>^r First Series. No. 6. ;• —-—- ■ ■ *■ — TWENT*Y-FIR$T ANNUAL KEPORT OP THE X" '-^J . *S MASSACHUSETTS '* > TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, PRESENTED BY THE COUNCIL, ^\ • ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON, MAY 29, 1834. PUBLISHED BY THE COUNCIL OP THE MASSACHUSETTS " TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. _/ BOSTON: ~tfORD AND DAMRELL, AGENTS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETV, Temperance Press....Wilson's Lane. June, 1834. I REPORT. Since the last annual meeting of the Massachusetts Temperance Society, and especially since the State Tem- perance Convention, held at Worcester in September last, the efforts of the Council have been more various and con- siderable than in any previous year. The first object of the Council, after the Convention, was to provide the means of sustaining an Agent who should be exclusively devoted to the service of the Society ; and, through the prompt and zealous exertions of the committee of finance, these means were in good part secured, in the course of. the next following month. For six months past, the Agent has been constantly employed in promoting the organiza- tion of the State, as proposed by the Convention ; in de- livering lectures, and in efforts to secure a full Report of the temperance reform in the Commonwealth at the pres- ent time. In the month of January last, a circular, addressed to the officers of county and district temperance societies, was sent, by order of the Council, into all the counties, requesting that said societies would become auxiliary to the Massachusetts Temperance Society, and that all suita- ble measures might be taken to procure returns from the town societies ; so that the state of the reform in each of the counties and districts might be accurately known. At or near the same time, a circular was prepared for each 4 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OP THE 104 of the towns of the Commonwealth, requesting that season- able and accurate returns from the town societies might be made to the secretaries of the county and district so- cieties. Beside carefully distributing the above circulars, notices have been repeatedly published in the temperance and religious papers of the State, calling the attention of officers of county, district, and town societies, to the duty of making said returns in season for the report to be laid before this Society at the present meeting. It is be- lieved that the Council, through the Agent, have made all reasonable efforts to ascertain the present state of the tem- perance reform in all the towns of the Commonwealth, and that their inability to make a full report of it at this time, is not chargeable upon them, nor upon him. LECTURES AND OTHER DOINGS OF THE AGENT. Since the Convention at Worcester, the Agent has lec- tured in the counties of Worcester, Norfolk, Bristol, Plym- outh, Middlesex, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire. He has attended five public meetings of county and district societies, at three of which the socie- ties were made auxiliary to the Massachusetts Society ; and he has visited the officers of five or six other county and district societies, for the purpose of preparing the way for said societies to become auxiliary, and of securing the requisite returns for this Report. In the county of Worcester, the Agent has lectured in the towns of Boylston, West Boylston, Holden, Princeton, Barre, Sterling, Leominster, Fitchburg, Harvard, Bolton, Lancaster, Berlin and Westborough. These towns, ex- cept Boylston, Barre and Westborough, are within the limits of the " Worcester North-east Temperance Society." The executive committee of this District Society, had previously requested the Agent to visit all the towns within its limits. In each of the towns visited, except Bolton, there was at least one temperance society, and efforts, more or less successful, had been made for the promotion of temperance. In several of the towns, considerable additions were made to the societies by the visits of the Agent; and in Bolton, a society was gathered, comprising citizens of the several religious denominations. This so 105 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 5 ciety has since been organized with good prospects, and greatly enlarged. In the month of October, the Agent, by particular re- quest, visited the town of Cohasset, in the county of Nor- folk. No temperance society had then been organized in that town, although about thirty of the citizens had sub- scribed a constitution. The Agent delivered two lectures to numerous and attentive assemblies. At the close of the second lecture, a meeting was appointed for organizing a society. This meeting was accordingly held, and, as one of the clergymen of the place afterwards informed the Agent, a society was organized, containing at the time, 190 mem- bers. This society has since been enlarged, and no per- son in the town is now licensed to sell ardent spirit. In the county of Bristol, the Agent has lectured in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Westport, Fall Riv- er and Taunton. In each of these towns, there was found a temperance society, and commendable efforts and good progress had been, made in the temperance reform. To some of the societies, considerable additions were made at the close of the lectures. No licenses are given the present year for retailing ardent spirit in the county of Bristol. Large quantities of it, however, are still bought and drank at taverns and dram-shops, and much of it sold, it is said, especially in the large towns, under disguised names. In the county of Plymouth, the Agent has lectured in Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, North Bridgewater, Abington, Kingston, Duxbury and Plymouth. In these towns, there are large and flourishing temperance societies. No licenses for the sale of ardent spirit were granted last year in the county of Plymouth, and none are granted the present year. Some persons, however, it is said, still keep it to sell under the name of " white vinegar," or other counterfeit names. In this county, as well as in the county of Bristol, many prosecutions have taken place for selling ardent spirit contrary to law. These, we are in- formed, have had the effect of greatly diminishing both the sale and consumption. In the county at large, the prog- ress of the temperance reform is great. In the towns of Bridgewater, North Bridgewater, and Abington, all large and important towns, no person was known, as the Agent 6 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 106 was credibly informed, to sell ardent spirit; and hardly a respectable individual was known to drink it. Great ad- vances in temperance were made the last year in the county, through the labors of Daniel Frost, Esq., who has been employed by the county societies to lecture in Bristol, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk; and is now engaged in the county of Franklin. In the county of Middlesex, the Agent has lectured in Brighton, Cambridge, Waltham, Concord, Framingham, Stow, Littleton, Shirley, Groton, Ashby, Westford and Chelmsford. In each of these towns, except Stow, was found a temperance society. To several of the societies considerable additions were made at the time of the Agent's visits ; but at Stow no opportunity for forming a society was afforded ; as not exceeding twenty persons in all, and these mostly women and children, were present at the lec- ture. At Shirley, the Agent found a temperance society, connected more especially with one of the religious socie- ties. He proposed a constitution, with the view of uniting the friends of temperance throughout the town. A good number from each of the congregations came forward ; and the society is now large and respectable, containing upwards of 200 members. Shirley is included in the Wor- cester North-east Temperance Society. The Agent has spent the greater part of two months in the county of Hampden, and lectured in all the towns of the county except three. Considerable additions were made to the temperance societies. In Springfield, where the society already contained about 1^)0, between two and three hundred were added. Though the temperance reform has made good progress in the county of Hampden, it is yet very far from being completed. Many and powerful ob- stacles are still standing in its way ; among which are more than forty cider brandy distilleries, at which farmers can get their cider turned into brandy, almost as easily as they can get their grain turned into meal at the mill. A new interest in the temperance cause, however, has recently been awakened. The county society has adopted a new organization, by which it is not only auxiliary to the State Society, but brought into more intimate and efficient con- nexion with the town, and other local societies. 