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Extracts from the Ro|>ort of the Executive com
mittee of the American Tenqicrance Union :
The Pledge.
“ The Pledge, trifling as it may appear to some,
has evinced a surprising powerto reclaim and save.
It has proved a strong tower to many a redeemed
captive. O.d associations too, have been broken
up. The miserable slaves of the bottle, idle and
vicious, have been raised to respectable standing
in society and placed in regular employment; and
the instant and almost universal activity ofthe re
claimed to reform and save others, with their
open and constantly avowed hostility to the temp
tation in all its forms, has kept them hitherto, as a
body, from the path ofthe destroyer.
Oflhc improved character and condition of
these reformed men your Committee can only
speak in general terms. They have in most ca
ws* passed from the extremes of poverty, of mental
and moral debasement, domestic disorder and
misery, to the enjoyment of all those privileges
ami comforts which make life desirable and man
a blessing to those with whom he is associated.
Their physical organisation, has, in a short period,
to the surprise of all around them, soon acquired
natural (lower. Men, who it would seem must
soon fall into a drunkard's grave, who could scacc
totter to the dramshop, hnve soon become by
total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors,
perfectly healthy and strong. One is known to
your Committee, now a vigorous, animated
lecturer, who on the night in which he signed the
pledge, was obliged from feebleness to sit down six
times on the crub-stones ofthe street, on his way
to his dwelling. Their burning thurst for liquor,
has, in most cases,left them on signing the pledge
or in a short (icriod after, so as to occasion them
no distress or trouble.
Their mental power has in many cases burst
forth to the surprise of all who knew them. Men
who for years had been lost to the world, and
were known, only as stupid, sottish, imbecile
drunkards, have, in instances not a few exhibited
rare powers of public address, and for hours com
manded the attention of large and intelligent au
diences, producing conviction where all argu
ment before had failed, exciting sympathies where
none had before existed, and producing an almost
complete revolution in society.
Their self-respect and moral sense, too, have
risen at once as from a night of oblivion. Men
who were lost to all sense of shame, who were
seen day by day ragged, filthy, unshaven, who
cared not who were their associates, how low
their condition, who would even make their bed
with the swine, men who would lie and steal, and
trample under foot the Bible and the Sabbath,
are now well dressed, respect themselves and
their standing in society, abhor vicious company
and vicious conduct, and fed again, and jiorhaps
far more deeply than ever before, that they arc
moral and accountable beings and responsible for
nil their conduct to thegreat Author of their exis
tence. * * * * ♦
There has also been a happy restoration of
natural affection. The moment the dramshop
has been forsaken and rum renoutied, that mo
ment the heart has turned back to its long for
saken home, to the abused wife and wretched
children. Here have been found objects of at
tachment, which have melted the long brutalized
spirit, and there have been a devotion to their in
terests, a willingness to labor for them and a
determination to provide future welfare,
soothing the sorrows and afflictions that were
hurrying them to the grave.
From these various results of the reformation of
au untold number of drunken husbands, farthers
and sons, there has Wen an actual relief of dotnes
tic misery and creation of domestic happiness
probably never before realized from any one oc
currence in Divine Providence. ♦ * *
Two reformed inen are now mayors of cities.
Another, who was a notorious drunkard, is now
a chief marshall in one of our cities.
A physician and surgeon, for the last ten years
intemperate, and for the last two years grossly so,
signed the pledge just before last Christmas, and
carried his certificate as a Christmas present to bis
mother. He was a lost son, restored after hope
had expired.
A Mr. K. was picked up in the street, in one of
■our cities, in the night drunk—head lying on the
curb stone. A four horse stage passed over the
ground immediately after he was removed. lie
belonged to a highly respectable family, and was
ruined by fashionable tippling—he was induct'd to
sign the pledge, and now is a blessing to his fam
ily.
