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THE WASHINGTONIAN:
AUGUSTA, OCTOBER 1,1842.
Washington Total .IbsH.unce Pledge.
We, whose names are hereunto annexed, desirous
of forming a Society for our mutual benefit,
and to guard against a pernicious practice,
•which is injurious to our health, standing and
families, do pledge ourselves as Grntlemen,
not to drink any
Spirltous or Malt liquors, Wine or Cider.
The next Regular Meet
ing of the Washington Total Abstinence Socie
ty, has been postponed till Friday Evening, 7th
October next, at the usuaJ place.
This postjionement was deemed necessary, in
consequence of there having been made appoint
ments for Political meetings, on the same nights
on which the meetings of the Society was held.
I3r A general attendance of the members is
particularly requested.
Several addresses, and music suitable to the
occasion, may be expected.
Exercises will commence at 7 o’clock, precisely.
WM. HAINES, Jr. Secretary.
October 1
The following is the solution to the Enigma
published in our last. We have received six
correct answers:
RICHARD P. TAYLOR.— Solutions: lia
na; lea; Clay; Hall; Ayr: Ray; Dacca; Po;
Tapty; Altay; Yap; Loochoo; Ohio; Root.
The following gentlemen are respectfully
requested, and fully authorized by us, to act as
agents, in procuring subscribers, and extending
the circulation of our paper, in their respective
towns;
Warrenton— Eliphalet Hale,
Sparta— N. C. Sayre.
Madison— C. R. Hanleiter,
Covington —C. Paco.
Decatur— N. Willard.
Marietta— Jas. F. Cooper.
Cassville — Rev. Mr. Howard.
Gainesville— C. Peeples, Esq.
Clarkesville— Dr. W. J. Rusk.
Athens— E. L. Newton, Esq.
Social Circle —J. L. Gresham.
CrawfordvillE— Rev. John W. Wilson.
Sandersville— Arthur G. Ware.
Lincolnton- -Henry J. Lang, Esq.
Columbus —Robert Boyd.
McDonough— Win. L. Gordon.
Culbreatii’s P. O.—Rev. C. Collins.
|jr Washingtonians should bear in mind, that
on signing the pledge, the work so nobly com
menced, requires their perseverance still further.
It is their duty to bear with those who have bro
ken the pledge, and use all persuasive means to
reclaim them. Let us labor for the salvation of
the inebriate and the temperate drinker. If a
member, on signing the pledge, should after
terwards be found indulging in his drinks, let
us even then urge him to “ pick his flint and try
us again.” We should not forget to support our
societies in a pecuniary way—the trifling amount
required of each member to defray incidental ex
penses, should be among our first considerations.
The advantages already derived in our city, from
attending regularly the Washingtonian meet
ings, by many, have been such, that even the
one-sixteenth part of what was paid formerly for
a poisonous drink, contributed to aid in the pro
motion of the society, would far exceed the ex
penses referred to. Let us be united in this
work, it is of more interest to the happiness and
future welfare of our whole country —a subject
of far more interest, to the present generation
and that to come—than any subject before us.
Union in the work will accomplish our ends—
let us give a strong pull, a pull alltogether, aifd
old king Alcohol, who has kept us in his pow
er so long, will release us from his grasp.
Temperance Statistics.
\ The following, says the Total Abstinence
-i Banner, is a correct report of the Total Absti
nence Societies in Charleston (S. C.)
males, females.
Marine Washingtonians, 476 24
Charleston T. Abstinence, 660 275
Charleston Washingtonian, 310 57
Neck Washingtonions, 157 57
Union Total Abstinence, 120 105
South Carolina Brotherhood, 57 25
Franklin Total Abstinence, 56 11
Youths Total Abstinence, 69 20
Total of Males and Females, 1,905 517
Making in all 2,422.
The Rev. Mr. O’Neill, has given Father Ma
thew’6 Pledge to about 200.
Popular Error Corrected.
