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PEOPLED VRIEND,
*• ”• B ' Morajß - ) Associate
MBS. MARGIE P. MOSELEY, > Edit org
EEV. L. R. GWALTNEY, )
Rome, Ga., Saturday, March 1, 1873.
DRUNKENNESS—ITS CAUSE.
BY MARGIE P. MOSELEY.
Drunkenness is the greatest vice in
the land. It causes more misery, pro
duces more criminals, bloodshed and
murder, than any one of all the crimes
found in the decalogue. And yet our
law-makers place tades upon our im
poverished people, for the support of
a vice which in ten thousand ways en
tails suffering upon the country!
Who is to blame? There is a great
Aue and erg, set up against the rum
seller. Right, he should be hounded
down like a beast of prey, for he is
more to be dreaded than a raging lion,
but the rum-seller, is not as much to
blame as the men who make the laws !
He eould not sell rum if the law for
bade it I The law-makers render the
business legitimate. They require an
amount of money to be paid to them,
for the permission to sell to the people,
(whom they are sworn to protect from
evil,) a poison, which entails
every evil "known to humanity, upon
them. They license the liquor traffic,
they encourage the liquor manufacto
ries, which sustain nay, propagate
crime, they then tax the people
to suppress. Hundreds of thousands
are annually paid out to build peni
tentiaries, and support criminals. The
penitentiaries are filled by the rum
seller and this all powerful agent—liq
uor. The people are taxed for the money
which goes to build and support all
public prisons, and thus our law-ma
kers, instead of protecting the people
against vice and outrage, are opening
the direct road to both; and taking
from the hard earned toils of the peo
ple, money to support vices, which
their false and wicked legislation has
engendered. We (the people) pay
our law-makers from $5,000,00, all the
way up to $25,000,00 annually, to
make laws for the good of the people,
and then these same men get up, and in
the liquor license alone, place an unjust
law upon us, which costs the people of
the United State fully ten millions of
dollars every year. To this may be
added several millions of private mon
oy, which was the life bread of as ma
ny tnousands of suffering women and
children, and then add the small sum
of one hundred thousand men, sent an
nually to drunkards graves, and we
have some faint idea of the “good—so
called" which our Legislators are do
ing for the people ! Verily it were
better for us, to put our legislators in
the penitentiaries which they build
for their victims, and make laws for
ourselves, than to have them make
laws which entail so much misery up
on us. Society detests the drunkard,
despises the rum-seller, but let it turn
its scorn upon the right object—the
law-maker. He is the source of all
the misery which drunkenness entails.
He can stop it, and he aloue can do it!
Let him prohibit the sale of liquor,
and he prohibits the commission of
two thirds of the crimes, which dis
tress our land, and fill our jails and
penitentiaries. Talk about tyrranny,
there is no tyrranny like theliseening
of liquor, it says, to a man you may
sell a poison to your fellows, which
will deprive them of reason, judgment
power, pride, and feeling, and reduce
them to the condition of brutes, nay,
of lunatics, of maniacs, and yet I will
hold them responsible for their actions
and you in some degree responsible
also. This is the true meaning and
working of the liquor /ic'ense, and yet
we pay our legislators for this injus
tice toward the people ? Has tyrran
ny ever more unreasoning, more uc
just —more direct. Verily we are
mad, or we would not endure it; some
wall cry out, we can’t help it, we can t
govern the law -makers. Yes you can!
They are the servant of the people, if ’
they fail in their duty, put them out of
office. by voting for bettor men. Call
for a prohibition law, and if they fail to
respond let the country ring with the
indignant cry of people for justice for
the suppression of a vice which dellu
ges our country with misery.
——
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE
GRAND WORTHY SECRETARY.
ALL ALONG THE LINES.
OUR FORCES EVERY WHERE
VICTORIOUS ! ! I
HEAVY ENGAGEMENT IN AT
LANTA, GA.
SIXTY CAPTURED AND OUR
GALLANT SOLDIERS IN
HOT PURSUIT!
OUR SKIRMISHERS DRIVING
THE “COHORTS’I!’”
FULL LINE OF BATTLE MARCH
ING STEADILY TO THE
FRONT! ! ! !
AND THE CRY IS STILL THEY
COME!! 1
THREE NEW LODGES THIS
WEEK ! !
BROTHERS AND SISTERS LET US
NOT WEARY IN WELL DOING BUT
DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS EN
COURAGED BY SUCH
GLORIOUS RE-
SULTS.
