In my view of things, the basis on which the institution under consideration is founded, is a conviction of the unhappy consequences resulting to society from the prevalent, and in many instances the intemperate, use of spirituous liquors. To remedy this long-established and deeply-rooted evil; to eradicate it from society; to render it odious and detestable; and to substitute temperance, sobriety, and virtue in its room, are the professed objects of this institution. To what degree these objects will be attainable, or what will be their utility and effect upon the respective members of the society, or the community at large, time alone can determine.

He then proceeded to vindicate the object of the society:

First, from a consideration of the unhappy consequences resulting to individuals and to society at large, from the intemperate use of spirituous liquors; and, secondly, from the happy consequences resulting from a life of temperance and sobriety.

Such was the character of the first address delivered before the first temperance society in the world.

The first annual meeting of this society was held at the regu lar time, and was opened by prayer and the usual ceremonies. All the members present were required to state the results of their experience and observations during the year. In the course of the meeting Capt. Isaac B. Payne, an extensive farmer and lumber dealer, arose, and addressed the society as follows:

Mr. PRESIDENT: During a series of years past, before signing the temperance pledge, I have uniformly made it a rule, annually, to purchase a hogshead of rum for the year's consumption, among laborers on the farm and business of lumber. Sometimes, before the year came round, the hogshead would be emptied of its contents, and a few gallons more would be required for necessary use. At other times, the year would come round and find a few gallons in the hogshead; so that, on an average, a hogshead of rum each year has been consumed in my business concerns, to say nothing of wines, cordials, and other liquors consumed by the family, their parties and visiting friends.

After signing the temperance pledge a year ago, instead of a hogshead, I purchased a five-gallon keg of rum for my whole business concerns, both of farming and lumber. And my reason for doing this was, because my business required a few excellent laborers, not one of whose help I could obtain without some liquor. During the past year I have exerted the

best influence in my power to reduce the quantity of liquor required by them to the lowest mark possible. This morning I examined my keg of liquor, and, as nearly as I could judge without accurate measurement, the keg was half full. We have abandoned all kinds of liquor in the family, as a beverage, and the difference of the quantity used among the laborers the year past has been reduced from a hogshead to the half of a five-gallon keg of rum, and my business was never better performed, nor to greater satisfaction.

It is worthy of notice, that very early in the history of this society, John Murray, Esq., of New York city, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, were elected honorary members. To Mr. Murray they had been brought under great obligations, by many encouraging words and valuable donations; and to the writings of Dr. Rush, they owed their first awakening to this great work.

Esek Cowan, Esq., is another name which deserves honorable mention in connection with this infant organization. He was one of its first and most active members. Mr. Cowan was then a young lawyer in the village of Moreau, but has since been more extensively known as Judge Cowan, and as the author of an able treatise on law, which was for a long time in common use among lawyers and magistrates of all classes in that State. Judge Cowan was long and prominently known as an active temperance man, being in 1829 president of the Saratoga County Temperance Society.

With this honorable triad, Clark, Cowan and Armstronga physician, an attorney, and a clergyman-commenced this great reform, which was about to open a new department of philanthropy, and inaugurate a more brilliant era in the history of the race. In the organization of this society we see the Temperance Reform originating from convictions formed in the mind of a physician, from the effects of ardent spirits on man's physical constitution; in the mind of a lawyer, from their effects on human society; and in the mind of a clergyman, from their effects on man's moral and religious interests.

Under the leadership of such minds this society gradually extended its influence, gathering and compiling facts and

statistics; and after two years they sent out over one thousand circulars, not only in this country, but also in Europe, giving an account of its origin and progress, and exhorting others to engage in similar labors. As the result of these exertions, another society with similar designs was organized in 1809, in the towns of Greenfield and Milton, in the same county.