A wholesale hardware merchant, connected
with the highest circles in T., went rapidly from
fashionablo drinking to the most abandoned
drunkeness—his family was broken up—he had
delirium tremens repeatedly and was considered
a hopeless case till a Washingtonian got him to
sign tho pledge. He is now very active in the
tempcr&nae cause, and doing good—is restored to
his family'and happy.
A young man, in Philadelphia, who, but a day
or two before was writhing under the horrible
insanity of mania a potu, was induced to attend
a meeting, and while the pledge was circulated,
he expressed a desire to sign his name in the pres
ence ofthe congregation, which was granted.
It created no little sensation from the fact that
he was well known. The act was sincere, and
the example noble, He was soon greatly exer
cised on tne subject of religion, and sought an
interview with the cession of a Churcn.
One, who is now a useful and respectable mem
ber ofthe Portland society, had been grossly in
temperate for at least tweenty-five years. He
had a wife and large family of children, who oc
cupied the attic of a small one story house. He
ivas one dav found drunk upon ope ofthe wharv c s
by a leading Washingtonian, w ho introduced the
subject of temperance to him, when he became
furious, ami wished to fight every one who came
near him: but he soon became calm, and was in -
duced to promise to go immediately home and re
main there, until the Washingtonian should
call for him in the evening to go to a Washing
tonian meeting, which he did, when he signed
the pledge; lias kept it faithfully ever since, and
is now asoberman and a humble Christian. One
of the most interesting and touching scenes ever
witnesed, was a crowded Washingtonian meeting
in which this man, within two months after he
was snatched from the gutter, was leading in a
fervent prayer to Him who had saved him from
so horrid a fate, a drunkard’s grave.
Instrumentality Employed.
-This is too well known to need description; —
the simple tale and bold appeal of refo r med men,
who have stood up before their fellow-beings, ac
knowledging with singular frankness anu hones
ty their character and lives; detailing the full ef
fect* of intoxicating liquor upon their persons,
health, morals, peace, domestic relations and
moral state, —all the degradation and misery of a
drunkard’s life, their wonderful deliverance from
the taste and power of the cup, their sympathy for
the unfortunate drunkard, and their confidence
and earnest desire that he may be reclaimed, and,
like themselves, entirely restored to sobrictv and
peace.
To a wide extent, the long-triid friends and
laborers in the cause of temperance have sustain
ed, counselled, and co-operated with them, en
couraging them in their course, and rejoicing in
all their success; the press lias been brought to
their aid and to the aid of the temperance cause
beyond all former jx-riods,— not only have tem
perance papers been greatly multiplied, but the
religious and political papers of every character
have devoted their columns to temperance; —still,
these men have been in this mighty movement
the chief speakers who have awakened thcpublic
sympathy and arouseibthe nation to decided ac
tion. This instrumentality in the providence of
God, has been of a most extraordinary character.
That men should have been raised from the low
est depths of vice and sensuality—from the entire
prostration of all that is virtuous, honorable and
influential, to effect such a moral revolution, may
well he the astonishment of mankind.
The first six who commenced this woik were
not without respectable standing and character,
but were decidedly intemperate men engaged in
gratifying their appetite for strong drink in a
public house. They were Win. Iv. Mitchell, a
tailor; John T. Hoss, a carpenter; David Ander
son, a blacksmith ; George Steers, a wheelwright;
James McCurly, a coach-maker, and Archibald
Campbell, a silver plater. On Friday evening,
April 2d, 1840, they were at Chase's tavern, Lib
erty-street, in the city of Baltimore, where they
were in the habit of associating together after the
tihors ofthe day. A temperance sermon which
has that evening to be preached by a clergyman
of some notoriety, became the subject ol conversa
tion. It was resolved that four ot their number
should go and hear it, and report its character.
