasioned by intemperance." Another says, " Of twenty murders examined by me, all were occasioned by spirituous liquors." And another says, '^ Of more than two hundred murders committed in tlie United States in a year, nearly all have their origin in drinkmg."

These facts, and many others, which might be multiplied to an almost indefinite extent, are now known ; and they are known to the owners of ardent spirit. It is known, too, that hundreds of thousands have ceased to use this liquor, and that their heahh and comfort, and those of their families, have been greatly improved ; that the amoimt and severity of sickness have lessened, and the number of paupers, crimes and deaths been diminished. It is known that, while men continue to use this liquor, intemperance can never be prevented, and its evils never be done away. It is known, too, that it tends, when used even moderately, to hinder the efficacy of the gospel and prevent the salvation of men, and thus to ruin them, not ior time only, but for eternity. All this is known, and known to the owners of ardent spirit. And if they, notwith* standing this, not only suffer it to eo abroad, but sell it to all who will buy ; send it out, and spread it through the community ; let them know, let it be told, and let it echo through creation, that they, by Jehovah, will be held responsible, at Ills tribunal, for its effects. To the pauperism, crimes, and wretchedness, the sickness, insanity, and deaths, whbh it occasions, and to the ruin, temporal and eter- nal, they are knowingly and voluntarily accessory. And of all the obstructions which the friends of temperance now meet with, which stand in the way, and hinder the pix)gress of that mighty movement which God has awakened, and which takes hold on the destinies of unborn millions for eternity, these men, — yes, tiie men who traffic in ardent spirit, — ^present the greatest.

And if this movement is ever to stop, and that deluge of fire again roll, unobstructed, through the length and breadth of this land, MOfchin^ and withering, consuming and annihilating, all that is fair, and k>veTy, and excellent, and glorious in possession and in prospect, these men — the men who continue to traffic in ardent spirit — are to bear a vast and ever-growing portion of the odium, the guilt, and the retribution, of this tremendous ruin. They not only sm them- selves, but they tempt others to sin. They stand at the fountain of death, and open streams which may roll onwards, after they are dead, and sweep multitudes to tlie worid of wo. 6 * Arrsiioix, N.

I

60 AMCRICJlN TEliPERANCE SOCIETT.

But we do not believe, and we shall not admit, till we behold it, that this mighty movement, which God has conmienced, and hith- erto carried forward with a rapidity, and to an extent, altt^ether unexampled in the history of man, and which is now spoken of, in both hemispheres, as one of the wonders of the world, is ever to stop, till the use of ardent spirit, and the traffic in it, as an article of luxury or diet, is abandoned by every good man in our country. We cannot believe, that any good man, or any man that expects to render an account for the influence which he exerts on the world, when he sees what he is do'uig, will consent, for the sake of money, to be actively instrumental in destroying the bodies and souls of men. We cannot believe that, for the sake of money, good men will consent, when they know what they do, to deal out the cause of pauperism and crime, sickness, insanity and death ; to raise a barrier against the influences of the Holy Spirit, and help the great adversary to people the world of wo. Even should human governments continue to license such a business, we cannot believe that good men, or any men who regard the welfare of their fellow men, will continue to consent to take out such a Ikrense, or to use it, for all the wealth of the world. That light and love which have already led more than 1 ,000,000 to give up the use of ardent spirit, and more than 3000, who were engaged in tlie traffic, to renounce it, will, we trust, if kindly, universally and perseveringly diffused, and attended, as they have been, by tlie mighty power of Him who worketh all in aU, lead all sood men to do the same.

More than 1000 distilleries have already been stopped ; and the owners of many would not again open them for the wealth of cre- ation. In one town, in which were 16 of these fountains of death, there are now but 3; and those, it b believed, furnish a less Quantity of the poison, destroy a less number of lives, and ruin fewer souls than they did when the whole were in operation. One brass-founder states, that he lias bought 30 stills, and sold but one [n many towns, this destroyer is not even sold. Amons more tlian 100,000 people, none, except keepers of public houses, have license to sell it; and from more than 100 public houses it b excluded. The owners will not consent, for the sake of money, to poison even the traveler ; and he finds, often to hb amazement, that he can be received cheerfully, treated politely, and refreshed abundantly, by those who furnish nothing adapted to destroy him. And why, should tliese and similar facts be made known to all, and the Holy Spirit incline them to do their duty, may we not expect thb to be the case, throughout our land, and throughout the world.

