are truly heart cheering. Said one the other day, "Ob, there is nothing would tempt me to be what I was last year at this time." One year ago that man was a drunkard, and so low was he reduced by intemperance and idleness, that he could not procure the necessaries to make a sick and beloved child comfortable. I attended this child for three months-during which time their neighbours supplied their wants. That man is now a temperate, industrious, respectable man, supporting his family in confort. He asked me for a copy of our constitution to sign, and from that day he has been a consistent member of a Temperance Society. In the language of another, I can truly say, "that the reformation of the intemperate which have taken place the last year in this place, fully compensates us for all the efforts we have ever made." FALMOUTH-A correspondent says, "A Temperance Society was formed here on the 26th of December 1819, and the number now (December, 28), belonging to the society is about 150; and the influence that has been exerted is a happy one. Several retailers have been induced to relinquish the traffic, and three of the five ship building yards, on the Presumscot, have been cleared of ardent spirits. The owner of one of these yards has told me repeatedly that for twenty five years previous to his joining the society, it cost him at least $100 annually for ardent spirit. A Temperance Society has also been formed in the Rev. Mr. Miltimore's society, which has now about 50 members. There is also a Temperance Society among the Methodists. The town voted last spring not to authorize the granting of licenses-in consequence of which several of the retailers relinquished the traffic—but several still continue it. "One church," says our correspendent, "admits none to its fellowship who drinks ardent spirits, or furnishes it to others, and I do not know an individual connected with that church, or society who uses it in any quantity. There are one or two members of another church who continue the traffic in ardent spirit, and are doing much injury to the cause in this place." "Much has been done-much remains to be done. Two or three individuals here have been entirely reclaimed from intemperance, and it is believed, many more saved who were in the highway to ruin." There is also a Juvenile society in this town. Temperance conferences have been held in each school district. GORHAM-Some of those who had commenced a reform, "have returned to their former habits." The society has voted to supply every family in town, during the present year with the Temperance Recorder. There are professors of religion belonging to the churches of different sects, who are either directly opposed to the society, or refuse their aid to the Temperance Reform by becoming members. The Secretary says, "The good which has been done," by the Temperance Reform, compared with what should and must be done in the cause, is but small. We believe there is not a family in this town suffering for the want of the necessaries of life, who practice upon the principle of total abstinance from ardent spirit.' The society has appointed a prayer meeting for the cause of temperance, in which all denominations of christians will unite. The members of the Temperance Society are making one energetic effort for the advancement of the cause. GRAY-There has been much interest taken in the cause of temperance recently-meetings have been held in different parts of the town. "Temperance was never in a more flourishing state. The Methodists have lately got up a society. At their town meeting on the 1st Monday of March, 1834, it was voted not to authorize Selectmen to grant licenses to innholders and retailers. HARPSWELL-"Some vessels are sent to sea from this place without ardent spirits." In this town buildings are not raised, vessels built, launched, or navigated or highway taxes wrought, without ardent spirit. Their militia officers continue the custom of "treating" their soldiers. Their mechanics are furnished with ardent spirit at eleven and four o'clock each day, if they "wish it"-and ardent spirit and wine is generally in use at their social parties!! HARRISON-Society organized in May 1832-" much opposition, and in some instances violent hostility was manifested in the very outset-parents forbidding their children to become members; others, men of influence, insinuating that something very bad; was at the bottom-some evil which common minds could not discern; yet we have advanced steadily though slowly. The town at their last annual meeting carried a vote against permitting their Selectmen to grant licenses. Much might have been done, says our correspondent, had we acted more vigorously in this cause-and believes the cause has suffered more from the inertness and apparent indifference of its friends, than from all the opposition of its enemies. We have done something however :-We have reclaimed from the lowest depths of degredation and wretchedness, at least, two individuals. One subscribed the constitution soon after the organization-before that he was wholly lost to every thing good and decent-his family neglected and suffering for the veriest necessaries of life, and what charity did carry into his house he removed to the grog shop-rum, rum was his God! To procure this he suffered nothing to be in his way. He now blesses the day on which he was induced to enrol his name among the friends of this cause. He now, in a word, lives a life of a hopeful christian-his wife and children smile, and peace and all the blessings which accompany this cause dwell in his house. Of the other individual as much can be said. "The consumption of ardent spirits has been almost incredibly reduced. 