On their return they scanned its merit, when one
of their number remarked, that “after all, tem
perance was a good thing.” “ Oh,” said the
landlord, “ they’re all a parcel of hypocrites. “ O
yes,” replied another, “ I’ll be bound it is for your
interest to cry them down any how.” From this
altercation proceeded the resolution to form among
themselves a temperance society, to be called the
Washington Society; a pledge was written and
signed ; and from want of sjieakers, each one
agreed to relate hisown history. Neither ofthese
six became distinguished speakers, but tho presi
dent, Wm. K. Mitchell, a man of rare genius,
vigorous intellect, and commanding influence,
threw into the association a jiovvcr which soon
caused it to he felt through the wholccity. The
thrilling tales narrated by the reformed as they
signed the pledge, were widely spread abroad, and
by the close of 1840, thousands had flocked to
their standard, many of whom had been miserable
slaves to the intoxicating cup.
One ot these, John H. W. Hawkins, a hatter
by trade, was reduced at the age of twenty-two to
extreme drunkenness. He wandered faroff from
his friends to the West, where he suffered every
evil from poverty, degradation, and vice;—lived
years in Baltimore without providing food or do
ing for his family, a living death tothem ; his wife
would sit up for him until midnight and watch to
see whether he came home drunk or sober; often
would he fall prostrate in his hall and his little
daughter would cover him with a blanket until
morning light. This individual, possessed of a
fine person, mellow voice, flowing speech, tender
heart, and much Christian humility, soon be
came a powerful public, speaker. He visited
New York with four others on an embassy in
March, 1841, and was listenedto by many thou
sands with the deepest interest. From thence
he went to Boston, where the results of his la
bours were of an astonishing character. The
freinds of temperance there took him into their em
ploy, anil he has since travelled over seven thous
and miles, delivered four hundred lectures, anil
witnessed the signature to more than eighty thous
and pledges. Two others, Messrs. Pollard and
Wright, were-plain,'uneducated men, but great
inebriates. The first had been a reformed man
about five years, the last, but a few months.
Their victories in New York, New Jersey, Dela
ware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, almost sur
pass belief, They have attended over five hun
dred meetings, and obtained above sixty thousand
signatures to the pledge. A third, Mr. Vickers,
once one ofthe most abandoned of men, codebased
as to leave his wife and five children"*cighteen
months without a dollar to feed or cloth them, and
who was so reduced and changed that when he
finally came home his wife did not know him; this
man, by his history and powerful appeals, kindled
up a fiame which has now spread overall the W est,
and he himself has witnessed the signature of
seventy thousand names to the pledge.
One individual in Philadelphia, once respecta
ble in life, but who was reduced to the lowest ex
tremities by drunkenness, —who sold every arti
cle of available furniture and of clothing for rum,
wiio left his wife to earn her living over the wash
tub while his daughter was bound out to hard
service, being himself an inhabitant of the wharf,
the almshouse, and the Moya men sing prison,
drinking daily half a gallon of common rye whis
ky, has, since his reform in June, 1841, constant
ly traveled, delivering one lecture on an average
a-day, and has received seven thousand signatures
to the pledge.
Such are hut a specimen of the instrumentali
ties which divine Providence has used to do what
men, who had no personal experirneo in the des
olating effects of intoxicating liquors could not
periorm—open the eyes of a whole nation, and
reclaim thousands of drunkards from the most
ruinous courses. It is ananomaly in the history
of man.
The Young Criminal.
The court was assembled—the judge took
his seat—-the lawyers prepared for taking notes—
the district attorney rose, and the sheriff was
directed to bring in the prisoner. Then there
was the rattling of keys, the turning of holts
and liars, and the massy door creaked on
its rusty hinges.—The crowd gathered around—
euriosty ever wakeful, was excited to sec what
iall had many times seen before—a man whose
crimes had prepared him to he a sacrifice to
the majesty ot justice and the wholesome severity
ofthe law. He came—he took his seat in the
dock-all eyes were ujion him. The minister of
the law bade him rise—the indictment was read ;
“not guilty” was his pica--counsel was assigned
. and the trial proceeded. One old man, his head
white, his limbs and his voice trembling, laid bis
hand upon the book, and bade his Maker wit
ness the truth of what he was about to say. His
testimony revealed an act of cold-hearted base
ness, and fixed the guilt upon the prisoner be
yond the possibility of a doubt. His counsel
made no effort—the judge charged thejury—they
retired to deliberate. \Vhat a moment of sits
prnsc was that! In a brief space were suspended
mighty hope*and tears—liberty and the blessed
light of heaven, or a dungeon, confinement and
hard labor! Thejury returned—“ Your verdict,
gentlemen,” said the clerk. “ Guilty,” replied the
foreman. “ Stand up, prisoner,” said the judge.