Many churches, nowj do not believe that any man among them, while he continues, for the sake of money, to ruin his fellow raeoy by.fumbhing them with ardent spirit, can give credible evidence that he is a good man. And why, should the true light continue to

FOURTH REPORT. 1831. 51

shine, and become universal, must not this be tlie conviction of aU. Some churches have expressed this by vote, and tlius assisted to awaken public attention, and correct public sentijnent, on this sub-

{'ect. Others, that act upon it, do not think it needful to express )y vote their conviction, that the man, among them, who does thb, cannot give credible evidence that he is a good man, any more than they do, tfiat the man who keeps a gambling house, a house of ill fame, or who engages in the slave-trade, cannot, while he continues this, give credible evidence that he is a good man. The thing sj^eaks for Itself. It is, in their view, an immorality ; and they treat it as an immorality.

During the past year, a number of publications, on this subject, have been issued from the press.

.\ benevolent individual offered a premium of $260 for the best essay on the following questions, viz. : — " Is it consistent with a profession of the Christian religion, fur persons to use, as an article of luxury or oflioing, distilled liquors, or to traffic in them? And is it consistent with duty for the churches of Chiist to admit those as members who continue to do this ?'*

More than 40 manuscnpts were presented ; and some from most of the iNoithem and Middle States. Only one attempted to su|)- port the affirmative of the above questions. The one to which the premium was awarded, was written by Rev. Moses Stuart, Associate Professor of Sacred Literature, in the Theological Senn'nary, Andover, Massachusetts. It has since been published. Two others on the same subject, one by Rev. Austin Dickinson of New York, and one by Rev. Joseph niu^-ey of Connecticut, have also been published ; and they are all now receiving an extensive circu- lation. Others, it is expected, will soon be published ; and it is hoped that the attention of all philanthropists and Christians will be di- rected to this subject, till no professed friend of God or man shall be found engaged in this nefarious traffic in our land.* Then will the light of the moon be as the light of the sun, the light of the sun be seven fold, and the light of truth and love, beaming with celes- tial radiance, will eclipse them.

Nor will its benign and heavenly influence be confined to this country ; but will shine with equal, and perhaps with greater bright- ness, on the inhabitants of other lands. In Ireland, and Scotland, and England, the cause is extending witli a rapidity which aston- ishes even its most active promotei*s. The British government has ceased to furnish ardent spirit, or wine, to their armies throtighout the provinces ; and allow a penny a day, as a substitute, to every soldier. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a debate on petitions 6om the friends of tenlperance, declared, in Parliament, that, M far firom government desiring to promote the consumption of

*ArpEKOii, O.

62 AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

spirits, they would rather see the people refrain from them alto* gether.*

From Switzerland application has been made for our Cpnstitu- tion, Reports, and all the temperance publications of this country.

Tlie Secretaiy of the Royal Patriotic Society of Sweden, in a letter dated Stockholm, 28th of May, 1830, says, "By foreign joumab received here, it apj)ears that Temperaqce Societies have been formed in the Free States of North America. Tlie results ob- tained by those Societies, if the accounts we have received be not exaggerated, are so surprising, that they have attracted the particu- lar notice of the Royal Swedish Patriotic Society, and created a desire of becoming acquainted with their organization and mode of proceeding. It is for this purpose that, in my capacity of Secre- tary of the said Society, I have to solicit your procuring and com- municating all the information in your power to obtain respect- ing the Nortli American Temperance Societies, which, it is said, publish a Journal, giving an account of tlieir proceedings and pro- gressive attainments. Should this publication contain information applicable to other nations, as well as America, sufficiently inter- esting to be subscribed for by the Royal Society, you will oblige us by sending what has been published, the expense of which shall be satisfied."

The Journal of Humanity, and various other temperance publica- tions, have been sent to the Royal Patriotic Society ; and from later communicadons, it appears that Temperance Societies have already been formed at Stockholm, Grottenburgh and Tonkioping, are ex- erting a powerful influence, and, it is expected, will extend thix)ugh the country.

Tliey have also been formed in great numbers, and are now exerting a mighty influence,*in the islands of die South Sea. Nu- merous villages, whose inhabitants, a few years ago, were, as a body, for days, intoxicated together, have now not an individual in them who uses any thing that intoxicates.

The traffic is denounced as immoral, and prohibited under severe penalties, by the government. For selling a single botde of rum, a man was fined $200, because the sale of this poison tended so strongly to ruin his fellow men. And may we not hope, that the time is approaching, when the traffic will be viewed and treated as a notorious and destructive immorality, over the whole earth. In the island of Oahu is a Society ot more dian 1000 mem- bers, aU of whom engage not to use or to traffic in ardent spirits, or in any way to furnish them for the use of others.