Editors Friend:
I am again at my desk to give your
readers a short article in regard to the
“Glorious News" still reaching my
office daily. It is gratifying that so
many evidences are being manifested
of the prosperity of our order, and of
the general upheaval, and universal
spirit of enthusiasm existing in near
ly every portion of the State. I desire
in this communication to announce
officially, that the Good Templars are
in a more prosperous condition to-day
in Georgia, than they ever were at any
time before, and the prospects are now
more flattering than ever before.
There is no mail reaches this post
office that does not bring most cheer
ing news.
Almost every Lodge is prospering
and in many instances their prosperi
ty is astonishing to members of the
order, as well as to those who would
rejoice to see the Good Templars lose
their pow’er and influence. The Or
der is standing upon its merits alone.
What it has already accomplished, is
its voucher for the future, and as all
appear to be forcibly impressed with
the importance of laboring for God,
and humanity, and paying no atten
tion to the diverting claims of the
many phases of the whiskey cohorts,
but going onward and upward
in the noble work, good results, and
glorious victories may be expected, for
they will surely come.
The weather has been very inclement,
have a great many of our Lodges been
prevented from holding their regular
meetings, yet only a few but what
have increased in members, are more
zealous and determined, and promise
yet a better report.
I have heard from many Lodges
since your paper was issued on the
15th instant, and from the summary
1 of encouraging letters received, per
mit me to make only a few extracts.
Ry private letter from Atlanta I
learn that over sixty members were
initiated there during past week in the
lodges of that city.
Brother O. J. Duncan, of Conyers
Lodge No. 9 writes: “I was at Owens
Lodge 248 at their installation. Six
were initiated and several applica
tions for membership presented; rest
assured that our lodges have determ
ined to remain steadfast, and Conyers
No. 9 will be the last to surrender
their charter, several of our mem
bers have been taken away by the
msningitis, which has been raging in
the form of an epidemic in our coun
ty for some time.”
Brother Clements from Subligma
reports 70 memlxrs in good standing
and writes: “The lodge is in a tol
erable flourishing condition; the pros
pect for astrong body and for much
good to be done is rather promis
ing.”
Brother Edwards writes from Craw
ford Lodge 183: “Our Lodge is in a
prosperous condition; and the inter
est seems unabated, only two have vio
lated this obligation.”
Brother Carswell of Lodge 238,
writes: “In a flourishing condition,
prospects hopeful, lodge accessable to
about 100 pupils of the Hepzibah high
school, a number of whom are mem
bers.”
Brother Hewitt writes from Bethes
da Lodge 144; “I will say to you our
noble order is in a prosperous condi
tion at present; we have had some
very dark times, but thank God the
clouds havn been broken and our order
is looking brigtly; have initiated 32
during the term just ended.”
Brother Meridith of Cedar Grove
Lodge 240, writes: “We were organ
ized in November with 24 charter mem
bers have initiated 12 since; prospects
very encouraging.”
•Brother Houser of Perry Lodge 129
with his uniform promptness, sends
in an early, as well as a very satisfac
tory report of his lodge.
Brother Fincher of Fincher Lodge
51, sends in his report promptly, and
shows his lodge in a good condition,
zealously laboring to perpetuate the
cause they have espoused.
Brother Palmer writes from Cuth
bert: “I think our Lodge is inclined
to improve, a number of our members
are at their posts zealously endeavor
ing so .give new life to our meetings.’’
Brother Bailey from Lodge 249
Scriven county, writes: “Our lodge
is increasing rapidly in members; the
prospects for a large lodge are very
good. 4 ’
Brother Beckham, of Zebulon Lodge
Lodge 58, reports good condition,
with an increase of membership of over
one fourth. ■
Brother Grant, of Evans Lodge 76,
writes:’ “Our lodge is in a very pros
perous condition, indeed, accessions
to our membership are steady, and
they all appear to stick after they
join.”
Brother Manning of Georgia Lodge
132, writes: “We are in a good con
dition now, everything going along
smooth and our working cannot be
any better.”
Brother Head writes from Lannel
Hill: “Our lodge is in a flourishing
condition at present; we have secured
our Hall for the year, and we are ex
pecting to have many additions at the
coming of spring, our members are all
fully into the work.”
Brother Marshall of Harmony Lodge
85, reports with promptness, the stead-
I fastness of the members of his lodge
t and hopes to have a good time this
I summer.
Brother Williamson writes from
) Stonewall Lodge 214: “The lodge
is in a prosperous condition. We
never have a meeting without some
join; last meeting we had six acces
sions, we are looking at glorious pros
pects, have done a good work, and
hope we will yet do better. Thirty
i seven members taken in during last
quarter.”
