him. I have often visited the old gentleman, within the last year. Not only is he sober; but, it can be said of him, as it was of Paul: "Behold he prayeth.' This old and exceeding sinner-this wonderful monument of the patience of GOD-row sits "at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind." Harmony has taken the place of discord in his family; and that aged breast, which, for twenty years, was agitated with the untold horrors of a drunkard, is now the abode of "quietness and assurance for ever." The Elder's religion is of such a character, that he prefers the Bible to all other books, and spends a large share of his time in reading it. His change is well worth all the temperence efforts, that have been made in Peterboro'." Of another, he says, "He is about 40 years of age. This is a very remarkable instance. He lives a number of miles from this place, but is to remove to this neighbourhood in two or three weeks. Seven or eight months since, he came to me, late in the evening, for the single purpose, as he avowed, of subscribing his name to the temperance pledge. He was very drunk. I sought hard to put him off. But he would subscribe the pledge. He seemed to feel that this, and nothing short of this, would save him. Rather to rid myself of his importunity, than the hope of benefitting him, I wrote the pledge for him to sign. He took the pen, fell upon his knees, and signed it; and immediately after offered an audible prayer of ten minutes length. Strange to say, he has never tasted spirituous liquors since. He is now very industrious, and very ambitious to be a man of respectability and property. His remaining affection for his amiable and pious wife, seemed to be his strongest motive for signing the pledge and entering upon the redemption of his character. Let the unhappy wife of the drunkard so demean herself towards her wretched partner, as to keep alive his love of her. In some heaven-favored moment, that love may impel him to successful efforts to escape from his bondage." After giving a description of the 38 reformations, and their cheering effects, Mr. Smith remarks, "Benevolence is the soul of this process, as it is emphatically of the whole temperance enterprize and if any are laboring to promote that enterprize from motives at all inferior to the love of their fellow men they are at best but feeble helpers of our noble cause. Those of my neighbours, who have undertaken, in reliance on Gop, the work of reforming drunkards, do not feel and act towards these wretched beings, as they once did. They have learnt highly prized lessons on this subject in the great school of Temperance Reform. Formerly, they despised the drunkard. Now, they pity him. Now they feel, that no class of men are entitled to draw so largely on their compassion, as drunkards are; and especially do they feel this, when they consider how much they have themselves done to make drunkards. For who of us can truthfully say, that he has done nothing towards continuing that rum-drinking custom in our country, whence have come all our drunkards? Formerly, they repulsed the drunkard from their doors; neglected his sufferings: and wherever they met him, manifested their contempt and abhorrence of him. Now, they are kind to him; furnish him with employment; are tender of his feelings, and attentive to his wants. The drunkard's self despair arises, in a great measure, from the conviction, that he is an outcast from the public respect and sympathy. Of this we have been aware in our efforts to reform him; and we have sought to show him, that, as to ourselves at least, this conviction shall henceforth be groundless. We have taken great pains to persuade him, that we are his friends, and that every improvement in his habits, however slight, would proportionably and promptly elevate him in our esteem. We have also cheerfully consented to practice every self denial, by which we could gain his confidonce; for in no way can you so surely win men's hearts to you, as by submitting to obvious denial for their sake. It was not because of his self denial, but it was notwithstanding this endearing virtue, that