Measures have also been taken to form Temperance Societies in Africa ; and there is reason to expect, that their influence will soon be felt in every country on the globe ; that, wherever the gospel

*Appikdix, p.

rOUBTM REPORT. — 1831. 68

goes, and exerts its legitimate influence over the mind of man, ab- stinence from all whicn intoxicates, and thas wars against the soul, will be its sure and invariable attendant. The Hottentot and the Hindoo, the Greenlander and Tahitian, will unite with the inhabitants of the Emerald Isle, the Caledonian, European, Asiatic, African and American of every name, in ceasing to do evil. Then, under the means of God's appointment, will they learn to do well. The word of the Lord, unobstnicted, will run very swiftly ; and, pouring with double energy its mighty, all-pervading influence upon the whole mass of minds, will be like the rain and the snow that come down from heaven, and water the earth, and cause it to bring forth and bud. The frost and the snows of six thousand winters will be forever dissolved ; and the spring-time of millennial beauty, and the autumnal fruit of millennial glory, open upon tlie world.

But, in order to this, a number of things must be avoided ; and a number of other things must be done.

1 . Men must not adopt the opinion, that the Temperance Refor- mation is already accomplished ; or that it is so far accomplished, that it will go forward of itself; or that any one may now be excused from great and persevering eflbrts. There is a tendency with many to conclude that the work is already accomplished ; or that so much is done, that it will now go forward to its completion of itself; and that its friends may be excused from further eflfort. But as well might a man who nad undertaken to sail around the globe, and had gone a few miles with a prosperous gale, conclude that the voyage was accomplished, or tliat so much was accomplished, and he was now going so finely, that wind, and tide, and gi-avitadon would of diemselves accomplish the work, and that he might be excused from further eflbit, as for a man to adopt this opinion with regard to the Temperance Reformation. It is die very opinion which the drunkard, who means to continue such, propagates ; and, so far as it prevails, it is fatal. The work is not accomplislied till there is not a drunkard in our land ; and not a sober man, much less a Christian, to make his children drunkards.

The work accomplished ! In the city of Boston, with only about 60,000 inhabitants, there were, the last year, 690 persons licensed by the government to sell diis poison.* If each has only 10 customers a day, it would make 6,900 who daily use it. And if each spends only 10 cents a day, it would amount to $261,950 a year.

In the four cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Bal- timore, containing only about 500,000 inhabitants, more than 6,000 persons are licensed by the government to sell ardent spirit, and thus to be accessory to the ruin of their fellow men. If they have

* More than 1 to every 22 men, oyer 21 yean of a|re, make it tiieir biuiiui to indiiee men to buy.

5*

&I JLMBRICAN TEMPEBANCe SOCir.TY.

daily 10 customers each, and they each spend foi this poison only 10 cents, it would be more than J6,000 a day, or more than $2,196,000 a year. More than 6,000 men — more uian one in 20 of all the men over 21 years of age — are, for a little money, licensed to cany on a Irade which is proved, by a vast accumulation of facts, to be among the greatest curses which have come upon the human family ; wliicii has caused a loss \o the people of the United States of more than $90,000,000 a year; and brought down more than 30,000 persona to an untimely grave. And this is continued, after it is proved, by the experience of more than a million of persons, that mci>, in all kinds of business, ai*e better without the use of it ; and those who profess to be good men are furnishing it to all who will purchase, and thus assisting to perpetuate diis miglity ruin down to tlie end of the world.

No ; the work Is not done ! It is only begun. Enough has been done to show that it is practicable ; that it ought to be done ; and, if temperate men and women do their duty, it will be done.

But, in the language of a distinguished civilian, " Every thing, now, with regard to temperance, turns on perseverance.^^ Its friends have adopted the right plan, — kind moral influence, the influence of facts, brought home to the bosoms of the people, and enforced by tlieir responsibilities to God ; and the retribution, not of time only, but eternity. " 1 have just returned,'* said the man referred to, " from a long journey ; and I did not suppose, two years ago, tliat it was in die power of all the world to produce the change, with regard to the use of strong drink, which I have witnessed on this journey. And I am now perfectly satisfied, that, if we hold on, the cause will be triumphant. Bur every thing titrns on perse- verance."

So say the facts. Wherever sober men do their duty, the cause advances. With opposition, or without it, the cause advances. Tlie efforts of friends and foes seem to help it onward. But where sober men adopt die opinion, Uiat Uiey have done enough, that the work is accomplished ; or diat so much is done, that it will now go forward of itself 5 or that oihere will carry it on widiout them, — ^ihe caa^ recedes, death advances, and extending destruction follows.

2. Men must not be afraid or ashamed to adopt the plan of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, and from all instnimentality in the furnishing of it for the use of others. Nor must they refiise to let this be known, and to unite with others, in making vigorous and persevering eflbrts, till all are persuaded to do the same.

And one of the most unexceptionable and eflicacious modes of doing this, is, by united and visible example, embodied and ex- hibited in the formation, and active, persevering operation of Tem- perance Societies ; composed of all, ooth male and female, who do not use ardent spirit.