Under the above head, theeditorof the Colum
bia (Hudson) Washingtonian, gives extracts
from the writings of a celebrated physician of
Dublin, (Dr. Cheyne,) and also from a work
published as far back as 1648. Alcoholic drinks,
says the editor, do not assist the stomach to di
gest the food within it, but absolutely prevent it
from doing so. It has long been a popular no
tion, and is even now entertained by men well
informed upon all subjects except physiology,
that cider, beer, wine and other intoxicating li
quors, assist digestion, and hence their use at
meals. The Creator, by the light of His wis
dom and goodness, made the human machine
perfect, in all its parts, and to say that Man's in
genuity is necessary to complete his work, is a
libel upon the perfection and benevolence of God.
As long ago as 1648, an author giving Rules
to prolong Life, says —Wine should not be taken
habitually after meals, because it unnaturally ac
celerates digestion, propels the food before it is
properly digested, and lays the foundation of ob
struction and putridity. Dr. Cheyne says—’Tis
true, strong liquors, by their heat and stimula
tion. on the organs of concoction, by increasing
the velocity of the motion of the fluids, and there
by quickening the other animal functions, will
carry off the load that lies upon the stomach, with
more present cheerfulness; yet besides the future
damages of such a quantity of wine to the sto
mach and to the fluids, by its heat and inflamma
tion, the food is hurried off undigested, and lays
a foundation tor a fever, a fit of the colic, or some
chronical disease.
Another celebrated physician observes that—
The detention of the food is necessary to diges
tion, because the operation of the gastric juice
arc gradual: by the contractions of the muscular
coat, it is applied to successive portions of ali
ment. All articles, therefore, which by their
stimulus produce a rapid action, are injurious.
To this I attribute the circumstance of bitters
frequently impairing the digestive process. They
habituate the stomach to propel its contents be
fore they have undergone the action of the solv*
ent fluid. This observation applies, of course, to
bitters taken with food, as the hop in ale and por
ter”
Father Matthew administered at Drumcondra>
in Ireland, the pledge to 35000 persons, in two
days in June last.
One of our exchunge papers says that a drunk,
en man in Kentucky set fire to a distillery, which
was in consequence burnt down. The distillery
first set fire to the man, and then the man set fire
to the distillery.
ftr Wanted immediately, Five Hundred Sub
scribers to the Washingtonian.
Proceedings of the Washington Total Ab
stinence Society of Augusta.
Unitarian Church, Sept. 16, 1842.
The Society met this evening pursuant to ad
journment. The meeting being organized, the
President in the Chair, the minutes of the last
meeting were read and adopted. The meeting
was addressed in a very appropriate manner by
Messrs. W. H. Platt, J. L. Mims, and Dr. Hook.
An invitation being extended to those who de
sired to sign the Pledge, eight names were added
as members. L. D. LALLERSTEDT,
Sec. pro. tem.
*
Unitarian Church, Sept. 23,.1841.
The Society met this evening, according to
previous notice.
Dr. Hook opened the meeting with prayer;
when the minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved, the Society then proceeded to bu
siness.
It having been stated that a letter hail been re
ceived from the friends of Temperance in Barn
well District, S. C., stating that a Convention of
the advocates of Reform is to be held at the
Court-House, in said district, during the first
week in November next, and that this Society
be invited to send Delegates to the same.
It was, on motion,
Resolved, That the President appoint three
Delegates to attend said Convention, to represent
the Washington Total Abstinence Society of
Richmond County.
Accordingly the President appointed,
S. T. CHAPMAN, 1
JOHN MILLEDGE, £ Committee.
There being a very small attendance of mem
* Third Delegate not yet appointed.
here present, occasioned by a public meeting held
at the same time, and no other business before
the Society,
On motion, it adjourned to meet on the even
ing ofthis day two weeks, at 7 o'clock.
WM. HAINES, Jr. Sec ry.
For the Washingtonian.
The Supernumerary Article.