We regret that we are unable to trace the subsequent history of these societies. It is impossible, at this date, to obtain further information concerning them. Rev. Mr. Armstrong, in his sketch of the Temperance Reformation, gives only one other brief item of the society at Moreau. He says: "That little feeble band of temperance brethren, holding their quarterly and annual meetings in a country district school-house, from April, 1808, onward for several years, without the presence of a single female, were made the song of the drunkard, and ridiculed by the scoffs of the intemperate world." But this is the last item of historical data now extant of this society. How long they continued to exist cannot, therefore, now be told. Rev. Mr. Armstrong died in 1860. In the first "Annual Report of the New York State Temperance Society," in 1830, we find a report from the Saratoga County Society, which was organized in 1829, with Esek Cowan, Esq., president. A society of sixty members was reported from Greenfield and Milton, which, it is said, "was formed in April last," from which we infer that the original society, organized in 1809, had ceased to exist. No society was reported that year from Moreau and Northumberland; but the next year (1831) a "Young Men's Temperance Society," of one hundred and two members, was reported from these towns. It must be, then, that both of those early societies had become defunct. But their influence and example still lived; and the good seed, cast upon the waters, was destined, under the watchful eye and fostering care of Providence, to spring up and produce an abundant harvest.

CHAPTER V.

EARLY ECCLESIASTICAL ACTION.

Na previous chapter it was shown that, at the commence

the utmost limits of dissipation. Demoralization, physical, economical, moral, and religious, was every-where to be seen. But those who had not been drawn into the whirlpool of dissipation were beginning to inquire, What can be done to arrest and turn back this tide of evil? The religious teachers and pastors of the land began to perceive that such a state of things was a powerful obstacle in the way of the progress of their work. Hence we find many of them filled with deep concern for the welfare of their flocks, pondering seriously and anxiously upon this momentous subject.

At the session of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, May 16, 1811, the report on the state of religion deplored the alarming prevalence of intemperance in the following words:

We are ashamed but constrained to say that we have heard of the sin of drunkenness prevailing-prevailing to a great degree-prevailing even among some of the visible members of the household of faith. What a reflection on the Christian character is this, that they who profess to be bought with a price, and thus redeemed from iniquity, should debase themselves, by the gratification of appetite, to a level with the beasts that perish!

At the same session, two years before his death, Dr. Rush presented to the General Assembly one thousand copies of his essay on the "Effects of Ardent Spirits" for general distribution, accompanying the donation with a letter, urging them, as he had repeatedly done before, to take some decisive action on

this question. A committee was appointed, who favorably considered the subject, and reported the following resolu tion:

Resolved, That Rev. Drs. Miller, Milledoller, Romeyn, and Rev. Messrs. James Richards, M'Neice, E. S. Ely, Gardner Spring, Dr. John, R. B. Rogers, Col. Henry Rutgers, and Mr. Davie Bethune, be a committee to endeavor to devise measures, which, when sanctioned by the General Assembly, may have an influence in preventing some of the numerous and threatening mischiefs which are experienced throughout our country by the excessive and intemperate use of spirituous liquors; and that this committee be authorized to correspond and act in concert with any persons who may be appointed or associated for a similar purpose. and report to the next Assembly.

This action of so influential a body of ministers awakened considerable attention. But there were other causes in the circumstances of those times which conspired to deepen the impression. The year 1811 was one of deep and painful anxiety to the American people. Difficulties had long existed between our government and Great Britain, which, it was evident, must result in war; and the people were preparing for such an event. The public mind was sad and gloomy; and it seemed as though strange phenomena of nature conspired with the circumstances of the nation to deepen the gathering shadows of despondency, and to prompt serious reflection and inquiry. An earthquake extending across the land, a portent ous comet of unusual size hanging athwart the heavens, a long drought, an unnatural summer extending far into autumn, with national complications and embarrassments, all contributed to make this period exceedingly dark. Any serious subject presented at such a time would engage the public attention, and especially a subject which opened all eyes to the consideration of so great and manifest a departure from virtue and religion.

It was at such a time that the General Assembly set in motion a ball, whose onward progress was destined never to cease. The nail was at last "driven in a sure place." The result of