VOUBTU REPORT. 183). 55

Some are ready to say, •* Why should we unite with others ? If me only abstain, that b enough." And others contend, thai they can do more good by not uniting in any Society ; and ask, " What is the benefit of Temperance Societies?'*

When oiHT fathers and mothers could not drink tea without its ooming with a litde paltry tax upon it, which would endanger the wel&re of their children, the men of '76, and the women too, said, **We will not use it." Toml abstinence was the doctrine which went, like an electric sliock, tlirough tlie land. And not only so, but they said that they would aj^ree together not to buy, sell, or use die detestable thing.* Tliey did. The eftect was felt across <he Adantic. It b felt throughout this land, down to this day. It vnM be felt in every land, to the end of time. What was the benefit 'of that visible organized union ? Union is strength. And organized, viable unk)n, is consolidated, permanent, ever-growing strength.

When armies of oppression were jx>ured in to desolate our coun- try, had our fathers said, " We will abstain from it ; we will not 6ght in their armies; ftor will we have any visible, organized union among ourselves to oppose them, but will act single-lianded, each one ill his own way ;" they had taken the very course which their enemies had wished. No drunkards advocate the formation and active operation of Temperance Societies. And firom this fact, the friends of temperance ought to learn much. Twenty men^ united by visible agreement, will ordinarily exert greater moral in- fluence on the community, tlian a hundred men, with no visible organized union. And of all the means which God has blessed, to carry forward this great work, Temperance Societies are among the most efficacious.

The Committee, therefore, cannot look upon the efforts of th^ chancellor of the state of New York, and his associates, for the formation of a Temperance Society, in each school district of the greatest state in the Union, but with peculiar deliglit. Tem- perance Sociedes in 9063 schools, embracing 500,000 childreD. will exert an influence that will be felt round the globe, and will tell on the destinies of men to endless ages. Some, who are afraid, and have reason to be, of a sound moral influence, may apprehend danger fix)m such combinations 5 but the Committee can see in them only unmingled benefits. And, should they be- oome universal throughout oiir country, our country will be saved. Three millions of children, abstaining from that fleshlv lust, which wars against the body and the soul, and against all the social, dvil, and religious interests of men ; and educated, as they may be, and brought, tlirough grace, under the influence of that "law whiek b perfect, converting the soul, sure, making wise the simple, vnd which b true and righteous altogether,"— con never be enslath

* Afpiitdix, Q.

66 AMERICAN TEMPKRANCE SOCIETT.

td : nor can they submit to the degradation of making efforts for the enslavirig of others. That spirit which cries, " Glory to God in the lu2;hesi," breathes, "eood will to men." Its motto is, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to tliem.** // laiU never enslave, nor be enslaved. The Son of Crod makes it free, and it must be free indeed.

Some i"efnse to join a Temperance Society, because, they say, "We are temperate abready." But should a patriot refuse to join whh othei*s for the defence of liis country, and give as a reason, "1 am a patriot already," he would cause his patriotism to be some- thing more dian suspected.

Should a man in apparent health refuse to un?te with others to dlrain off a stagnant pond, that was filling a city with pestilence, and give as a reason, that he was in health already, lie would give sad evidence that his heart, if not his head, ^^as disordered. Were a conflagration raging in a city, and should a man refuse to unite vivHa others to extinguish the flames because his outi house was not on fire, he would be likely to excite little sympathy should Am house be burnt.

Temperance Societies are designed for temperate men. Their object is, to keep all sober, wlio are so now ; till all dnmkards, who will not reform, are dead, and the world is free. No persons will do good, in Temperance Societies, except tliose who do not use ardent spirit, and who do not furnish it for the use of others. The fact, therefore, that a man entirely abstains himself, and is in no way accessory to the use of aident spirit by others, instead of being a reason why he should not, is the very reason why he should join a Temperance Society. No other men will show by practice the utility of this course, which must be adopted by all men, or intem- perance will never be done away. On the other hand, let men c^ase to use that which intsxicates, and the evil will vanish. And tlie way to accomplish this, is, to show, by visible, united example, (he practicability and utility of this course. And to do tliis is the object of Temperance Societies. And no man can join them, and act perseveringly, in accordance with their spirit, witliout douig ex- tensive good to his fellow men. And let all sober men do this, and Providence will do the rest. Intemperance and all its abominations wiU be speedily done away. If new drunkards are not made, b one generation, and that a short one, you may seek them, but you cannot find them ; they will have gone to their own place, and the earth be eased of its burden.

