you, if ten righteous, sober men can be found.' They have been found, and we are redeemed."

And says another, "The greatest improvement of modern times consists in the discovery that 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 TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. They as far exceed steam-engines, railways, cotton-spinning machines, &c. as the mind is superior to matter; and the bodies and souls of mankind, are of more consequence than money, and merchandise. We hope, therefore, that the time will soon arrive, when all the inhabitants of the United States will compose 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 they cannot continue even to use ardent spirit, without the commission of known and aggravated sin; or furnish it for others, without being accessory to the ruin, temporal and eternal, of their fellow men. Hundreds of ministers of the gospel, thousands and tens of thousands of professed Christians, and hundreds 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 throughout the world.

When great changes take place in the natural or moral world, many are anxious to know the cause; and the means by which those changes were effected. This is now the case with regard to the Temperance Reformation. Numerous inquiries have been made, during the past year, in this and other countries, with regard to the origin of the American Temperance Society; and the reasons which led its friends to adopt abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, as the first grand principle of their operations.

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

About seventeen years ago, a communication was made by a member of this Committee, on the evils 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 declined, and was soon, in a great measure, done away.

Not long after, he made another communication on the evils of furnishing ardent spirit as an article of entertainment, especially to

ministers of the gospel; a practice which was also common, and was thought by many to be a suitable expression of respect and kindness toward the ministerial office. The effect of this also was strongly marked; and some persons 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, in 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 health than those who continued to use it, were more uniform and consistent in their deportment, and more ready for every good word and work.

In 1822, a teamster, partially 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 crushed to death. Another man, tending a coal-pit, became partially intoxicated, fell asleep on some straw, and was burnt to death. These events occasioned the delivery of two discourses, viz. one on the wretchedness of intemperate men, and another on the duty of preventing sober men from becoming intemperate; that, when the present race of drunkards should be removed, the whole land might be free. The means of doing this, the sure means, and the only means, were shown to be, abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors. This was shown, by facts, to be both practicable and expedient, and was urged as the indispensable duty of all men; a duty which they owed to God, to themselves, their children, their country, and the 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 consciences; 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 it 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, for 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 carry him and his workmen through all the 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,

til I heard that sermon. And I then thought, that the man who could say, that all men, in all kinds of business, would be better without the use of ardent spirit, did not understand the subject. However, I thought of it as I went home-I thought of it the next dayit kept in my mind; and, seeing its awful effects among the poor, I said to myself, If it is true that men can live without, and would be better 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 true 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 months, I began to suspect that it is true. I certainly felt better 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 the greatest delusions under which sober men ever were. I afterwards 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 we are vastly better 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 better without it.

And the question arose, Who knows, should the subject be presented kindly and plainly throughout the United States-be illustrated by facts, and pressed on the conscience-but that it may, through the divine blessing, change the habits of the nation? Who knows, but that our children, and children's children, may be raised up free from this abomination, to be instrumental in perpetuating the blessings of free 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 1825, the present Corresponding Secretary wrote the Tract No. 176 of the American Tract Society's series, entitled "THE WELL-CONDUCTED FARM," exhibiting the result of an experiment made by an original member of this Committee, upon an extensive farming 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 before. 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 accumu

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

The following were some of the advantages of abstinence which were shown to have resulted to their employer:-The men did more work, and in a better manner. It was easier to have a place for every thing, and to have every thing 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. The farm was more productive, and the fruits were gathered in better season. The tools were kept in better order; the barns 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 attentive at public worship on the Sabbath, and were more interested in the welfare of all around them.

It was then shown that, should all the people of the United States adopt the plan of abstinence from the use of ardent spirits, the following would be some of the 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 become intemperate; and as soon as the present drunkards should be dead, intemperance would be done away. They would save a vast amount of property; remove one of the principal causes of pauperism 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 usefulness, and that of their children, for both worlds.f

The same year, the following sentiments were delivered by John Ware, M. D., before the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance.‡

"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, moderately 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 promoting bodily strength, or supporting the system under labor or fatigue. Experience has in all quarters most abundantly proved the contrary. None labor so constantly, so cheerfully and with so little exhaustion, as those who entirely abstain; none endure so well hardships and exposure, the inclemency of weather, and the vicissitude of

* This, and all similar statements are made on the supposition that they do not substitute or use alcohol in any other form.

Similar testimonies began to multiply. The evils of using, and the benefits of abstaining from ardent spirit, became more and more conspicuous; and also the necessity, as well as the encouragement, to 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 destructive 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 darkness and sin would be perpetuated to the end of time. Past efforts," though they had on some spots, and in some cases, done good, had not struck at the root of the evil. Their object was, to regulate the use of ardent spirits, not to abolish it. Those who made them 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 ense with members of Societies for the Suppression of Intemperance. Thus, while they only retarded the growth, or clipped off a few of the top twigs of this poisonous tree, the roots were constantly 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; warning men not to be drunken, and urging them to drink. Many were enraged, almost to madness, at those who represented the use 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 follow another, and another, they would denounce as enthusiasts, and treat as enemies, those who urged them not to drink.

The 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 friends. 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 millennial glory ever break on the world.

A meeting of a few individuals was therefore called, to consider the following question, viz.