107 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, 7 In the county of Hampshire, the Agent has lectured at South Hadley Canal, and Northampton. At the latter place he attended the annual meeting of the county soci- ety. At this meeting, the society was made auxiliary to the Massachusetts Temperance Society, and a vote passed, requesting the Council to send the Agent to lecture in all the towns in the county. Great and successful efforts have been made for the promotion of temperance in the county of Hampshire ; and, all things considered, perhaps the temperance reform stands as well in this county as in any county of the State. Still there is much remaining to be done even here. Between twenty and thirty cider brandy distilleries, and fifty licensed places for selling ardent spirit, are formidable barriers in the way of further reform. From Northampton the Agent went to Greenfield, in the county of Franklin, for the purpose of calling on the pres- ident and other officers of the county society ; securing their cooperation in making it auxiliary to the State Socie- ty, and a report of the reform in that county. He ascer- tained that, in 18 U, a society was organized in the coun- ty, auxiliary to the. Massachusetts Society for the Suppres- sion of Intemperance ; that for a time it acted with consid- erable efficiency and good influence ; but that, in 1829, the present county society was organized, with a view to the improved method of prosecuting the temperance reform. This society, originally, was auxiliary to the American Temperance Society. At a recent meeting, its constitu- tion was amended so as to make it auxiliary to the Massa- chusetts Temperance Society, and to bring it into more effectual connexion with the town societies. Although the present county society has not, hitherto, been particularly efficient, yet the temperance reform has made considerable progress'in the county within three or four years. The number of cider brandy distilleries, though still much great- er than the " public good requires," and the number of licenses of all sorts for selling ardent spirit have greatly diminished, as well as the number of persons who drink it. In the county of Franklin, the Agent delivered only two lectures. These were given in the First Parish of the an- cient town of Deerfield, where he gathered and organized a temperance society of about 90 members. The number has since been raised to 250. The present labors of Mr. 8 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 108 Frost, in that county, are said to be followed with very cheering results. In the county of Berkshire, the Agent has spent two weeks, and lectured in Pittsfield, Dalton, Adams, Cheshire and Lenox. The results of his labors in Pittsfield, were the formation of one temperance society, and the addition of upwards of a hundred names to the pledge of abstinence. In the two villages of Adams, the temperance societies con- taining in all about 200 members, have been nearly or quite doubled, and the friends of temperance greatly en- couraged by the Agent's visits. The temperance cause, however, in that town, especially in the north village, is still in a backward state. Much ardent spirit is still sold and consumed in the town. In Cheshire, no temperance society has been formed,' except a small one in a part of the town which the Agent did not visit, consisting of about twenty females, and perhaps three or four males. At the close of the lecture given at Cheshire, an attempt was made to gather a society, but without success. It ought to be stated, however, that the meeting was very imperfectly no- tified, and was of course very small ; and it is hardly to be doubted, that a trial under more favorable circumstances would have been followed by a different result In Lenox, the shire town of the county, great progress has been made in the temperance reform. No person in the town is licensed to sell ardent spirit, and it is sold at only one of the two public houses in the place. At the time of the Agent's visit, the Supreme Court was in session. He gave two lectures in the court room, to good assemblies, com- posed mostly of members of the bar and persons attending court. At the close of the second lecture, it was unani- mously voted to call a County Temperance Convention, for the purpose of effecting a new organization of the county society, making it auxiliary to the State Society, and bring- ing it more directly in contact with the town societies. A vote was also past, requesting the Agent to attend said Convention, and to visit, as soon as opportunity might per- mit, the remaining towns of the county. Such is a brief account of the lectures and other doings of the Agent, since the Convention in Worcester, in Sep- tember last. Wherever he has been, he has met with a 109 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 9 cordial reception. His lectures have, in general, been well attended ; and though, with some exceptions, great additions to the temperance societies have not been made at the meetings he has held, he has yet received the voluntary testimony of many earnest and judicious friends of reform, that their hands have been strengthened, and the reform itself essentially promoted by his labors. Applications for his services have been frequent and urgent, and much more numerous than he has found it possible to comply with. PUBLICATIONS BY THE COUNCIL. The following is a list of the temperance publications printed by vote of the Council, under the superintendence of the Publishing Committee, during the past year, viz. : Five editions of L. M. Sargent's address before the So- ciety in May last, 1000 copies each,..........5,000 Of Temperance Journal,..................12,900 Of the Worcester Proceedings,...............1,000 Of the License Law,......................500 Of Handbill, entitled, " Hot Fire," &c,..........2,400 Of Tract No. 1, entitled, " Comparative Profits," &c, . . 5,400 Of Tract No, 2, entitled, " Making Money," &c,.....5,000 Of Tract No. 3, entitled, " Doings of Council," &c, . . . 5,000 Of Tract No. 4, entitled, " Proceedings of Suffolk Tem- perance Society," &c, .................5,000 Of Tract No. 5, entitled, " Plain Facts," &c,......12,000 By estimation, amounting in all to at least 1,748,000 duodecimo pages. The Publishing Committee, in their report to the Coun- cil, remark, " that, in their opinion, the expenditure of the Council lor publications has been productive of much good to the cause of temperance, and, if judiciously persevered in and extended, as the Society's funds may justify, can- not fail to produce an abundant harvest of good fruit, and greatly advance the temperance reformation."* * The publications of the Massachusetts Temperance Society may be had of Ford and Damrell, publishers and agents, at the lowest prices at which they can be afforded. Ford and Damrell also publish the Temper- ance Journal, a valuable monthly paper which is offered, it is believed, at as low rates as any other temperance paper in the country. The Council hope that this paper, already extensively patronized, will be circulated through the Commonwealth, especially as it is likely to be the principal medium of communication to the public, on subjects relating to the objects of the society. 10 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 110 Beside the publications already printed by vote of the Council, a tract, written by Dr. Walter Channing, for the American Quarterly Observer, published in this city, will soon appear as one of the tracts of this society. An edi- tion of 1000 copies has been voted by the Council. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH. All the county and district temperance societies in the State, may now be considered as auxiliary to the Massa- chusetts Temperance Society. Most of them have be- come so in form, and the rest are prepared to be so, as soon as opportunity shall offer. Since the Convention at Wor- cester, meetings or conventions have been held in ten or eleven of the counties, for the purpose either of forming new societies, or adapting those already existing, to the plan of organization recommended by the State Convention. RETURNS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT SOCIETIES. The returns or reports which have been made to this society, in answer to questions proposed and recommended at the Worcester Convention, and afterwards communicated in circulars to all the counties and towns, have enabled the Council to make the following statements relative to the temperance reform in the different parts of the Common- wealth. It is proper to observe, however, that definite an- swers to all the questions proposed, have not been received from any one of the counties or towns: and the Council are aware, that some of the questions were, in many in- stances, incapable of being definitely answered. County of Essex. The return made by the secretary of the Essex County Temperance Society, comprises only seventeen towns, about 55,000 inhabitants, 48 temperance societies, and about 12,500 members. In these towns of the county, there were 185 retailers of ardent spirit in 1833. In six towns, there are 60 retailers the present year. These are, in Salem, Gloucester, Methuen, Rowley, Marblehead, and Manchester. In twenty towns, no licenses for retailing ar- dent spirit have been given this year. The number of Ill MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 11 inn-holders licensed in 1833 to sell ardent spirit, was sev- enty. The number licensed the present year is fifty-three. The number of temperance taverns in the county is about twenty. The number of distilleries of N. E. rum in the county, now in operation, is supposed to be eight. No return is made of the amount of tonnage in the county which is navigated without ardent spirit. This, however, it is understood, has considerably increased within a year. Although the return from Essex county is very defective in relation to the number of items reported, as well as to the number of towns, yet there is encouraging evidence that the cause of temperance in the county is advancing. County of Middlesex. In this county, considerable exertion as well as progress has been made in the temperance reform within a year. The county society was last winter made auxiliary to the State Society, and otherwise arranged for purposes of great- er efficiency. In the course of the past year, the execu- tive committee employed Mr. Albert L. Payson, to visit all the towns in the county, and to form societies where they were needed, as well as to lecture on the subject of tem- perance. Francis Hilliard, Esq., secretary of the county society, in a letter to the Agent of the Massachusetts Temperance Society, states that Mr. Payson is understood to have performed the duties of his agency with fidelity and success. He complains of the negligence of the town so- cieties in making returns, as little more than half of the towns in the county have made any attempt to answer the questions proposed to them; and he expresses the opinion, with good reason, we think, that the temperance reform has not made as great progress in the county of Middle- sex as in some other counties. The number of towns in the county is forty-six ; the number of towns returned is twenty-seven. These contain a population of 50,000; forty- one temperance societies, and upwards of 11,000 members. With respect to licenses, the secretary of the county soci- ety mentions one fact, which he thinks, " will have a highly favorable influence upon the temperance cause." " The County Commissioners," he remarks, " have sent a circu- lar letter to the Selectmen of each town, relating to the 12 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 112 subject of licenses, setting forth, as they understood them, the duties of themselves and the Selectmen, recommending to the latter a serious and conscientious exercise of their authority ; and, on the whole, expressing that interest and respect for the temperance cause, and that sense of respon- sibility for the bearing which their own measures may have upon it, which become those to whom the most valuable interests of the community are committed." No return of distilleries in the county has been made, though several are understood to be in operation. We fully concur in the opinion expressed by the secretary, that in the county of Middlesex there is an " imperious call" for the further dif- fusion of light and knowledge, on subjects connected with the temperance reform. Suffolk County. In the county of Suffolk, the temperance measures have been prosecuted with great vigor and success, during the last year. The agency of Mr. Frost, who operated here under the direction of the county society, is referred to in their report, as having been eminently serviceable to the cause. They further remark that the cause of temperance never stood so well in this county as at the present time, and that it may reasonably be hoped, that the capital will soon come up to that point in the progress of temperance, which has been reached before her by many places in the country. So far as can be learned, the measures pursued here, have been judicious and conciliatory, as well as ear- nest and thorough, and are generally regarded without hos- tility or disgust, by those who have not yet seen fit to participate in them. The report of the county society also refers to the action of the present city government on the subject of licenses, as highly auspicious to the cause of temperance, and to the general welfare of the city. It appears that at the date of the report, the number of licenses granted for 1834, was 314, in place of the 613 of the last year; and it is believed that a reduction of more than 200 will continue through the year. The authorities have also refused to renew the licenses for selling spirit in the theatres,—a prohibition which is not only highly gratifying to the active friends of temperance, 113 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 13 but which, we confidently believe, will receive the approba- tion of all respectable persons who visit those places for the sake of dramatic entertainment. Several dealers in ardent spirit, and some of them in extensive business, have quitted the traffic during the past year, believing it to be morally wrong; and it is estimated that there are in the city more than twenty groceries, and four large hotels, conducted on temperance principles. The distilleries now i» operation in this county are thir- teen ; but the enormous amount of their ruinous product has not been ascertained. The amount, however, would be very different from our wishes, and, as we confidently trust, very different from what it will be in a year or two hence, reckoning, as we may, upon the known discern- ment and general public spirit of many of the distillers. These gentlemen, if properly approached, and conferred with on the subject in suitable ways and terms, will, by and by, see the mischievous effects of their business, in such points of view, as will constrain them to exchange it for some less objectionable occupation. In Boston and vicin- ity are fourteen distilleries not in operation. A letter to the president of the Suffolk Temperance Society, written by a gentleman who has himself been a distiller, remarks, "it will no doubt be gratifying to learn, that the manufacture of N. E. rum has fallen off one half this sea- son ; and I have no doubt you will join me in wishing most earnestly, that the remaining half may be for ever buried by another season, and thus our community be delivered from this fell destroyer." County of Barnstable. Mr. Daniel Newman, corresponding secretary of the Barnstable County Temperance Society, has reported ten towns in that county, which contain a population of 27,014, with twenty temperance societies, and 3724 members. It appears also, from the same report, that in the above towns, one hundred and five have renounced the traffic, while sev- enteen retain it, beside a few who sell secretly without license. Five hundred and ten members were added to the temperance society in Falmouth the past year, and many have been reclaimed. Seven years since, a temper- ance society was formed in Harwich, of twenty-five 2 14 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 114 members. At that time there were twenty-five retailers in the town. Now the temperance society contains four hun- dred members; no person in the town is licensed to sell ar- dent spirit, and " few are supposed to sell it clandestinely." Dukes County. The secretary of the Dukes County Temperance Soci- ety, Mr. Charles G. Athearn, reports the three towns of that county, as containing a population of 3600, with three temperance societies, and 491 members. Thirteen have renounced the traffic in ardent spirit, and five con- tinue it without license. Of twenty vessels belonging to Edgartown, twelve sail without ardent spirit. The tem- perance reform has made good progress in Dukes county. County of Nantucket. The return from Nantucket states the population of the island to be 8000, with one temperance society of 633 members. Sixteen have renounced the traffic, and forty continue it. Of seventy-eight ships and barques belonging to the port, twenty-seven are temperance vessels. Mr. Nathaniel Barney, secretary of the Nantucket Temperance Society, in an interesting letter accompanying his return, says, " although considerable has been done, there yet re- mains much to do. It is true, many have relinquished the traffic, yet others have engaged in it; so that we have less cause for gratulation than I had fondly hoped for when the reform commenced. " Our ships increase on the temperance principle of out- fit, and I believe many, who rather ridiculed the idea of sending ships without liquors, are somewhat in the condi- tion of one formerly, who declared he was almost persua- ded to join in a good cause. This is a matter of much in- terest to me, and I rejoice that the prospect rather brightens. " There are many selling without license; but as yet, no coercive measure has been resorted to, and I am still in hopes that our retailers will see the iniquity of the traffic, and voluntarily renounce it. It is matter of astonishment, that men, frequently unexceptionable in other matters, are willing to pursue a business productive of such an aggre- gate of human wo. Let us hope that the time will come, when individual responsibility will be more justly appre- ciated. We may then hope for a better state of things." 