3. Men who understand the nature and effects of ardent spirit, and who, with a knowledge of the subject, enter u|H?n, or continue in, the business of furnishing this poison, as an article of hixury or diet, to all who will purchase, and thus assist in ])erpetuatinE drunkenness, and all its abominations, must be viewed and treateu

FOURTH REPORT. 1831. 67

as sharers in the drunkard^s guilt, and as ripening to be partaken of the drunkard's plagues. For, in the language of the Conunittee of the New York State Temperance Society, who, by their labors in this cause, are rendering themselves the benefactors of the woi1d« ^' Disguise that business as they will, it is still, in its true characteri the business of destroying the bodies and souls of men. The vend-- er and tlie maker of spirits, in the whole range of them, from the pettiest grocer to the most extensive distiller, are fairly chargeable not only with supplying tlie appetite for spirits, but with creoHw that unnatural appetite ; not only with supplying the drunkard wttn the fuel of his vices, but with making tlie drunkard.

" In reference to the taxes with ^-hich the making and vending of spirits loads the community, how unfair towards others is tlie occupation of tlie maker and vender of them ! A towni for instance, contains one hundred drunkards. The profit of raakmg these drunkards, is enjoyed by some half a dozen persons. But the burden of these drunkards rests upon the whole town. The Executive Committee do not suggest that diere should be such a law ; but they ask whetlier there would be one law in the whole statute-book, more righteous than that which should require those who have tlie profit of making our drunkards to be burdened with the support of them."

Suppose that half the persons in a town use no intoxicating liquors, and do not furnish them for the use of others, and are not accessory, by example or business;, to tlie making of drunkards ; how exceedingly unjust and oppressive, that they should be taxed for the support of them ! — that men should be licensed to tempt their children to become drunkards ; to excite them to the com-' mission of crimes ; and, for the sake of gain, without benefit, and gready to the injury of the community, increase the danger of their temporal and eternal niin ! What can be more just, than that the men who cause such evils, should themselves bear the burden of them ?

And should the men who sell ardent spirit have to bear not onlj the burden of supporting all the paupei-s which they make, but 16 bear the loss of property, the loss of character, the loss of reputatk)B and domestic comfort which they occasion ; and to bear also the loss of health, the k)ss of reason, the loss of life, and the loss of soul, to which they are knowingly and voluntarily instrumental ; and all this, in righteousness, as a punbhment for being accessor^ to the bringing of these evils upon others ; — ^woukl diey not find their burden to be inexpressibly great? and be ready, like anotheti when punished justly, to cry, " My punishment is greater than I can b^'?" Anc) if die killing of one man justly brought upon its aiJthor such fearful and overwhelming retribution, who can beer tlie indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguisli, of condnuing to

ft8 AliEHICA^* t£MP£RANC£ SOCIETY.

be knowingly and voluiiturily accessory to the killing of those hui>- dreds of thousands wiio axe bi-ought to an untimely grave by ardent spirit ?

And as the authors and accessories of this mighty ruin li>'e under a righteous moral government, by which every thing that is now covered will ere long be i*evealed, and which will render to every man according to his work, — does not humanity, patriotism, conscience, religion, and every thing dear for this life, and the life to come, urge them, without delay, whatever it may cost them, to abandon this work of death forever?

" But," says one, " if I do not sell ardent spirit, I must change my business." If so, the Committee would say, Change your bu- siness ; or it may have been better for you never to have been born. You ai'e required to change it, by your own good and that of ottiers ; by that law whicli requires you supremely to regard God, and to do good, and good only, as you have opportunity, to all men.

•' But," says another, '• if I should do tliis, I could not support my family." But it would be a libel on the character of God to suppose, that men cannot live under his government, and support tlieir families, without continuing to be, knowingly and voluntarily, accessoi7 to the ruin of their fellow men. Nine tenths of all the families in tliis country are sup|)orted by other kuids of business ; and it is not true tliat the otlier tentli cannot be supported.

" But, if I do not sell, other people will." It may be true, that other people will trafhc in human flesh and blood, if you do not ; that they will steal, rob, and commit murder, if you do not. But that will not lessen the intensity and awfulness of your retribution, if you do. No more will it, if you continue knowingly, by the sale of 'ardent spirit, to ruin your fellow men. You may be prevented, by this, from seeing its criminality, but you will not be prevented from feeling its retribution. This you cannot escape, but by aban- doning the bu^ness, and using all suitable means to lead all others to do tlie same.

•Do tiiis, and you escape the guilt of its continuance, and others escape its woes. You dry up, so far as you are concerned, the grand source of pauperism, crime, and wretchedness ; diminish exceedingly the sickness, insanity and death ; remove one of the greatest dangers, to which our social, civil and religious institutions are exposed ; and one of the mightiest obstructions to the efficacy of the gosj)el, and all the means of grace ; you remove tliat which, with tliousands and millions, now hinders the influence of that overflowing kindness which God has opened upon a guilty world through a Savior ; and whfch, if not obstructed and resisted, would iUuniinate and purify, cheer, bless and save, from the rising of the 8tin to the going down of the same, with a holy and an everlasdng salvadoQ.