Brother Huckaby, of Siinm o n s
Lodge 80, writes: “We are happy to
say that our Lodge is in a very flour
j ishing condition, and we hope soon to
be able to report a still better condi
tion.”
Brother Rogers from Carnesville
Lodge 201, writes: “Our lodge is in
a good healthy condition, and has ac
complished much good in our commu
nity, 41 members is the result ot our
last quarter operations, with yet a
glorious future.'’
Returns Received. —Returns have
been received from the following
lodges for the present term.
Atlanta, 1, Rechabite, 21, Eureka,
38, Richmond, 43, Milner, 47, Pine
Grove 49, Fincher 51, Jackson, 55,
Zebulon 58, R. E. Lee 68, Evans 76,
I. T. Smith 78, Simmons 80, Harmony
85, Chattooga 97, Minnehaha 103,
Forrestville 106, Mercer 107. Craw
fordville 110, Herculean 117. Golden
Fleece 122, Sacred Promise 125, Perry
129, Georgia 132, Western Star 136,
Bethesda 144, Oak Hill 145, Macedonia
156, Ciceronian 163, Ringgold 170,
Thomaston 176, Gwaltney 177, Craw
ford 183, Tallulah 187, Lafayette 192,
Lawtonvillo 199, Safe Refuge 201,
Franklin 204, Lone Star 210. Subligna
211, Stonewall 214, Cassville 217, Eu
reka 218, Dawsonville 219, Union 222,
Gibraltar 226, Hamilton 228, Alvaretta
229, Stony Point 230, Ophir 233, El
lijay 235, Harmony 236, Hepzibah 238,
Cedar Grove 240, Olympia 243, W. D.
Anderson 245, Coal City 247, Screven
249, making fifty-eight lodges. The
same lodges for last term reported
2893 member,s or near an average of
fifty members to each lodge, showing
an actual increase in the aggregate of
461 members, for the 58 lodges or
nearly eight members to each lodge.
Should the entire report come in with
the above increase,—and all indications
now favor it—there will be more
Good Templars reported in good
standing than at any former report.
Notwithstanding there has been some
withdrawals from the order, and since
the Grand Lodge held its session in
October seven’lodges have surrendered
their charters to this office; four of
which have expressed a desire to con
nect themselves with other organiza
tions, and two have ceased to exist. I
have also found that a few lodges that
formerly stood, in the official directo
ry, never have existed; or at least never
had a meeting after their only partial
organization. To this I would call the
attention of all Deputies organizing
lodges, and urge the importance of
never leaving a new lodge until they
are fully officered and prepared to work
intelligibly. Then let me admonish
all the members of the order, to go to
work manfully, laying aside every thing
but duty, and doing that duty well.—
Stand firm to principle and each and
all be true to ourselves, remembering
that the world honors the man who is
faithful to his trust till death claims
him, and that each member is under an
obligation; and has a work to perform;
a work of humanity; a work of love.
I will ever remain in F. H. and C.,
S. C. Robinson, G. W. S.
P. S. Deputies are urged to register
all money letters as the Grand Secreta
ry is not held responsible for any un
less it is in registered letter, or Post
Office order. I will give some inter
esting, and yet more encouraging sta
tics in the next issue of The Friend in
regard to the progress of the order.
Three new lodges reported in the last
week. S. C. R.
Rome, Feb. 14, 1873.
To Mrs. H. A. Dunwooddie, Miss Lizzie
Morris and Miss Emma Williams,
Tallulah Lodge, Ga.:
Dear Sistkrs:—-I learn through our
worthy brother Thrower, of the inter
est you are taking in the cause of Tem
perance, and The People’s Friend, and
I write to express my grateful acknowl
edgements to you, first in working for
the good of humanity, and especially
of woman, secondly for the good of
Temperance, and lastly for the interest
you have manifested in the paper which
is the representative organ of ihe Good
Templars. As one of its editors I wish
to express to you the peculiar gratifi
cation which this intelligence afforded
me. lam glad to see women actively
at work in the cause ’ We suffer more
than any one else from the evils of in
temperance; then let us work against
it! Let us not fold our hands and be
idle! We can’t afford it. We must
work for the dissemination of temper
ance literature, we must talk temper
ance, we must make intemperance
odious! We must refuse to associate
with men who drink —must banish
wine from our tables—banish wine
bibbers from our presence, and show
the world that woman is determined
no longer to submit to the thralldom
and brutality of drunkenness. We
can do this and men will honor, respect
and love us for it! We owe it as a
duty to ourselves, to our children, to
our husbands and to society ! From
my soul, I pity the woman who has a
drunken husband, father or son, and
to such a woman I would go, and have
wry Good Templar go, and say “Join .
the Templars.” If she reply, “my
husband forbids me,” then tell her to j
put temperance literature in her hus
band's hands, to read it herself, and
tell him of the wrongs he is doing
himself and her—to learn the truth
and stand up for it boldly, and my
word for it, that man will not go down
to a drunkard’s grave! Our sex need
to be educated in their duties, rights
and privileges, and this our paper
proposes to do. No cause can flourish
without a literature to set forth its
claims to the people. Politics, manu
facturies, Law and religion have their
organs, and so must the Temperance.