115 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 15 The same letter further states, that a number who have been drunkards, have renounced all use of intoxicating drinks, and " promise to hold on their way rejoicing." " Others have retrograded, after promising to hold fast their integrity." " On the whole, however," the writer adds, " we have much to repay us for the exertions we have made. Public opinion is changing, and there needs but one steady, onward course, ultimately to secure the tri- umph of principle." County of Plymouth. The return from this county consists of the Fourth An- nual Report of the Plymouth County Temperance Society, presented on the 15th of April, 1834. This report states, that the circular prepared for the town societies was sent to all the towns of the county early in last winter ; but that returns were received from about half the towns and ten temperance societies. " From these," continues the report, " it appears that the temperance cause, in the towns heard from, has maintained its ground, with some additions in numbers and strength, since Mr. Frost completed his agency in the county. From his report, made in the month of August last, it appeared that, at that time, there were about forty temperance societies in the county, and more than 10,000 members, who had signed the ' pledge of entire abstinence.' The number at this time is estimated at 11,000 members : and it is justly regarded as a subject of congratulation to the friends of temperance, that nearly a quarter of the whole population of the county is pledged to the support and encouragement of this glorious cause." No licenses for the sale of ardent spirit in the county have been given the present year ; and in some of the towns the traffic in it has entirely ceased. Since the temperance re- formation began, there has been a great diminution in the number of inmates of alms-houses throughout the county. In some towns, the number has diminished one half. " In six returns," says the report, " which notice the number reclaimed, seventy-three are mentioned with confidence as having been redeemed from habitual drunkenness ; and if the intemperate have been reclaimed in the same propor- tion in the other towns, the whole number cannot be less than three hundred, who have become temperate since the 16 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 116 reform began. The diminution of criminal prosecutions in the courts of justice, and the greatly diminished number of inmates in the county jail, give testimony also to the bene- ficial results of the temperance reform. It is understood that only one person is now in jail for crime, and this crime was committed in a fit of intoxication." From the county of Bristol there is no return. County of Norfolk. The Rev. U. Burgess, of Dedham, secretary of the Nor- folk County Temperance Society, has transmitted a tabu- lar statement, containing returns from all the towns of the county. This statement shows that, in a population of 43,000, there are forty-four temperance societies, contain- ing 11,311 members ; that one hundred and seventy-five had ceased to traffic in ardent spirit, and sixty-five continue it; that the estimated quantity of ardent spirit still con- sumed in the county annually, is upwards of 50,000 gallons, and the estimated expense of it to the consumers, over 40,000 dollars. The statement further shows, that sixty- five persons in the county have been reclaimed from habits of intemperance and drunkenness. From a very interest- ing report of the secretary, presented at the recent annual meeting of the county society, it appears that this society, instituted in November, 1831, was made auxiliary to the Massachusetts Temperance Society in December last. At the late meeting, a full delegation to the annual meeting of the State Society was chosen, and a cordial invitation voted to the Agent to deliver a course of lectures in the county, whenever it might suit his convenience. After mentioning the number of auxiliaries to the county society, and the number of members they contain, the above report remarks: " Here are found the names of a large body of the sober, substantial, and enterprising citizens of the county ; the physicians, who consult our health; the civilians, who attend to the safety of our persons and prop- erty ; the clergy, who seek the moral improvement of the people ; the independent farmers, who possess and cultivate the soil ; the mechanics, who build our houses, and move our machinery. Here, too, are the names of many virtu- ous matrons, and many of our youthful fair ones, who wish to escape the calamity of a union in their interests and hopes, to the bloated and morose lovers of rum." 117 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 17 " A great work has been done in this county, since the institution of this society. The praise is not to be appro- priated to this society, or to its agents. Many causes have combined their influence to produce a gradual change in public sentiment. Two thirds of our taverns and grocery- stores have suspended any further traffic in ardent spirits. Some towns are exorcised; the malignant demons are cast out. Many worthy citizens, who were not out of dan- ger of descending to a drunkard's grave, are effectually restored ; many of our young people are shielded against temptation, and have a brighter prospect of a virtuous and happy life." The report admits, however, that a great work is yet to be done in the county. Many evils of intemper- ance still remain to be alleviated. Many persons still use and love ardent spirit as drink, many families are tending to poverty, and many young men are exposed to tempta- tion and peril, through the use of the insidious poison. The report contains some very appropriate remarks on the means of advancing the reform ; on the importance of circulating information ; on the duties of parents, teachers, citizens, and legislators; and it concludes with expressing the hope, " that a few anniversaries only will return, before it may be recorded, as with an angel's pen, ' one wo is past.' " County of Worcester. This county comprises four district temperance socie- ties, viz.: Worcester South, containing twenty-one towns; Worcester West, containing ten towns; Worcester North- west, containing ten towns, and Worcester North-east, containing fourteen towns, including Ashby and Shirley in the county of Middlesex. Worcester South District. ■ Dr. Butler, of Worcester, and secretary of the Worces- ter South District Temperance Society, has communicated the report presented by him at the recent annual meeting of the society, and also a tabular statement, containing re- turns from all the towns of the district. In the report he says, " the progress of the temperance reformation within the limits of this district during the past year, must be as grat- ifying to all, as it is surprising to the most sanguine of its friends. The Worcester South District Temperance Society 2* 18 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 118 was organized, and the first regular meeting held, three years ago. At that period, there were in the district but eleven temperance societies, containing less than 1600 members, 102 stores, and55 taverns, at which ardent spirit was sold; and the use of it was not only almost universal among all classes in the community, but what was worse, few, very few, considered it pernicious. " The returns made according to the circular from the State Society, show that, in twenty-one towns, composing the district, with a population of 36,060, there are now thirty temperance societies, containing 9594 members, and giving an increase of 2002 members within a year. The number of retailers who have renounced the traffic in ardent spirits during the year, is sixty-eight. The number continuing it is sixteen. The number who have renounced since 1831, is eighty-six. The number of taverns at which ardent spirit was sold a year ago, was sixty-four. The number at which it is now sold is forty-one. Fifty-one drunkards have been reclaimed. " Through the enlightened decision of the county com- missioners, who have refused to license any persons but those who are approbated by the selectmen of their