APPEn DIX.

A. (p. 1.)

When treated of by medical writers, and arranged acGording to its effects on the liuman body, distilled spirit is placed in the aame f^iass, and considered under the same relations, with henbane, deadly night-shade, tobacco, hemlock, opium, and various other poisons ; and, in another point of view, as exerting an influence on the human system similar to the condnued action of the oonti^an of the plague, typhus fever, and smaU-pox. Discovered at first by a Mohammedan alchemist, while torturing the wholesome giAs of § beneficent Creator, in search of a universal solvent, by wfaicb to extract gold from its hidden recesses, and minutest state of divisioci, distilled spirit continued, for centuries, to be employed in their myste- rious, and, in general, vaih inventions ; and it was not till more than fifty centuries of the world's histor}' had passed away, that the un- happy ingenuity of a Spanish physician, first suggested its use as a remedy in disease ; nor till several centuries afterwards, that the popular taste established it as a remedy in health. How Kterally It has since, in innumerable instances, in this latter character, reaiiBad the Italian epitaph, '^ I was well ; I would be better ; and here I am !" (Gloi. 'temp. Record^ vol. i. p. 18.)

Till the reign of William and Mary, ale had been the comnKNi beverage of the lafooring classes in England. But iio sooner wai ardent spirit ingrafted in their habits by an act for the encourage ment of distillauon, than its empbyment became so excessii^ as to call for legislative interference; and it was not till 1751, ifaat the measures of the government were successfiil, in bringing back the consumption of ale to its original quantity ; before which, aooording to Smoilet, ^' such a shameful degree of profligacy prevailed, that the retaflers of thb poisonous compound (gip) set up painted boards in public, inviting the people to be drunk for the small expense of a penny ; assuring tnem that they might be dead drunk for twopence, and have straw to lie on till they recovered, for noth- ing.'^ From this time till the removal of the restrictions on the sale of gin, in 1827, beer contbued to be again the favorite drink of the English workmen ; but immediatelv on the nation being agaiiH

64 AMEIUCAN TEMPdRANCE SOCIEIT.

the second time, exposed, with ail its ale-quaffing habits, to the b'^H, diffiisive, and agreeable stimulus of di2>tilled spirit, it fell;— the thirst for the new liquor spreading with the rapidity of lightning and its consumption increasing, in two years, twelve millKHis oi gallons. (Do. vol. ii. p. 4.)

Distilled spirits began to be prepared on the continent c( Europe, on a large scale, in the commencement, and was first mtroduced into this country in the latter end, of the 16th century ; and in the comparatively short period which has elapsed smce, its coosump' tion has extended in the United Kingdom, to about 40,000,000 gallons per annum. The earliest notice of its application to the purposes of ordinary life, which we have seen, is its exhibit ion, as a supposed preservative from cold and damp, to the laborers m thp Hungarian mines ; and Cambden mentions it as having been adopc- ed in 1581, ibr the first time, as a cordial, by the English soldien engaged in assisting the Dutch m the Netherlands. And from tiiis httie cloud, no bigger than a man's liand, has been evohred the mighty mass, which is now suspended over our country, and pouring its fiery streams into all the currents of public and domestic mtercoiirse. {Do, p. 50.)

It was not tiU tlie end of the 13th century, that spirits of wine, impregnated with certain herbs, was introduced into use as a reme^ dy in the treatment of disease. The first ardent spirit known in Europe was made from grapes, and sold as a medicine both io Italy and Spam. The Genoese afterwards prepared it fix>m grain, and sold it m small bottles, at a very high price, under the name of aqua vitaf or the water of Kft. Down to the 16tb century, ii continued to be kept exclusively by the apothecary, and ifs use restricted to medicine. (Jour, of Hum, vol. ii. p. 145.)

It appears, however, that as early as the reign of Henry VIH., a liquor termed aqua vita, supposed to have been brandy, was known in Ireland ; it beii^ decreed by that monarch, that there be but one maker of aqua vtta in any borough or town. In 1556, an act of parliament was passed at Drogheda, against distilling it tt all ; it bemg described, m the language of the act, as '* a drink nothing profitable to be daily drunken smd used." (Do. p. 149.)

B. (p. 2.)

Of 286 persons in the Lunatic Asylum in Dublin, 115 weri kncywn to have been deprived of reason by mtemperanoc, and there b reason to believe that this was the case also with maivf otben.

h four years, from 1826 to 1829 inclusive, 495 patients were idmitted into the Liverpool Lunatic Asylum ; and 257 of them xrere known to have brought on Uieir derangement by drinking ; ind this was supposed to have been the case witli many others.