1 wish I were able to state the precise quantity. I will say, that where twelve hogsheads were consumed three years ago, not more than one is now wanted here. Of four stores only one keeps the article--and that rather against conviction. The only taverner in town retails it freely and without remorse, and much against his interest." MINOT-Some professors of religion refuse to join the Temperance Society; and say "that they can do more good by not joining—and just do little or nothing to help the temperance cause. The comfort, health, prosperity and morals of many have evidently been increased and improved." NEW GLOUCESTER-" One person in 1833 was sent to the State Prison for passing counterfeit money while intoxicated." "More than half of the ardent spirit sold in town in 1833, were sold in certain out-posts of the town where gambling &c. prevailed, to an alarming degree. In one school district, it is believed one half the males over ten years of age, are either habitual or oocasional drukards. Query-Ought not special effort to be made to break up such scenes of dissipation and wretchedness?" One individual a Free Will Baptist preacher, has been instrumental in inducing one third of the members of the society to join it. "Several persons who have vended ardent spirits have become attached to their daily drams, but cannot be called intemperate." The society embraces 83 of a little more than 300 polls. NORTH YARMOUTH-"About twenty retailers and taverners are recollected within the memory of a middle aged man, who have become intemperate-some of them afterwards reformed."--" A tavern keeper died recently of intemperance." "He left a widow and three or four children." The whole expense of paupers for 1833, is about $650, of which two thirds at least, is caused by intemperance, in the individual, or husband, or parent, and probably a considerable part of the other third is traceable indirectly to intemperance as in cases were relatives would otherwise be able to afford relief." "But very few (professing christians) use any ardent spirits, and those do not pretend to be opposed to the society--a very few more refuse to join." "About 12 families," says the Sec'ry, "are recollected, containing between 60 and 70 individuals who have suffered for the necessaries of life at times in consequence of the intemperance of one of the heads of the family. Including these, about 40 families are recollected, where one of the heads of the family are more or less intemperate, and in consequence of it, their families suffer more or less from want of necessaries, or advantages, which they otherwise might possess. Though, except in the twelve cases mentioned, it is not known that they have suffered for want of such necessaries as would make them com. fortable." OTISFILD--The Secretary was unable to ascertain the quantity of arden spirit sold in 1833, but is of opinion it has greatly diminished. POLAND-Temperance Society was organized April 27, 1832. Annual meeting 4th of July-meetings semi-annually-in districts oftener, and tolerably well attended. A large proportion of farms cultivated without ardent spirit-ardent spirit generally used at trainings, and on highways. "There are two stores where spirit is sold without license-one of which, and also one intemperate tavern are kept by members of the Temperance Society." No strong beer has ever been in town, and not so much cider as in many other places. PORTLAND—The Secretary cannot say how much ardent spirit was sold in 1833, but is of opinion that "the N. E. Rum distilled there, costs the consumers at least $160,000" although "the amount of sales is vastly diminished since the Tempérance reform." There are more thon 100 retailers of ardent spirits--some have discontinued the traffic within the year. Expense of paupers for the year 1833, $5000, concerning which the Secretary remarks, “I had almost said $4999 ought to be charged to rum account, but certainly all but $200." Twenty five deaths by intemperance, within the knowledge of the Secretary, who had no means of ascertaining the whole number. "All the operatives" in the immense Cotton Factory belonging to the Portland Manufacturing Company "are bound not to taste ardent spirit at any time-not even out of working hours." "In 19 cases out of 20" says the Secretary, "the misery of all families is occasioned by drinking, in some one or more of the members." A case cannot be found, where the family of a temperate and industrious labouring man suffers-and a case cannot be found, where that of a drinking, or intemperate man does not suffer." A "new whaling ship with 31 men, fitting out for a three years voyage will carry no spirit, except in the medicine chest!!" POWNAL-Society organized in June 1833, by uniting two former societies. "No temperance papers taken, but we are making our effort to supply every family in this town with the Temperance Recorder. The first annual report of the Maine Temperance Society is distributed in all our school districts. The temperance cause is gaining and prejudice sinking, but much remains to be done," writes the Secretary. RAYMOND-Society organized in May 1832-meetings well attended. The town at their meeting in Sept. voted that no licences should be granted-three of the retailers who could not obtain a renewal of their licenses "pledged themselves to sell no more than to dispose of their stock on hand, and it is confidently believed that they will keep their promise." "The labour in town is principally done without ardent spirit, and it is believed that there has not been over one half the spirit sold in 1833, that there was previous to the Temperance Reform." The Secretary says, “The cause is fast advancing, and opposition ceasing. The society embraces a good portion of talent and wealth, and of course respectability through the town-most of the religious people of all denominations belong to the society-there are three ministers, three doctors, three or four militia officers, and most of the Justices of the Peace, members of the Society." SCARBOROUGH-There are two Temperance Societies in town. The Society of the first Parish was organized February 4, 1830. The society in second Parish in April 1832-the first society's meetings are not generally well attended-meetings are held monthly. Besides those who belong to the two societies, there are from 50 