CHAPTER I.

IN THE BRITISH ISLES,

(1860-1883.)

THE past twenty-three years have witnessed an inconceivable

amount of heroic labor and very considerable progress in the cause of temperance in the British Isles. Numerous new agencies have come into operation; some of the old ones have been strengthened and made more efficient; and there are bright omens of greater advances in the near future. Many statesmen and electors, Churchmen and Dissenters, physicians, and men in all ranks, recognize the fact that England must reform, or be ruined by alcoholic drinks. Poverty, lunacy, and crime, confessedly the conspicuous fruits of drunkenness, are on every hand. Cardinal Manning stated to Pope Pius IX. just before his death, that 60,000 people die in England every year from excessive drinking; and Lord Coleridge said from the bench, that "if we could make England sober, we could shut up nine tenths of the prisons."

English thought has been deeply and powerfully exercised, not impulsively, but steadily and strongly, like the mighty swell of the sea. The question of liquor beverages has been profoundly and patiently pondered, from the stand-point of religion, science, morals, and political economy, and no doubtful results can follow.

GENERAL SURVEY.

In 1862 a Temperance Congress, called by the National Temperance League, and also an International Temperance and Prohibitory Convention, convened by the United Kingdom Alliance, were held in London. The attendance was very large, and the discussions valuable. Early during this period the

Sons of Temperance, the Good Templars, and the United Temperance Order spread widely. The question of using fermented wine at the holy communion has been thoroughly discussed. Temperance hospitals have been founded. The question of the use of alcoholic beverages has been applied to life insurance. Valuable standard works on temperance have been published: "The Temperance Bible Commentary;" Dr. Lee's "Temperance Text-Book;" Mr. Wm. Hoyle's works on "Our National Resources Wasted," and on "Crime;" Dr. Richardson's "Cantor Lectures on Alcohol;" Rev. J. Smith's prize essay on "The Temperance Reformation and the Church;" "Wines Scriptural and Ecclesiastical," by Norman Kerr, M.D.; Rev. Dr. Dawson Burns' "Christendom and the Drink Curse;" a poem, "The Trial of the Jasper," by Mr. S. C. Hall; "Talks on Temperance," by Canon Farrar; "The Drink Problem," by David Lewis, etc., etc.

"The Christian Church has been concerning itself more fully than ever before with this question, which so intimately concerns its purity and power. The late Archdeacon Sandford, more venerable for his pious zeal than even by years and office, moved the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury to inquire into the evil and remedies of intemperance; and a committee having been appointed, with himself as chairman, he prosecuted the work of investigation with the most praiseworthy diligence, till he was able to present an invaluable report with classified and summarized evidence. This was adopted by the Lower House, and approved by the Upper House of Bishops, and by the Archbishop of Canterbury was presented to the queen. A similar report has proceeded from a committee of the Convocation of the Province of York. The interest thus elicited led, early in 1874, to the formation at Lambeth Palace of the Church of England Temperance Society, (the society of 1862 being absorbed into this latter one,) abstainers constituting one section, and a second section being composed of abstainers and others who co-operate for the use of social and legislative means tending to abate intemperance.