A distinguished medical gentleman, who has had extensive expe- ience widi regard to tliis malady, states, that more than one half, md probably diree fourths, of all tlic cases of insanity which have :ome under his notice, were occasioned by excessive drinking. Id lie Pauper LAinatic Asylum in Middlesex, the number of patients ncreased in one year from 825 to between 1100 and 1200; and jioncipally by an increase of the use of gin. (Jour. Hum. p. 105.)

^ The comparative sobriety of the Frencn nation is familiar to srery one ; and Dr. Esquirol states the proportion of the insane !nxn inebriety, at one of the asylums in Fans, to amount only to ibout one thirteenth of the whole ; while Dr. Crawford, of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum of Dublin, reports the proportion of the Hune description of patients throughout Ireland to be as high as Mie half of the total insane. Tltc prod^ious increase of insanity m Cjreat Britain — amounting, accordmg to Sir Arthur Haliday, to two thirds within tiie last twenty years — may, with great justice, be iscribed, in some degree, to the more general use of spirituous liquors within that period ; and this view receives siuch confirraa- ioD from the melancholy fact, that in ScoUand the proportion b b^er than in either England or Wales. In England, it is said to imount only to about one insane person in every 1000 of the popu- bskm ; in Wales, to one in every 800 ; and in Scotland, to one in every 574." {Temp. Rec. No. 2. vol. i. p. 2a)

Axid why should Uiis not be the case ? " What," says Dr. Kirk, ^ is the nature of ardent spirits? All of them contain, as their basis, ilcc^ol— a narcotic stimulant, possessing properties of the kind tint opium does ; which you know to be a poison, — ^with this addi- don, tnat it is more immediately iiritating to the tissues of the body to which it is applied, than opium is. It mixes with the food and juices of the stomacli, and in the act, time after time, injures the ooats of that organ. It mixes with the chyle, which is to iorm part i»f the mass of nlood, and is carried with it into the circulation — ^ Dourses through every vessel, and is exhaled at every pore. You leel it pollute the respiration of the drunkard, when he blows his nauseous breath upon you. The liquor has been absorbed mto die blood, b circidating through the lungs at every respiraUon, is exhaled from the numerous vessels containing the circuiting bkxxl of these organs. The vessels of the brain, as well as other parts, are loaded with it. I dissected a man who died in a state of in- toxication after a debauch. The operation was performed a few hours after death. In two of the cavities of the brain, the lateral ventricles, was found the usual quantity of limpid fluid. .MTheo 6

i

66 AMEBICAN TCMPERANGB SOCIETT.

we smelt it, the odor of whiskey was distinctly visible ; and when we applied tlie candle to a portion in a spoon, it actually burned blue — the lambent blue flame, characteristic of the poison, playing on the surface of the spoon for some seconds." (X>r. J&r1f$ Addrest to the Leven Temperance Society, p. 6.)

No wonder it destroys reason. It is a poison in the brain. And no wonder that those who take even a little of it, have less reason than those who take none ; and that those who take it daily are so much more exposed, and their children also, to insanity, than those who entirely abstain from it.

" The love of strong drink," says Dr^ Peirson, " and the proneness to mania, are, with respect to each other, interchangeable causes."

C . (p. 9.)

Should each individual in our country adopt the same course, the following are some of the advantages which would result finom it: —

1. They would enjoy better health, be able to perform more labor, and would live to a greater age.

2. The evils of intemperance would soon be done away ; for all who are now intemperate, and continue so, will soon be dead, and no others will be found to succeed them.

3. There will be a saving, every year, of more than thirtymil' lions of dollars f which are now expended for ardent spirits. There will be a saving of more than two thirds of all the expense of sup- porting the poor, which, in Massachusetts alone, would .amount to more than $600,000 annually. And there would be a saving of all that idleness and dissipation which intemperance occasions, and of the expense of more than two thirds of all the criminal prosecu* tions in the land. In one of our large cities, in which there were 1000 prosecutions for crimes, more than 800 of them were found to have sprung from the use of ardent spirits.