respec- tive towns, there has not been a single retailer of ardent spirit licensed for the ensuing year in thirteen towns, con- taining a population of 23,300, with twenty temperance societies, and 7169 members. In these thirteen towns, in 16^9, there were only four temperance societies, with less than six hundred members, and between sixty and seventy retailers. There is not a distillery in the district." From the same interesting report, it appears, that of 7700 copies of the Temperance Recorder taken in the county of Worcester, 3800 are taken within the limits of "the Wor- cester South District Temperance Society ;'*' and in addi- tion to these, about 800 copies of the Temperance Journal, and other similar publications. Appended to the above report is a declaration, subscribed by sixty-five physicians in the county of Worcester, similar to the one subscribed last year by seventy-five physicians of Boston. Worcester West District. George Davis, Esq., of Sturbridge, secretary of the Worcester West Temperance Society, has transmitted a 119 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 19 tabular statement of partial returns from the ten towns comprised in that district. From this statement, it appears that, in a population of 14,709, there are thirteen temper- ance societies, and 3187 members. In four of the towns, viz., Brookfield, North Brookfield, Sturbridge and New Braintree, no person is licensed to retail ardent spirit the present year. Mr. Davis, in a letter, observes that, " as nearly as he can calculate, not more than one third of the inhabitants of Sturbridge use ardent spirit, and that this may not vary essentially from an average in that region." Worcester North-west Distinct. From a letter of Dea. Justus Ellinwood, of Hubbards- ton, secretary of the Worcester North-west Temperance Society, it appears that he has taken great pains to pro- cure returns from all the towns in his district; and the tab- ular statement he has transmitted, exhibits returns from all the towns except Petersham. In the nine towns reported, containing a population of 13,241, there are eleven temperance societies, with 1907 members. Twenty have renounced the traffic, and forty-one retain it. Fifty-four who were formerly intemperate, are now sober and indus- trious persons. Much remains to be done in the way of promoting the reform in the district; and the secretary expresses an earnest desire that the Agent of the State So- ciety would visit that region. From the secretary of the Worcester North-east Tem- perance Society no return has been received. Hampden County. Some account of the temperance reform in this county has already been given in the former part of this Report. The Agent of the State Society was present at the annual meeting of the Hampden County Temperance Society, at the close of the last month. At that meeting, an able re- port was made by the secretary, the Rev. Emerson Davis, of Westfield. He had taken great pains to procure returns from all the towns in the county, and to acquaint himself thoroughly with the state of the reform. In the county of Hampden, containing eighteen towns, and a popula- tion of 32,921, there are thirty-four temperance societies, with 8961 members. Forty or more retailers have re- 20 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 120 nounced the traffic in ardent spirit, and twenty-six retain it with license. There are also forty-five innholders in the county, that sell ardent spirit. But perhaps the most for- midable obstacle to the progress of the temperance reform, is the number of cider brandy distilleries. Of these there are forty-eight in the county, with one of whiskey or gin. The history of these pestiferous establishments, of their influence upon the neighborhoods where they are situated, and, in many instances, upon the owners themselves and their families, if truly written, would furnish a tale of wo almost too sad to be believed. And yet all the cider bran- dy made in the county of Hampden, probably does not amount to a fifth part of the number of gallons that are manufactured of New England rum at a single distillery in Boston. Mr. Davis's report stated, that cider brandy is sold at the distilleries, contrary to law, and that some farm- ers, who furnish themselves with large supplies of the arti- cle, pay poor laborers with it for their work. Cider brandy, however, and cider brandy distilleries, are not rising in reputation in the county of Hampden. They have too long been associated with the decay of estates, with cruel- ty in husbands, and wretchedness in families, to be much longer retained by any respectable farmers. Many farm- ers, the last year, rather than have their apples turned into poison, chose to let them rot on the ground, or else gather- ed them as food for cattle and ho.rrs. For this latter pur- pose, apples are considered by many intelligent persons in that county, as quite valuable. The Temperance Recorder, the Temperance Journal, and other temperance publications, are pretty extensively patronized in the county of Hampden. Thirty-three per- sons are reported as reclaimed from habits of intemper- ance. In the town of Chester, is a man one hundred years of age, who is remarkably strong and active, and who does not know the taste of ardent spirit, having never tast- ed it since his infancy. County of Hampshire. The Hampshire County Temperance Society was insti- tuted several years ago, and hitherto has been one of the most active and efficient county societies in the State. The secretary, Samuel Wells, Esq., of Northampton, has 121 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 21 devoted much time and great diligence to the duties of his office. He has made out, with great care and accuracy, a tabular statement from year to year, showing the progress of the reform. From the statement furnished this year to the corresponding secretary and Agent of the State Socie- ty, it is shown, that, in twenty-five towns, including Whate- ly and a parish of New Salem in the county of Franklin, and containing a population of 31,829, there are thirty-sev- en temperance societies, having 11,778 members. The number of Innholders licensed in 1827 to sell ar- dent spirit, was sixty-three. The number licensed the present year, is forty-three. The number of retailers li- censed to sell ardent spirit in 18:27, was eighty-three. The number licensed the present year, is eight. The number of taverns selling ardent spirit this year is three less than the last year; the number of stores, five less : twenty are re- ported as having been reclaimed from habits of intemper- ance within the last twelve months. Among the prominent causes producing intemperance, the Report mentions dis- tilleries of cider brandy, of which there are twenty-three still remaining in the county ; and among the prominent means of promoting temperance, it notices temperance pa- pers, frequent meetings in school districts, and the good example of the friends of temperance. County of Franklin. From the county of Franklin, only eleven towns have been returned. These contain a population of 12,703, twelve temperance societies, and 2129 members. The number of persons reported as having renounced the traffic in ardent spirit, is seven ; the number that retain it, twen- ty-seven; and the number of cider brandy distilleries, is fif- teen : six are returned as reclaimed from habits of intem- perance. The Franklin County Temperance Society is now making great efforts to promote the reform in that county. The executive committee have employed Mr. Frost to lecture in all the towns ; and we confidently trust, that the return from that society/for the next annual report of the State Society will be full and satisfactory. County of Berkshire. Twenty towns in this county have been reported. They contain a population of 16,800, thirty-six temperance soci- 22 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 122 eties, and 6743 members. Sixty-three have renounced the traffic, and sixty-two continue it. Five of the towns reported contain six cider brandy distilleries, and one of whiskey. The number of retailers licensed to sell ardent spirit last year, in the whole county, was sixty-seven; the number of Innholders, seventy-four; the number of re- tailers in the whole county, licensed to sell ardent spirit this year, is forty; and the number of Innholders, fifty- one : forty-five are reported as reclaimed from habits of intemperance. The temperance reform in the county is evidently advancing; but we trust it will receive a new impulse from the measures of the proposed Temperance Convention. Such is the view of the present state of the temperance reform in this Commonwealth, which the Council are en- abled to exhibit at this time. On account of the difficulty of giving correct, or even probable answers to some of the questions contained in the circular, they, in many instan- ces, have not