the great pattern of self denial was crucified. Whilst inculcating the doctrine, that the drunkard, to be thoroughly reformed, mnst relinquish wine, cider, and malt liquors, as well as ardent spirit, we have seen and submitted to the necessity of giving up these drinks ourselves. The drunkard is affected by this self denial for his sake; and he straightway opens his heart to those who practise it. But, should we, whilst insisting on the disuse of these drinks, indulge in them ourselves, he would despise our inconsistency and selfishness; and we should only make the matter worse, by attempting to justify ourselves in saying to him: "these drinks are safe for us who are sober; but you who have lost your self contro!, are not to be trusted with them." Much as the drunkard's self respect is impaired, he cannot brook a distinction so offensive as this." DR. THE MAINE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, in account 1832. March. 66 June 27. To paid John Dorr for paper and printing 12 quires of cir- paid for postages of letters since Feb. 1, 1832, to this date, Stationary, and paid to stage driver, services during the year, paid J. Dorr in advance for 1st Annual Report, paid do. in part for Reports by order of J. Chute of Port- Nov'r 14. paid for freight of Ox Discourse from Albany to Bos- ton 28 reports distributed gratuitously to retailers in Bel- fast paid Asa Witham for conveying Ox discourse to Nor- -paid for 8 quires of large wrapping paper and freight paid for 6 quires of small wrapping paper expense of journey to Ellsworth to see to the printing paid R. Grant for paper and printing 13 quires of Tem- paid do. for paper and printing 32 quires of Addresses to 78 reports distributed gratuitously to several towns in \dol's cts. 4 50 21 23 4 6 13 150 50 66 reports gratuitously distributed in Hancock County balance paid John Dorr for paper and printing the re- paid for postages of letters since Jan. 21, 1833, to this date 75 with SAMUEL M. POND, Corresponding Secretary, 1832. Oct. 29. By cash contributed by sundry persons in Bucksport 66 66 CR. Idol's cts. 23 do. 66 by John Buck of Orland by individuals in Winslow by individuals in Franklin do. 66 by Wm. G. Chase of Bucksport do. received of the Treasurer of the M. T. Society by Rev. Mr. Schermerhorn 2 50 2 50 65 do. received of James Crosby Esq. of Bangor, for 70 - do. - 11 25355 50 15 17 50 5 17 10 of Aaron Hill Esq. of Milo, for 20 reports "of N. Coffin Esq. of Wiscasset, for 100 reports. 66 do. contributed by members of the Augusta Tem. Soc. 66 for 12 do. sold at Bluehill 66 for 6 do. sold at Mount Desert 66 for 9 do. sold to J. Buck of Orland for 20 do. sold to a gentleman for distribu- for 4 do. sold to John Conden of Penobscot do. received of Wm. Allen Jr. Esq. of Norridgewock, for reports of J. Loring Esq. of do. for reports of N. Coffin Esq. of Wiscasset for do. do. contributed by Doct. J. Moulton of Bucksport sold do. contributed by individuals in Belfast 705065 50 16 22 75 MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. Nathaniel Blaben, York, CUMBERLAND. Brunswick, Rev. George E. Adams, Franklin Bridge, Solomon P. Cushman, Robert D. Dunning, Esq. Cumberland, Silas M. Rideout, Joseph Smith, Esq. Salathiel Sweetser, Levi Sweetser, Rufus Sweetser, Prince Sweetser, Samuel True. Danville. W. B. Adams, James Strout, Hon. Allen H. Cobb. Theodore Curtiss, Gorham, Hon. Josiah Pierce. Joseph Eaton, Esq. Charles Washburn, Esq. James Gooch, Joshua Parsons. New Gloucester. David Nelson. North Yarmouth. Rev. David Shepley, Joseph Stockbridge, Esq. William R. Stockbridge. Otisfield. Silas Blake Esq. Francis Chute, John Chute, Portland. Rev. Solomon Adams, LINCOLN. Alna. Albert G. Dole, Esq. Now Professor of Law at Harvard University. Joseph Hockey, Esq. James Lamson. Charles Davis, Searsmont, Noah Prescott, Esq. Prospect, Rev. S. Thurston. HANCOCK. Aurora, Trufant Butler, Doct. R. W. Wood. B. W. Hinkley, Esq. Daniel Buck, David Springer, jr. Esq. Rev. Daniel Merrill. Augusta, Oliver Beale, Carlton Dole, Joseph D. Emery, Hon. Williams Emmons, Henry W. Fuller, jr. Esq. Thomas W. Smith, Esq. Richard H. Vose, Esq. |