Without a bible what would religion
be? We must not expect the Tem
plars to flourish unless their repre
sentative organ flourish also, for it is
their exponent, their friend and their
teacher. We propose to enlarge and
improve our paper, to give the very
best reading, and this in variety, and
when we call on the Templars to aid
us in enlarging our circulation, we ask
no favor, but only ask them to comply
with their oaths, and do all in their
yower to promote the good of the or
der.
I learn that you have pledged your
selves to send twenty-five subscribers
from your lodge. I heartily thank
you, and would say that if three ladies
in every lodge in the State would do
the same, they would do more good
than if they preached for twenty years.
Every subscriber gets double the worth
of his money, and a Templar who does
not care two dollars worth for the good
of the cause had as well hide his face
and
“Quietly steal away.”
I suggest that the ladies of every
lodge in the State get up clubs, and
send for The Friend, and that they,
at the same time, send to me their
names and any communication which
may be of public interest, that I may
publish the same, and let the Tem
plars know who are working for the
cause.
With many thanks for your efforts
ladies, and the hope of hearing from
you often, I am,
Your Sister,
Margie Moseley.
The following was delivered before
Sacred Promise Lodge by Col. A. T.
Hardin, and published by request:
Worthy Chief:—lt may appear pre
sumptuous in me to say anything on a
subject which has been discussed by
the best talent for ages, and my only
apology is that it is the cause of hu
manity, the cause of our women and
children, and above all, the cause of
our commen country. I feel and
know how much better it would have
been for me if I could have joined the
Good Templars forty years ago; how
much sadness and sorrow it would
have freed me from if I could then
have taken the vow and lived accord
ingly. And now, young Gentlemen
remember your vow, and when you ar
rive at my age you will never regret it,
but you and your loved ones that you
may cluster around you will clap their
glad hands with joy at your having
lived the life of a good Templar. As
we grow older the bright visions of
youth fade away, and the sad realities
of life are upon us with but a few more
years to look forward to. We are nat
urally inclined to look back, and al
though I make no pretensions to be a
learned historian, the events that have
been transpiring" around us for the last
ten years, have caused every reflective
man to look back, to see how othej
nations went, and the cause of their
destruction, and then see where we are
drifting to.
The valley of the Nile, Euphrates,
Tigris and Jordan, with her vine clad
hills, now desolate and bare; the rose
of Sharon and the lily of the valley no
longer bloom. The entire Mediter
ranean slope with her plains and val
leys were like our own valley of the
Hudson filled with life and enterprise,
with cottages and palaces, with bright
hopes and expectations never to be
realized, but have faded away, like their
country, now a desolation. The bells,
the harp and psaltey are heard no
more. Their grain fields and grassy
lawns are withered; all is desolation,
nothing but the wild Arab and Bedouin
roam over the country. History proves
that all this was brought about by
wine bibbers, commencing with their
rulers, and spreading among the peo
ple until they became demoralized,
ready for revolution and war. Cities,
villages and hamlets were sacked by a
drunken soldiery, and one universal
wail of anguish went forth as desola
tion spread over their country.
And now, when we approach our
own great country, with its hills,
mountains, valleys and vast plains,
with its brooks, nvers, lakes and seas,
with every variety of climate and pro
duction, what a noble inheritance left
by our forefathers to a set of degener
ate sons; already this great temple of
liberty is beginning to totter. The
revels of the wine bibbers are heard
amongst our rulers; the clash of arms
has already taken place; corruption
and oppression rule the hour; the peo
ple are already demoralized, ready for
revolution ami strife. f ...
And now, Good Templars, step for
ward and save this noble temple from
utter destruction, by placing sober,
honest men in office, so as to harmo
nize the people, and our country may
still flourish, grow and expand for ages
to come, making it a goodly inheritance
for the generations that are to come
after us. This is our only hope. If
we fail this great temple topples over,
liberty is crushed and the hopes of
the poor and oppressed of the world
are forever blasted.