4. There would be a saving of a vast portion of sickness ; and of the lives, probably, of 30,000 persons every year.

Liet these four considerations be added together, and traced in their various bearings and consequences upon the temporal and eternal welfare of men ; and then let each individual say, whether, in view of all the evils connected with the practice of taking ardent spirit, he can, in the sight of God, be justified in continuing the practice. That it is not necessary, has been fully proved. No one thinks it to be necessary, except those who use it. And they would not think so, if they were not in the habit of using it. Let any man leave off entirely the use of ardent spirit, for only ooe

rOUKTU RKPORT. 1831. APPENDIX. 67

'ear, and lie wiU find by his own eicperience that it is not necessary »r useful. The fathers ol i\t>w F^ngland did not use it, nor did heir ciiilciren. They were never, as a body, in the practice of aking it. And ^-et ihey enjoyed better health, attained to a larger tature, and, with fewer comforts of life, performed more labor, en- lured more fatigue, and lived, upon an average, to a greater age, ban any generation of theii* descendants who have been in the iractice ot' taking spirit. As it was not necessary for the fadiers 4 iMew tLngland, it is certain that it is not necessary for iheir de- cendants, or for any portion of our inhabitants. Hundreds of leallhy, active, respectable and useful men, who now do not use it, an testify that it is not necessary. And diis will be the testimony rf every one who will only relinquish endrely t!.c; use of it.

It is by the temperate and habitual use of ardent spirit, that in- tmptratc appetites are formed. And the temperate use of it can- lot be continued, without, in many cases, forming intemperate ppetites; and after they are fonned, multitudes will be destroyed y their gratiQcation.

Natural appetites^ such as are implanted in our constitution by he Author of nature, do not by their gratification increase in their demands. What satisfied them yeai's ago, will satisfy them now. Jut artificial appetites, which are formed by the wicked practices if men, are constantly increasing in their demands. What satisfied bem once, will not satisfy them now. And what satisfies ti)em low, will not satisfy them in future. They are constandy crying, ' Chive, give.^^ And there is not a man, who is in the habitual use f ardent spirits, who is not in danger of dying a drunkard. Be- bre he is aware, an intem])erale appetite may be formed, the ;ratification of which may prove his temporal and eternal ruin. knd if the practice should not come to this I'esult with regard to iimself, it may with regard to his children, and children's children. t may with regard to his neighbors and the'u* children. It may txtend its baleful influences far and wide, and transmit them, with ]| their innumerable evils, from generation to generation.

Can, then, temperate, sober men be clear from gvilt, in continuing i practice which is costing annually more than $30,000,000 ; in- reasing more than three-fold the poor rates and tlie crimes of the ountry ; undennining the health and constitution of its inhabitants ; ad cutting off annually 30,000 lives?

Tliere is tremendous guilt somewhere. And it is a truth which Nigbt to press witl) overwhelming force upon tlie mind of every ober man, that a portion of this guilt rests upon every one who, rith a knowle<ige of facts, continues the totally unnecessary and wfidly, pernicious practice of taking ardent spirits. Each indi- jdual ought, without delay, in view of eternity, to clear biiiiseU^

68 AMERICAN' TEMPEBANCE SOCIBTr.

tnd, neither by precept nor example, ever acain encourage or eveo connive at this deadly evil. ( }Vell<onductea Farm^ pp. 9, 10, 11.)

D. (p. 9.)

On the 26th of June, 181 1, tlie General Association of Massachu- setts appointed Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., Rev. Jcdediah Morse, D. D., Rev. Abiel Abbot, Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, Reuben D. Mussey, M. D., William Thurston, Esq., Joseph Torrey, M. D., anu Jeremiah Evaris, Esq., a committee to coope- rate with committees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, and the (Jeneral Association of Connecticut, in devising measures which may have an influence in preventing some of tlie numerous and thrcatening mischiefs, that are experienced through- out our country, from the excessive and intemperate use of spiritu- ous liquors. This committee met at different times for consultation, corresponded on the subject, and, finally, determined to make an effort foi the formation of a State Society for tlie Suppression of Intemperance. A sub-committee, consisting of Dr. W^orcester, Dr. Torrey and Mr. Wadsworth, was appointed to prepare a Con- stitution. After being presented to the whole commiuee, and adopted, it was presented, by them, to a more general meeting, in Boston, on the 4th of February, 1813. At another meeting at the State House, on the 5di, the Constitution was adopted, and a Society formed, called The Massachusetts Society for the Suppres- sion OF Intemperance. The object, as expressed in the second article of the Constitution, was, " To discountenance and suppress the too free use of ardent spirit ^ and its kindred vicesy profaneness and gaming^ and to encourage and promote temperance and gene- ral morality^

For a number of years, this Society languished. Some of its members, at length, advocated its dissolution ; and others retired from it in despair. In the language of the late Hon. Isaac Parker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, in a letter dated Boston, 25th May, 1829, "Many, seeing no happy results, after many years of effort, have retired from the field in despair. I am one of this number ; but I now see, and rejoice in it, that, however des- perate the disease, it is at last yielding to the power and skill of the great Physician above, dirough the instnimentality of the human p-gents he has employed. The National Society, established here a few years ago (meaning tlie American Temperance Society), has given great deciaon to