Conversing the other day with a friend, he ob
served--*: I have not signed the supernumerary I
article, since my Christian profession is a suffi
cient pledge of sobriety.” Indeed, sothoughtwe
it should be; but, lamentable to tell, it is not the
fact; for those who are most forward to make
the excuse, are like our friend, “fond of taking a
little.” Though the church pledge, in their
manner of keeping it, does not make men sober,
yet ours does. The church pledge satisfies the
member’s conscience, because his priest tells him
it is enough;—and further, he is instructed that
duty requires not only his refusal to join the so
ciety, but also his denunciation of the temperance
cause, as the work of the devil—verifying the
proverb, “like people, like priest.”
How much more thankful for the precious girt
of ardent spirits, than for any other bounty of
providence, as he falsely styled it. Though he
acknowledges, that, as a beverage he has never
received any benefit from intoxicating liquors,
yet he must “use the good things of this world
as not abusing them.” Witness his expressions
of gratitude, as he visits his jug of whiskey secre
ted in the field or thicket; and as he drinks from
that jug, notice his up-turned eye and devout ap
pearance, seeming to thank God that an Arabian
alchymist had by chance discovered, that he
could distil from wine a liquor stronger than it
self. Is this what is called spiritual aid 7
Hear the religious drunkard invoke the bless
| ingofGod on the contents of his secreted jug.—
“O! Lord, let this intoxicating draught stupify
my mind; render me an unpleasant companion
to my associates; cause me to bring a reproval
upon the religion I profess, and bring leanness
into my soul.” But the objection is raised a
gainst this pledge, in that other vices need to be
pledged against as much as intemperance. We
answer—other vices can be reached by legal
enactments, ecclesiastical or conventional rules;
and besides, if the community were in as much
danger from any other vice as from that of in
temperance, we submit, whether it might not be
the duty of even church members to sign the
pledge, and join a society for the suppression of
that vice—especially when the society was found
to have a beneficial effect, as in the case of in
temperance. Grant, then, that it might not be
the duty of Christians to sign a pledge against
lying—what would be thought of the morality of
a professor of religion, who should denounce all
attempts to improve the morals of society in that
particular?—Who should encourage prevarica
tion and deceit—just so near downright lying as
it is possible to approach, and escape direct false
hood!
We ask, is not this the course of many pro
f essors of religion with respect to intemperance 7
Do they not go just as far as they dure in their
own personal practice towards intemperance7
Do they not endeavor to thwart every attempt to
promote total abstinence 7 It is in vain, that they
make loud professions of being friends to temper
ance—which, rightly construed, means this:—
“ We mean to drink, ourselves, and induce others
to drink, though we know that moderate drink
ing is the only road to drunkenness—though we
know that many of our members, induced by our
example, and our discipline, will become drunk
ards; yet we will drink, and will denounce all
who attempt to stay the progress of the destroyer,”
If the Christian professor denies these positions,
it is for want of reflection. Those truths stare
others full in the face. He that does not see
them is wilfully blind.
But we are digressing from the primary object
of our article. Let who will, whether saint or
sinner, have his hidden jug, that is what may
well be called a supernumerary article —that is
the strongest mark of a ruined man. How cun
ning to conceal his love for the secreted jug—
warn him of his danger. He replies, it is false—
he drinks not. Whence that effluvia of vour
breath 7 He answers, it is a vile slander—l drink
none.
When the drunkard has fallen so low that he
cannot buy a drink without the money, and that
is all gone, he has been known to take another
supernumerary article —a proof phial, and bv
stealth, when no one sees him, sink it into the
barrel of poison, and drink till he is drunk, and '
still swear he has drank none, for he had no way
to get it from the barrel. k
But that which deserves most the appellation
of a supernumerary article, is a Christian’s secre
ted xchiskey jug. Not the Abstinence Pledge.
IS ALIN DA?
For the Washingtonian.
The Reformed’s Soliloquy.
How sweet the consciousness—how exquisite
The thrill that wakes within my bosom now,—
Tothink what 1 have been, and what I am.
I have been rescued from the very sinks
And sewers of debauchery, to stand,
A man again—a reasonable man—
Upon the platform of gentility ;
And, unabashed, to meet the wise and good,
And face to face, in converse rational,
To join again, and meet the friendly grasp
Ofthose who hail me as the dead alive.