And then the culprit was admonished, sentenced
and condemned to years’ confinement in the
state prison. Who was he ! A young man.
What were his habits? He was intemperate.
Reader, you have the clue to his history. You
know the cause of his downfall.
A Temperance Anecdote.
The Washingtonians are driving a noble bu
siness among the old soakers of this Vity. On
Thursday evening the church in Poydras-street
was literally crammed, and many a harddrinker,
we have no doubt, was taken out ofthe gutter.
Among a great many pleasant anecdotes related
by the speakers was one defining the unpleasant
position of a certain Deacon, who wanted to be
temperate without signing the pledge. He had
been importuned to that effect until he became
so outraged, that he arose, and before the tem
perance society, delivered a speech in favor of
moderate drinking. He was allowed to pro
ceed, and at its termination he seized his hat,
and walked down the aisle with great dignity.
There was present an old toper, who, at that
moment, was about as full as he could well be,
and being mightily tickled at the Deacon’s
speech, he staggered from his seat, and clapping
the Deacon on the shoulder, exclaimed, 1 1 say—
hie —Deacon, them’s my sentiments! I’ll stand
by you—hie—old feller, in them’etc doctrines!
So let’s go and liquor!’ The Deacon finding
that his ‘ moderate drinking’ doctrines placed him
in such disgraceful fellowship, went back and |
signed the pledge!—[ Washingtonian, ( Pa.)
“ 1 must not have such a noise here,” angrily i
exclaimed the keeper of a porter house to a man
who had been patronising his bar too frequently, 1
and annoying every body around him. “ Now
look-a-here,” stammered out the drunken man,
“if you want to keep a quiet house, you mus’nt
sell liquor.” The landlord was conquered.
A Total Abstinence Society, numbering sixty
or seventy members, was formed at Pisgah on
Saturday last. \V e learn that several new socie
ties have been formed in Gadsden county. The
liberal encouragement given to this glorious cause,
is truly gratifying to the friends of human happi
ness. — Tallahassee Sentinel.
The Pittsburgh Gazette says, it is a remarkable
fact that while there were i"n Washington and
Alleghany counties, in Pennsylvania, in the
year 1815, some fifteen hundred stills at work,
there are at this time not more than fifteen or
twenty still-houses at work in both counties.
One cent a day carefully saved Irom the earn
ings ot the poorest of our laboring class of citi
zens would be more than sufficient to pay the ,
whole expense of a most useful newspaper. Such ;
a measure would ensure for his children a treas
ure of knowledge which could never be spent by
them however prodigal; and fit them hovtcver j
poor in vulgar wealth to become the most useful
of all the members of our republican familv.
From the-Temperancc Standard.
Address of the Young Men’s Temperance-
Association of Philadelphia.
Young Men, —It is to you that our appeal is
made, and we rejoice that we address you on a.
subject worthy your consideration, and which
deserves your favorable notice.
We desire not to engage you in a work that
will ever cause the blush of shame to mantle your
cheek, or that will deprive you of one source of
happiness! We come not to ask you to assist us
in a work which will endanger the liberties of
our Country, or that will spread disorder where
peace now reigns! —But, we ask your aid in the
overthrow of an evil that has spread desolation
far and wide, and which hag been the curse of
the world for ages!