been answered at all. It is evident, howev- er, from the answers which have been given to the ques- tions, relating to the quantity of ardent spirit now used, and to the proportion of pauperism it has produced, that very large quantities of ardent spirit are still used as drink in this Commonwealth, and that the use of it has occasion- ed full two thirds of the pauperism with which the com- munity is burdened. The proportion, however, is much greater in most of the large towns, and especially those on the seaboard. The use of ardent spirit, indeed, has been so long and so notoriously associated with poverty, crime, and wretchedness, that further evidence is hardly needed to render the fact more plain. But while it is matter of deep regret, that so many of the evils of intemperance are still remaining, it is never- theless cause of devout gratitude, that so much evidence has been furnished, of the divine blessing upon the imper- fect efforts which the friends of temperance have hitherto made. When we consider the number actually reported as hav- ing been reclaimed from habits of intemperance and drunkenness; the vastly greater number, snatched, as it were, " as brands from the burning," or from just begin- ning to burn :—when we think of the number brought up 123 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 23 from degradation, or saved from going down into it; of the amount of relief and comfort bestowed upon the destitute and wretched through the temperance reform, we feel jus- tified in expressing the conviction that no enterprise of charity undertaken by man, in ancient or modern times, has ever resulted in so much good within a period so short, as that in which the measures for promoting this reform have been in operation. REMAINING OBSTACLES TO THE PROGRESS OF REFORM. Although the friends of temperance in this Common- wealth may rightfully rejoice in the great and surprising success which a gracious Providence has given to their ef- forts, so that, all things considered, the temperance reform perhaps stands as well among us as in any State of the Union, still there remains a great deal yet to be done. Important obstacles to the progress and completion of the reform are yet to be removed out of the way. 1. There are more or less of respectable persons, in all parts of the State, who still use ardent spirit as drink, and who still think and say it does them good, in opposition to the solemn declaration of thousands of their equally re- spectable fellow-citizens, who have fully and fairly tried the experiment of " entire abstinence." Respectable peo- ple who use ardent spirit as drink, set an example unfa- vorable to the temperance reform, because their neighbors cannot undertake to follow them without imminent peril. So long as the moderate use of ardent spirit continues, so long the immoderate use will continue likewise. 2. The traffic in ardent spirit is another formidable barrier to the reform. It is true, the number of those who manufacture and retail ardent spirit has been greatly di- minished within a few years, and has sensibly diminished within one year ; and so also has the number of Innhold- ers licensed to sell ardent spirit; it is true, that a great number have renounced the traffic in ardent spirit, because they believed it injurious to the community, and therefore morally wrong; still the traffic in ardent spirit, mixed and unmixed, continues a great hindrance to further re- form. It feeds and keeps alive the appetite for strong drink in those who take it moderately, as well as in those who 24 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 124 take it immoderately. It not only hinders the latter from becoming temperate, by keeping the temptation to drink continually in their way ; but it secures a succession of intemperate persons in the community from among those who are now considered as " moderate drinkers." 3. It is a great hindrance to the progress of temper- ance, that many influential, temperate and worthy persons, in all parts of the Commonwealth, stand aloof from temper- ance societies, and, for various reasons, take no active part in their measures. We have not room, in this Report, to consider and discuss the various reasons that influence the persons in question, but we are decidedly of the opinion, that they are greatly mistaken in the weight and impor- tance of the reasons they give. From our own observa- tion and experience, we are satisfied that real friends of temperance aid the cause much more by giving their names and their influence to the temperance societies, than by withholding them ; that any ability to do good to individu- als, which they may think themselves to possess, because they are out of temperance societies, is much more than counterbalanced by the general discouragement which this circumstance brings upon those who are actively en- gaged in the cause. 4. But, after -all, important obstacles to the temperance reform in the Commonwealth arise from what is done, or left undone, by officers and members of temperance socie- ties. The Council would cherish a spirit of tenderness in relation to all well meant endeavors to promote the cause of temperance ; but they ought not to disguise the fact, that more or less complaint is made in almost all parts of the State, of violence and harshness, in language or meas- ures : and the Agent, as he thinks, has had reason to fear that the cause has been seriously retarded in its progress by the indiscretions of more or less of its friends.° So much as this we feel ourselves constrained to allow, al- though we have no hesitation in defending the measures, generally, as right and judicious. We wish to see the cause, at all times, and in all places, conducted in a way and spirit which shall afford no just ground to suspect that it is a party cause, political or religious. For most certainly it is and ought to be the cause of the whole peo- ple. 125 MASSACHUSETTS TFMPERANCE SOCIETY. 25 The cause, however, suffers much from what has been left undone. There is much apparent indifference in some temperance societies. They seem to have become weary in well doing ; their meetings are much less frequent than formerly, and their active efforts to advance the reform have greatly subsided. The Council think there is just ground of complaint against some secretaries of county and district temperance societies, but more especially against many secretaries of town and other local societies, for their want of diligence and punctuality in relation to the returns, which have been re- peatedly and urgently solicited for this Report. The number of towns in the State is 303. The number from which re- turns, in some form, have been received, is 210. Almost 100 towns therefore remain unreported. These contain, it is probable, at least 150 temperance societies, from which no returns have been made. It seems clear to this Board, that no person ought to ac- cept an office in a temperance society, and especially the office of secretary, unless he really intends, and his situa- tion allows him, to be punctual and faithful in the dis- charge of its duties. There can be no question, that a full report of the reform in the State, at this time, would greatly subserve the cause. A full report from those places, in which the reform has made the most considerable progress, would greatly animate the friends of the cause in those places where its progress is less; and a correct knowledge of the facts, in relation to all parts of the State, would enable the Council to devise and pursue measures of reform with much greater hope of success, than can • otherwise be done. MEANS OF ADVANCING THE REFORM. 1. The Council recommend, as important means of ad- vancing the reform, frequent meetings and addresses, so as to keep the public attention continually awake to the sub- ject. These meetings and addresses, however, should not be confined to the principal villages and more central parts of the towns ; but should be extended to the remote neigh- borhoods and school districts. Such meetings are fitted to bring the subject before many persons, whether moderate or immoderate users of ardent spirit, who otherwise might 3 26 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 126 never attend a temperance meeting. Formal speeches or addresses are not essential to the success of such meetings. Almost any person, of plain common sense, can speak on the subject of temperance to edification. School district temperance meetings have proved highly beneficial in ma- ny towns, and there is no reason to doubt that they might every where be turned to a valuable account. 