CHAPTER I.

NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATION.

N the year 1825, the necessity of organizing a temperance society with more radical principles, on a broad national basis, was widely felt. It found clear expression in an able prize essay by Rev. Cyrus Yale, of New Hartford, Conn. Revs. Justin Edwards and Leonard Woods, D.D., of Andover, Mass., were leading actors in the movement, visiting Boston early in the autumn for the purpose of consultation with prominent citizens, and to prepare the way for inaugurating the desired measure. In response to their appeals, an eminent merchant said, "I have

been laboring fifteen years to effect a Temperance Reformation by the moderate use, but do not see that it does any good, and am tired of the whole thing." Edwards, "We have a new idea.

But said Drs. Woods and

Our main object is not to

reform inebriates, but to induce all temperate people to continue temperate, by practicing total abstinence, (that is, from distilled spirits ;) the drunkards, if not reformed, will die, and the land be free." "I confess," said the merchant, "that is a new view of the subject, and worth thinking of. If you see best to call the meeting, I will attend it."

Nearer the close of the year a few individuals, interested in the reform, met in Boston for consultation and prayer, gravely inquiring, "What shall be done to banish intemperance from the United States?" The result was a determination to organize an American Temperance Society, on the basis of abstinence from strong drink. On the 10th of January, 1826, gentlemen of various Christian denominations assembled in the vestry of the Park Street Church, Boston, to effect an organization. Hon. George Odiorne was chosen moderator; Rev. Wm. Jenks, D.D., clerk; and Rev. Timothy Merritt, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, addressed the throne of grace. Jeremiah Evarts, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the Ameri can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, introduced resolutions calling for more vigorous and organized movements every-where against the great evil of intemperance, and the employment of agents to lead the work. A committee on permanent organization was appointed.

On the 16th of January, 1826, while the preparatory steps to the organization of this society were progressing, Rev. Calvin Chapin, D.D., of Rocky Hill, Conn., a man of large public influence in the Connecticut Valley, commenced the publication of a series of thirty-three articles in the "Connecticut Observer," entitled "The Infallible Antidote." His motto was, "Entire abstinence from ardent spirits is the only certain preventive of intemperance." This, he contended, was the duty of all. He himself, and some others of his acquaintance, had practiced it for many years.

On the 10th of February, 1826, Rev. Dr. Edwards wrote to Rev. Wm. A. Hallock, of New York: "We have at present fast hold of a project for making all people in this country and

in all other countries temperate; or rather, a plan to induce those who are temperate to continue so. Then, as all who are intemperate will soon be dead, the earth will be eased of an amazing evil. This you will see at once is a great plan, and to execute it thoroughly will require great wisdom and strength."

On the 13th of February, the friends of this movement reassembled and effected the organization of "THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF TEMPERANCE," with the following officers:

President, Hon. Marcus Morton. Vice-President, Hon. Samuel Hubbard. Treasurer, William Ropes, Esq. Auditor, John Tappan, Esq. Executive Committee: Revs. Leonard Woods, D.D., and Justin Edwards, D.D.; John Tappan, Esq.; Hon. George Odiorne, and S. V. S. Wilder, Esq.

No pledge was at this time adopted, nor were the movers of this advance, though fully intent upon a more radical reform, prepared to formally insist upon entire abstinence, even from distilled spirits, by any direct obligation or vow. They were personally total abstainers; and in all their public addresses they unequivocally advocated this course. But considerations of prudence held them back from pledging the people.

Writing again to Mr. Hallock, March 3, Dr. Edwards said: "A society is formed not for the suppression of intemperance, but for the promotion of temperance. . . . We want for members holy men, who do not use intoxicating liquors, unless prescribed by a physician as a medicine."

At the next meeting, March 12, eighty-four persons from the Northern and Middle States were elected members, and the Executive Committee urged the employment of an agent to promote the objects of the society. In April, "The National Philanthropist," a weekly sheet devoted to temperance, was started in Boston, under the editorial care of Rev. Wm. Collier. Its motto was, "Temperate drinking is the down-hill

road to intemperance." This paper was a valuable auxiliary. After a few years it was moved to New York city, where it was edited by Messrs. Goodell and Crandall. The attention of the leaders of this reform was largely directed to the young, particularly in academies, schools, and colleges. Societies were formed in Princeton College, and in all the New England colleges. In 1826, a young men's temperance society was organized in Providence, R. I., with 250 members. At Andover another society was formed, and the movement became wide and general. Total abstinence from distilled liquors was the basis of these societies. Besides young people, the society' at Andover comprised more than fifty heads of families, professors, clergy, deacons, etc.

In 1827, a temperance society organized in Virginia passed resolutions against "the intemperate use of spirituous liquors," the "election of drunkards as legislators," "the employment of intemperate physicians," and "the use of spirituous liquors on funeral occasions." They advised "young ladies to look with suspicion upon all young men who are fond of strong drink, and frown them from all social circles." They lamented "the conduct of parents who train their children in habits of using strong drink," and recommended "young men to abstain wholly from spirituous liquors."

In January, 1827, Rev. Justin Edwards, D.D., visited Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Northampton and other places, and raised $7,400 for the support of an agent who should devote

The following extract from the Constitution will show the principles which prevailed in this movement:

"Believing that the use of intoxicating liquors is for persons in health not only unnecessary but hurtful; that it is the cause of forming intemperate appetites and habits; and that, while it is continued, the evil 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 the use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine in case of bodily infirmity; that we will not allow the use of them in our families, nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends, or for persons in our employment; and that, in all suitable ways, we will discountenance the use of them in the community."

himself wholly to the work of the National Society. In November, the amount reached $13,311 53. In the meantime Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt, of Fairfield, Conn., who had already become a zealous apostle of temperance, was employed to visit Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, etc. He presented the principles and objects of this society before Church associations, assemblies, synods, and conferences, and before colleges of physicians and surgeons in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Rev. Dr. Edwards was also employed several months in the same work in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. These various bodies took action by passing appropriate resolutions.'

At this early period, this subject also occupied the attention of the medical faculty. June 6, 1827, the Massachusetts Medical Society resolved "to discourage the use of ardent spirits," and "to discontinue the employment of spirituous preparations whenever they could find substitutes." They also said that "the excessive and constant use of wine is a cause of many diseases, that "though useful in some stages of weakness in fever,

1 The following are specimens from ecclesiastical bodies. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in May, 1827, ordered:

"That it be recommended to the presbyteries and congregations under our care to co-operate with the friends of this society in extending its principles throughout our country."

The General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, in June, 1827, said: "We recommend our ministers, consistories, and congregations to promote the cause of temperance by precept and example."

The General Convention of Vermont, September, 1827, ordered:

"We rejoice that this subject is beginning to assume a commanding attitude, and to challenge that attention which it has long solicited with little effect. Wherever men have had the virtue to deny themselves, or the magnanimity to resist a shameful custom long enough to make a fair experiment, it has been fully demonstrated that ardent spirit is not required by the laws of courtesy or the necessities of labor. By the exertions of societies and individuals in many towns, a great check has been given to that loathsome vice which completes the degradation of degraded men.” The Park Street Church, Boston, April 25, 1827,

"Resolved, That we as a Church feel ourselves required by the spirit of the Gospel, to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits, except as an article of medicine, and also to exert all our influence to restrain others from a habit so pernicious."