to 60 individuals who belong to societies in other towns. A very respectable correspondent remarks, "The great difficulty here, as elsewhere, is, that the intemperate will not come to the light." They are unwilling either to hear or read upon the subject. Although many here who have not united with either of the societies, are temperate in practice, there are victims enough of intemperance left to warn us of the evil effects of ardent spirits. Last week in this immediate vicinity, an intemperate father and his son, a promising lad nine or ten years old, had been at work upon the marsh, and in attempting to cross a narrow creek in a small boat, were drowned within eight feet of the shore, and in sight of a number of men who were at work near them, but could not assist them until it was too late. The father was a good swimmer. Two bottles which were taken from the water, one empty and the other partly filled with rum, revealed the cause of the accident. Thus were two souls hurried up to the bar of GOD, without a moments preparation-a widowed mother bereft of her son and grandson-a wife of her husband and son—and three babes of a father and brother. And for what? For the profits upon ten cents worth of rum. Could the individual who furnished him with the poison-the one who first offered the bowl to his lips-or those who have since encouraged him in his course by their example, have stood by the side of the dead father, and his son, the innocent victim of his madness, must they not have felt that blood was upon their garments; that it cried to GOD for vengeance, and a vengeance too that will be executed upon themselves, and upon all who like them uphold by their influence and practice the accursed vice of intemperance ?" SEBAGO—A Temperance Society was organized in this town a few years ago, but has ceased operations-for what reason, is not known to the Correspending Secretary. STANDISH-Society organized January, 1830-meets three times in a year--meetings not very well attended. WESTBROOK-There are professors of religion who are opposed to, and refused to join the society-" considering it sectarian." There are 540 families in the town-80 of whom containing 480 individuals, 320 of whom are wives, mothers, sisters and brothers, which is more than one seventh of the population, are made more or less poor and unhappy, by reason of the intemperance of the husband and father or mother-and six or eight families made unhappy by the intemperance of a son or brother!!! And be it remembered that in Westbrook in the year 1833-being the 7th year of the Temperance Reform, in a population of less than 3500 inhabitants, there are 30 retailers of ardent spirit authorized to sell to be drank in their shops or stores-and 11 taverners all of whom sell 4000 gallons of the ardent at the expense of $5000 to the consumers-and that much that is consumed is probably purchased in Portland, situated in its immediate vicinity-and be it also remembered that in the same year $675 has been paid for the support of their intemperate paupers-and that it is believed that one fifth of all who have been concerned in the traffic as retailers or taverners, since the first settlement of the town, have became intemperate, and we may easily perceive and understand the extent of the "piracy upon the rights and happiness" of so many of its citizens. Yet in the midst of so many temptations, such has been the effects of the Temperance Reform that the Secretary exclaims-" Thanks be to the giver of every blessing, many, very many, .will rejoice and offer up hearts warm with grattitude to GOD that there has been so much done for them already-for, their husbands; their fathers; their brothers and their sons, who were dead-live again." The Secretary remarks "You must conclude, sir, by the number of retailers, that the ox has been wont to push with his horns in Westbrook. He has, and many have been killed, and "it hath been testified to his owner." One just escaped from a sore goring from the beast; trembling with the effects, has been heard to converse feelingly upon the subject, stating the danger he was continually in, while the ox was permitted to run at large-solemnly, hoping that the arm may be palsied, that first attempts to loose the ox upon him.' WINDHAM-Society organized March 1832-annual meeting in August, meets every two months-not always well attended; 30 deaths annually, one tenth by intemperance; 60 intemperate males; 40 of them heads of families; 8 widows whose husbands died of intemperance--4 husbands and wives permanently separated by reason of intemperance, and others temporarily--most of the large farms, probably one third of the whole carried on without ardent spirit-there is opposition to the society, "by the lovers of rum-by the lovers of the profits of selling it-by the lovers of office and popularity-and by the haters of every thing good. Some are timid-many, otherwise good citizens, profess to be neutral." The consumption of wine, cider and strong beer, has decreased almost in proportion to the disuse of ardent spirit, from the commencement of the Temperance Reform. There is another Temperance Society in the south part of Windnam. There are probably from 40 to 50 that belong to that society who are not members of the other. The Secretary writes, "very little effort has been made the past year. We have fallen into a most inexcusable apathy. We must wake up. Who, that is not ignorant of the characters of Howard Clarkson and Wilberforce, has not at times wished it had been the will of heaven to make them instruments of equal good to their fellow beings. The present affords a noble opportunity of putting our desires to the test. The good already done, and the evil prevented, furnish strong motives to action. There is not one of us, in my humble opinion, who may not do as much in the cause of temperance (according to this ability) to benefit the world, as did those good men in the spheres in which they acted." LINCOLN COUNTY. HON. I. G. REED, of Waldoborough, President, |