2. Temperance publications. These have done and are still doing great good. The Temperance Recorder, published by the N. Y. State Temperance Society, is very extensively taken in this Commonwealth; and twenty or thirty thousand copies of the Temperance Journal, pub- lished in this city, and many other publications here and elsewhere, friendly to the cause, are in circulation through the community. The Council earnestly recommend to all the auxiliary societies, to take early and effectual measures for supply- ing every family within their respective limits with a monthly temperance paper. Some of the auxiliaries have already done this, with very great and obvious advantage. The Council hope that all the auxiliary, town and lo- cal societies, and the friends of temperance generally in the State, will take an interest in circulating the State So- ciety's own publications. It is the wish of the Council to make these as numerous and useful as they can; but, in order to meet the wants of the community, they will need the encouragement and aid of the auxiliary and other soci- eties. The publications of the State Society will be sold at the lowest possible rates which will meet the actual cost. 3. The Council would urge, as another important means of promoting the reform, punctuality and faithfulness in the executive officers of auxiliaries. Let full reports of the reform in all parts of the State be annually and season- ably made to the Parent Society, together with the names of the presidents and secretaries of all the town and local societies. These will furnish the requisite information concerning the progress which the reform has already made, and afford very needful facilities for carrying it on. 4. As further means of advancing the reform, the Council propose the following questions, to be answered in relation to each and all of the towns in the State, viz. : 127 MASSACHUSETTS TEMPERANCE SOCIETY'. 27 1. What is the population of your town ? 2. What number of Temperance Societies ? 3. What number of members in all ? 4. What number of rateable polls in your town ? 5. What number of these are members of a Temper- ance Society ? 6. What is the estimated number of rateable polls, not members of a Temperance Society, that use no ardent spirit as drink ? 7. How many grocery stores in your town ? 8. How many of these keep ardent spirit for sale as a drink ? 9. How many Innholders, and how many sell ardent spirit ? 10. How many paupers in your town ? 11. What is the estimated number of other persons, who have become poor, because ardent spirit is used as a drink 1 12. Names of the President and Secretary of your Temperance Society ? The Council request that the above questions may be carefully answered, and the answers returned by the sec- retaries of town and local societies to the secretaries of their respective county, or district societies, in order that these may embody them in returns to be transmitted to the corresponding secretary of the State Society, in season for the next Annual Report. The Council do not ask the above questions from a vague and reprehensible curiosity. Their sole object is to learn the progress of temperance, and to place all they may learn on permanent and accessible record. They do not interfere wtth any private concern. Their great and fer* vent desire is, that the knowledge of the increasing interest in the reform, may bring into its entire service the minds and the hearts of the whole community. CONCLUSION. In concluding this Report, the Council would congratu- late the members of the Massachusetts Temperance Soci- ety, and the friends of temperance generally, on the lively interest which the temperance reform has awakened not only in this country, but in almost all parts of the civiliz- 28 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 128 ed, and even in some portions of the partially civilized world. Twenty-two States of this Union have state temperance societies. These, united in interest and purpose with each other, and with the American Temperance Society, and comprising more than 7000 subordinate societies, are ex- erting a mighty moral influence for the promotion of tem- perance, industry, comfort and general virtue in this great Republic; and setting an example which attracts imita- tion, as well as admiration, from the most powerful nations of the old world. May this glorious reform, so worthily begun, anp thus far happily advanced in this country, con- tinue to prosper in its course, till, through the goodness of Armighty God, its blessings shall reach every family, tribe and nation on the face of the earth; till men everywhere shall cease to " spend money for that which is not bread, and their labor for that which satisfieth iiot.'J By order of the Council, H. HILDRETH, ? ~ ... J. B. FLINT, " Comnnttee. APPENDIX. The anniversary meeting of the Massachusetts Temperance So- ciety was held on the afternoon of May 28, at Boston. Dr. J. C. Warren, president of the society, in the chair. After a record of the proceedings of the society was read by Dr. Stevenson, the recording secretary, the Rev. Hosea Hildreth, the corresponding secretary and general agent, read the twenty-first Annual Report of the society. The report stated that the efforts of the Board of Council have been more various and considerable, during the past year, than any year preceding. For the last six months, an Agent has been pro- vided and constantly employed in furthering the organization of the State, in delivering lectures, and in efforts to secure the means of a full report of the temperance reform in the State at the present time. Circulars have been sent to the officers of the county and district temperance societies, and notices published in various pa- pers calling their attention to the importance of making the returns in time to be laid before the meeting of the society. Notwithstand- ing this, the returns have been very imperfect. In the county of Worcester, the Agent has lectured in thirteen towns, in all of which, except one, there was, at least, one temper- ance society; and in this town, a society has since been formed, comprising many influential citizens of various denominations. The Aii-ent has also lectured in various populous towns in the county of Bristol, where temperance societies were already formed. In this county, no licenses were last year granted for retailing ar- dent spirit. In the county of Plymouth, where the Agent lectured in eight different towns, flourishing temperance societies were also formed, and no licenses were last year granted in the county. In the towns of Bridgewater, North Bridgewater and Abington, all large and important towns, no person was known, as the Agent wai credibly informed, to sell ardent spirit and hardly an individual of respectable character was knoicn to drink it. In Middlesex Mr. Hildreth lectured in twelve different towns, and the prospects are encouraging to the friends of the temperance reform. In the county of Hampden, the Agent spent nearly two months, and visited most of the principal towns, and though the temperance reform has made great progress, yet it is far from being completed Among other fbstacles are forty cider brandy distilleries, at which farmers can ge their cider turned into brandy almost a8 easily as they can get 30 APPENDIX. 130 n l Jl ;ur"eimt0 mea* ^ the mill. This obstacle also exists in the county of Hampshire, where, although the temperance cause is advancing and the number of licensed innholdere and retailers is much reduced, yet there are between twenty and thirty cider bran- dy distilleries, and fifty licensed places for selling ardent spirit. In the county of Franklin, the Agent delivered but two lectures, but the retorm has made considerable progress within a few years, and the number of licenses for selling spirit has considerably dimin- ished, as well as the number of persons who use it. In Berkshire county, the Agent lectured in several towns, with considerable success. In Cheshire, no temperance society was formed, except one in the east part of the county, consisting of about twenty fe- males, and three or four males. Wherever the Agent has been, he has met with a cordial recep- tion; his lectures have been well attended, and he has had the vol- untary testimony of many earnest and judicious friends of the tem- perance reform, that their hands have been strengthened, and the cause benefited by his labors. From the returns received from the different counties, although they are far from being complete, no returns having been received from Nantucket, which is to be regretted, as the prospect is said to be cheering in that quarter. It appears that, in 359 towns, with a population of 395,195, there are 93,730 members of temperance so- cieties, and if the same proportion prevails throughout the State, the number belonging to temperance societies must be upwards of 140,000. Although much has been done, yet many obstacles remain in the way of the temperance reform. Respectable persons are still found, in different parts of the State, who use ardent spirit as a drink, and who say it does them good, notwithstanding the mass of testimony to the contrary. The traffic in ardent spirit is another formidable barrier to the reform, and many influential men will stand aloof, and seem to take no active measures in support of the societies. The Council recommend, as an important means of advancing the reform, frequent meetings and addresses, to keep the public mind continually awake to the subject, and also the circulation of tem- perance publications. The Council earnestly recommend to all the auxiliary societies, to take measures for supplying every family within their limits with a temperance paper. After some remarks from a gentleman, a delegate from Franklin county, who gave a favorable account of the prospect of the tem- perance cause for the next year, the report was unanimously ac- cepted. Mr. M. Grant read an extract from a late number of the Christian Register, relating to the prevalence of intemperance in the South Sea Islands, and of the injurious and demoralizing effect produced by the introduction of ardent spirit into those islands from abroad. He then offered the following preamble and resolution : Whereas, it appears by the publications of the British and Foreign Temperance Society, that the destructive effects of ar- dent spirits in the South Sea Islands, is realized there to a great extent, and that this spirit is carried to those islands and 131 APPENDIX. 