I have been deemed the vilest of the vile, —
An abject, wretched—and a loathsome thing ;
And tho’ a bacchanal, I felt at times,
When reason would prevail, the scorn and jeers
With which 1 was regarded ; and at times
Have wept in secret at the misery
1 brought upon the good and innocent.
Oh, woman ! thine it was to suffer long,
In meekness, for thy husband’s love of rum ;
But wipe thine eyes, and cheer thy broken heart—
No longer now, in penury and want—
With (ailing constitution,to sit down
And earn a scanty pittance to keep up
Life’s dying embers, and to hush the cry
Os bread from starving children—half clothed on
With raiment patched and threadbare. Oh, look up !
Thy prayer is answered—tho’ thou sutfered’st long ;
The good Samaritan hath come along
With oil and wine to pour into thy wounds.
There is a magic in the very name
Os Washingtonian!—it associates
With it a Nation’s glorious Jubilee.
I feel new strength within me—high resolves
That will not bend to Alcohol again :
The spell is broken, and the tempter flies
At my resistance ; for 1 draw the sword
Os sterner stuff than e’en Damascus’ steel; —
It is the Fledge I am a Gentleman.
S.
What bats a Lady to do with Temperance.
Much. The gentle elements of her nature
have fitten her for command; and God has made
the empire of her heart boundless, Love is the
bond of sympathy with all intelligent creatures.
It is the master-principle of society; a spontane
ous emotion of the soul, obedient to no motives
save those which claim kindred with its own
character. Fear cannot inspire it; power cannot
suppress it; wealth cannot purchase it; authori
ty cannot command it. A slave in all its malig
nant passions, the soul is free in every exercise
of affection, in every act of benevolence. How
ever other objects may inspire the emotion, wo
man was made to be mistress of this passion in
the soul, if she does not rule in the heart of man
it is usually because goodness does not rule her
own. She may light the torch of benevolence,
and direct its fire wherever she will; her empire
is boundless and free. This influence was given
tonmkehor both the guardian and ministering
angel. Devoted to frivolity, her influence reach”
es only to the fancy, and neither makes or refains
ft permanent conquest; but consecrated to chari
ty, it will die only with the memory of her who
was “ last at the cross, and first at the sepulchre.”
Intemperance afflicts man; but it blasts wo
man. It lays the withering stroke on her heart,
and her beauty consumes like a moth, while her
joy goes down to the tomb. Man survives the
loss of happiness; woman—never. Man has a
thousand chances to secure it—woman has but
one. The evils which intemperance lays upon
man, come often one at a time; on women they
light altogether. We ask her to throw her be
nevolence into the scale, to secure protection for
her own fireside, and her own heart. For aught
you can tell, the fate of yonder widow, friendless
and forlorn, may soon be yours; for aught you
can tell, the destroyer who wrote the mother
childless, to-morrow may lay destruction at your
door and break your heart. Whatever may be
your power to attract, to persuade, to command ;
hesitate not to throw that power into this cause
and then, no matter what may be the result, you
shall know that you are guiltless.
In the domestic circle is cast the character of
man; it gives expression to nations. If purity
and peace are not found there, society will be
filled with discontent and contention. ‘ As sure
as intemperance crosses the threshold of domestic
life, every pure and high influence will depart
Low indulgence, crawling down through every
I degree of meanness—even though covered with
refinement drags the soul along, robbing it of
noble sensibilities, and introducing it to every
form of “ swilled insolence,” till she entirely ‘los
es the divine property of her first being ” Let
those who preside over the sanctities of domestic
life, and administer its sacred rights, guard the
entrance against the first approach of this mon
ster It the household gods are not kept in puri
ty, there is not a deity that is safe from pollution.
[Phil. Temp, Advocate.
Not so sure.
The old excuse of rum-sellers, that “if they
did not somebody else would,” is getting to be
something more than doubtful. His Satanic
Majesty is sadly put to for recruits. In some
parts he has scarce a “corporal's guard” left him.
In others, he cannot even raise a fugleman,
m