It has been the ruin of the noblest men, and
has injured millions of our race! It has blasted
the brightest hopes —sundered the dearest ties—
and severed the closest relationships! It has
destroyed the peace and happiness of nations
of cities—of neighborhoods and individuals! It
has checked the progress of liberty—retarded the
onward course of virtue, and has been the chief
obstacle in the way of our holy religion! It has
broken the heart of the young and loving wife—
made widows and orphans, and caused many a
mother to weep over the premature grave of an
only son! It is the source of crime-—the origin
of misery—the cause of disease! It has ruined
the Merchant —the Lawyer —the Physician—
and the Mechanic! It is the destroyer of health
and strength—of peace and happiness—of feel
ing and intellect—of soul and body!
Young Men,shall we appeal to you in vain ?
Remember, that you will soon occupy the place
ofyoiir Fathers, —on you (in part) will depend
tile weal or woof our beloved country, and on
. you will devolve all the responsibilities of the
citizen—She man of business and the parent —
and how can you meet all these claims,or rightly
fulfil all these duties, if you have not pledged
yourselves against this evil !
Be not satisfied with a resolution of your own
rest not with the belief that moderate drinking
will not injure you, but at once decide in lavor of
Temperance, and “ Tovch not —Taste not —
Bandit not” the accursed poison, for in avoid
ance alone is safety.
It is thought that there are over five thousand
Young Men connected with the different Liter
ary Associations of this city, and why not all
unite in this cause I Why not swell the rank,
and form a Young Men’s Temperance Society
that shall be the pride of the city and the boast of
; our State?
Wo would not live a useless life—descend un-
I pitied into a drunkard’s grave, and mcivc a
! drunkard’s punishment! Then meet with us,
i and engage in this cause, and enlist under thirty.
; banner.
Evidence. —Father Mathew says, that the
i Teetotalers of Ireland are the most happy and
! cheerful set of men he ever saw, and that they all
j testify that they can go through their work more
easily than when they used intoxicating liquor.
Deacons op the oi,d school. — In the days of
Baillie Nicol Jarvie’s father, the, ffice of Deacon
| was estimated no mean distinction. Two worthy
incumbents, who lived not far from the hanks of
Ayr, happened to be invested with the above
named dignity onthesameday. Tho more youth
ful ofthetwo flew home to tell his young wife
what an important prop of the civic edifice he had
been allowed to become; &searchin 'the ‘butt and
the bin’ in vain, ran out to the byre, where meet
ing the row, he could no longer coatain his joy,
but in the fulness ofhis heart, claspsd her round;
the neck, and it is even said, kissed her, exclaim
ing “ Oh Crummie, Crunnnie, ye’er nae longer a
common cow now—ye’rs the DeacoTscow! The
elder civic dignitary was a sedate pious person, and
felt rather ‘biate’ in showing to his wife that he
was uplifted above this world's honors. As he
thought, however, it was too good a piece of news
to allow her to remain any time ignorant of, he
lifted the latch of his own door, and stretching
his head
that made Nelly all ears and eyes; “Giff ony
body comes sperin’ for the Deacon, I’m just ower
the gate at John Tamson’s!”
Starting Children in the World. —The
following extract from the works of a livirg wri
ter, is replete with sound philosophy and common
sense. It is well worth the attention of parents.
Masonic Register.
“ Many an unwise parent labors hard and lives
sparingly all his life for the purpose of leaving
enough to give his children a start in the world,
as it is called. Setting a young man afloat with
money left him by his relatives, is like tying blad
ders under the arms of one who cannot swim;
ten chances to one he will lose his bladders and
goto the bottom. Teach him to swim and he
will never need the bladders. Give your child a
sound education, and you have done enough for
him. See to it that his morals are pure, his mind
cultivated, and his whole nature made subser
vient to the laws which govern man, and you
have given what will be of more value than the
i wealth of the Indies. You have given him a start
which no misfortune can deprive him of. The
; earlier you teach him to depend upon his own
resources the better.
Washington. —lt is stated as a singular coin
cidence in the death of this great man, that he
drew his last breath in the last hour in the last
| week in the last month of the year, and in the
| last year of the century, viz: Saturday night, 12
o’clock, December 31,1799.