31 sold by some of our own countrymen ; and whereas, in the opinion of the Massachusetts Temperance Society, the drink- ing of ardent spirits is injurious to the bodies and souls of men, and shortens lite, and tends to prevent their intellectual and moral improvement; therefore, Resolved, That the furnishing of it, to be used as a drink, and especially to the unevangelized and partially civilized natives and tt'ibes of our fellow men, is, in our view, a violation of the great principles of morality, and ought to be discountenanced. Mr. J. A. Bolles made some remarks in favor of this resolution. He alluded to the inconsistency of those who call themselves Christians, and condemn the traffic in ardent spirits, and yet sup- ply these demi-civilized South Sea Islanders with the demoralizing article. But, said Mr. B., England claims a share of the evil. She gave to these Islanders the evil of distilleries. One of the convicts escaped from Botany Bay, and established a distillery in the Sand- wich Islands. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The following reso- lutions were also offered and adopted : Resolved, That this Society approve of the formation of the American Temperance Union, and the resolutions adopted by that Union, at their late meeting at Philadelphia. Resolved, That, in the opinion of the Massachusetts Temper- ance Society, the establishment of Temperance Hotels in all parts of our State, is much to be desired, and that where such already exist, it is the duty of the friends of temperance to use all suitable means to give them encouragement. Resolved, That the report of the secretary be published un- der the direction of the Board of Council, and that the several auxiliary societies within the Commonwealth, be requested, at their own expense, to furnish their members as extensively as may be, with copies of the same. The following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year : J. C. WARREN, M. D., President. Hon. W. SULLIVAN, Vice President. Rev. HOSEA HILDRETH, Corresponding Secretary. J. G. STEVENSON, M. D., Recording Secretary. LEVI BARTLETT. Esq.., Treasurer. MOSES GRANT. Esq., WALTER CHANNING, M. D., JOSHUA B. FLINT. M. D., Rev. GEORGE RIPLEY, Counsellors. 32 APPENDIX. 132 DECLARATION OF SIXTY-FIVE PHYSICIANS OF WORCESTER COUNTY. The subscribers, Physicians of the County of Worcester hereby declare it to be their opinion, that men in health are never benefit- ed bv the use of ardent spirit; that, on the contrary, the use of it is a frequent cause of disease and death, and often renders such disorders as arise from other causes more difficult of cure, and more fatal in their termination. Names. Daniel Parker, James Stone, Jr. Samuel P. Knight, Stephen Balcheller, Amos Parker, Henry Parker, Levi Ranson, William Thornton, Ebenezer H. Phillips, Charles M. Fay, Isaac Porter, Erastus Robinson, Nicholas Jeuks, Jr. Reuben Harrington, John Seabury, Stephen Ball, Stephen Ball, Jr. Adolphus Brigham, William Workman, Azer K. Phelps, John Andrews, Jedediah Ammidon, William M. Bern-diet, William B. Moore, Cyrus Hutchins, Nelson Carpenter, J. W. Osgood, W. Parkhurst, Leander Harding:, Benjamin Pond, Jr. Henry H. Rising, Jacob Holmes, Mora Phelps, Towna. Gardner. Phill'pston. Dudley. Royals ton. Bollon. Grafton. Charlton. Nortlibridge. Southbridge. Shrewsbury. tt Bovlston. P.iiilon. Milllmry. Warren. Temph'ton. Peiersnam. Westborough Hubbardston. Namea. Stephen Clark, Ebenezer Chaplin, George Hoyt, Levi'Hutchinson, G. D. Peck, A. S. Perk, John Starkweather, R. N. Lambert, Joel Barrett, Austin Flint, Edward Flint, J. R. Worcester, Ariemas Ballard, Leonard Pierce, Nathaniel F. .Morse, D S. C. H. Smith, H. H. Rising, Daniel Tliurber, John G. Metcalf, Abel Wilder, John Pond, M. D. Souihwiek, Oliver Fiske, John Park, John Gieen, Benj. F. Haywood, S. B. Woodward, O H. BI<»od, George Chandler, A. G. Balx-ock, John S. Bmler, Ezekiel Wood, Towna, Hubbardston. Alhol. Milford. Upton. Southborough, Leicester. tt it Sutton. Mendon. Worcester. Douglas. 133 APPENDIX. 33 A Tabular Statement, carefully made from the Returns of County and District Societies so far as received. Counties and Districts. c . 3 c o "5 ft ss II J" 0 0> XI S © ■3 8 o o 2 © = OS .£ T3 J Essex, 17 55,213 48 12,569 vn 55 8 Middlesex, 27 50,650 41 11,536 '61 270 4 91 Suffolk, y 66,000 14 10,000 200 314 13 Barnstable, 10 27.014 20 3.7-J4 105 18 37 Dukes, 3 3.600 3 491 13 5 1 Nantucket, 1 MlOO 1 633 10 40 Plymouth, 21 44,000 40 11,000 *71 Bristol,t Norfolk, 22 43,267 44 11,311 175 65 65 Worcester South, 21 36,060 30 9,594 109 57 51 Worcester West, 10 14.705) 13 3,187 13 Worcester North-west, 9 13,241 11 1,907 20 41 54 Worcester North-east,t Hampden, 18 32,921 34 8.961 41 71 48 33 Hampshire, 25 31.829 37 11.778 95 51 23 !'30 Franklin, 11 12.703 12 2,129 7 27 15 6 Berkshire, 20 217 Hi,."00 36 6,743 63 62 7 45 456,007 384 105,463 4H5 N. B. In the above Table, the columns showing the numbers that have renounced the traffic, and the numbers that continue it, show, in some instances the number of retailers and Innholders to- gether ; but whether or not this is true of all the counties and dis- tricts, could not be ascertained from the returns as made. If the number of members of temperance societies in the popu- lation not reported, be in the same proportion as in the above Ta- ble, the whole number of members in the State is over 140,000. And if the number of persons reclaimed from habits of intem- perance be calculated in a similar way, it will be found to be 1040, reckoning the population of the State in both instances at 620,000. This estimate of the number reclaimed is, no doubt, far below the truth. It was the intention of the Council to publish, the present year, statistical tables of the temperance reform in the Commonwealth -r but the temperance organization was so recent, that the secretaries of county and district societies found it very difficult to procure re- turns from the towns; consequently only four or five of the coun- ty and district returns are sufficiently full and definite to warrant their publication. The Council have concluded, therefore, to defer publishing the proposed tables till another year, in the confident hope that the returns will then be complete. * In nix towns. t Within twelve months. \ Ho returns. Presidents and Secretaries of County and District Temperance Societies. Societies. Presidents. Residence. Secretaries. Residence. Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk, Worcester South, Worcester West, Worcester North-west, Worcester North-east, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Berkshire, Dr. Jer. Cleaveland, Samuel Hoar, Esq., Richard Fletcher, Esq., John Reed, Esq., Hon. Wilkes Wood, Dr. Eben Alden, Rev. John Nelson, Seth Lee, Esq., Hon. Edmund Cushing, Hon. Sam'l Lathrop, Mark Doolittle, Esq., Elijah Alvord, Esq., Hon. Wm. P. Walker, Topsfield. Concord. Boston. Yarmouth. Middleboro' Randolph. Leicester. Lunenburg. West Springfield. Belchertown. Greenfield. Lenox. Rev. T. B. Fox, Francis Hilliard, Esq., Ellis G. Loring, Esq. ( N. S. Simpkins, Rec, ( Daniel Chessman, Cor., Charles G. Athearn, Nathaniel Barney, C E. G. Parker, Rec. ) I Rev. J. Kendall, D. D. Cor., 5 Rev. Eben Burgess, Dr. J. S. Butler, George Davis, Esq., Justus Ellinwood, Artemas Rogers, Esq., C Rev. Emerson Davis, Rec, I Dr. Balden, Cor., Samuel Wells, Jr. Esq., William Elliot, S. W. Bush, Newburyport. Concord. Boston. Yarmouth. Hyannis. Tisbury. Nantucket. Plymouth. Dedham. Worcester. Sturbridge. Hubbardston. Fitchburg. Westfield. Springfield. Northampton. Greenfield. Lenox. \ ^ - fi • < il fe i #^