intemperance. And when the earth helped the woman "by swallowing up the flood which the serpent cast out of his mouth," it was the spirit of the Lord that gave efficiency to all the means and instrumentalities employed in drying up the flood of intemperance which was once sweeping over the land with an impetuosity threatening destruction to all before it. The eternal God has, most evidently, made bare his almighty arm for the deliverance of his people from the flood of intemperance, AND TO HIM, AND HIM ALONE, BE ALL THE GLORY. The town of Moreau, in the County of Saratoga and State of NewYork, is confessedly, without contradiction, the spot of earth on which the HOLY SPIRIT'S STANDARD OF TEMPERANCE was first lifted up, by the systematical organization of a Temperance Society. It was customary in that region for every family to keep distilled liquor for their own common use, at pleasure, and to treat neighbors and friends on a call or visit. Very little cider, or any other fermented liquors, were in common use in that community. Wines and cordials in variety were used at weddings, parties of pleasure, and public dinners; but ardent spirits were used in common, without restraint. Hence, the highway to drunkenness was without obstruction, and the broadway to ruin was crowded with travellers...

Doctor Billy J. Clark, at that time a young, enterprising physician, of Moreau, has the honor of being the first man (known to us) on earth who suggested the idea of organizing a Temperance Society in opposition to the prevailing evils of intemperance. Said the Doctor to his friend-" WE SHALL ALL BECOME A COMMUNITY OF DRUNKARDS IN THIS TOWN, UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE TO ARREST THE PROGRESS OF

INTEMPERANCE." These words, (like the grain of mustard-seed, alluded to of old,) contained the seed, the origin, the first principle, and the first practical development of the PROVIDENTIAL TREE OF TEMPERANCE, the root of which is found in the revelation of God's eternal purpose, by the prediction of his prophets thousands of years ago— the trunk of which stands on earth, with its top towering up to heaven-and the fruit of which is now blessing all Christendom, and the world, with the knowledge of Satan's devices to destroy the Church of God; the method of infinite wisdom and divine efficiency, in rearing up a Standard, and appointing instrumentalities to defeat the enemy, by the eventual annihilation of his flood of the water of death; the consequent blessings of public tranquillity and domestic enjoyment restored to men; while millions, emancipated from the thraldom of the enemy, join in ascriptions of glory to God in the highest for the wonders of his love. All this has already come to pass.

The ever memorable words of Dr. Clark, just quoted, were addressed to his minister, with whom he had often united in the sumptuous entertainments and alcoholic refreshments of wedding parties, neighborhood friendly festivals, and the more public celebrations of commemorative days and events. Yes, the Doctor's words of alarm were first addressed to his minister, on a visit to the parson's house for the express purpose of enlisting him into the views of danger, and measures of escape from the destruction, that was pending over the heads of that parish community, and the general church and world. Such considerations had occasioned sleepless nights to the burdened

soul who had devised the plan of a temperance organization, as a barrier to the ravages of intemperance, and wished the assistance of a minister of the Gospel to aid forward the contemplated enterprise. After friendly salutation, the first words on the subject of his burdens were, "I have come to see you on important business. We shall all become a community of drunkards in this town, unless something is done to arrest the progress of intemperance," and then proceeded to develope his plan of temperance organization.

Alas! why had not that minister been the first to give such a sentence of alarm, and devise the plan of reformation? Why had he not posted the words, pregnant with such momentous events, over the door of his study; and sounded them in the thunder-voice of warning from his pulpit; and went to the house of his physician with the cry of alarm, and anxious entreaty to enlist his co-operation in a contemplated measure of temperance reform? Ah, why had not he done it? Reasons are obvious. He needed the voice of alarm as well as others; hence, the honor of being first in that important work of reformation, belonged not to him. Moreover, the predictions of eternal truth decide, that God had foreordained, that "The earth should help the woman ;" and thus it came to pass in the commencement of the Temperance Reformation. The primary step, and predominant influence of a man of the world-a man "of the earth, earthy," devoted to the interest, and aspiring to the honorable distinctions, of the earth, with skilful and successful assiduity, were superintended by Divine Providence, to put the wheels of the great Temperance Reformation in motion, on the plan of revealed wisdom; that all the glory should redound to God; that men of every rank and office in life, whether within or without the pale of the church, should be abased in the dust; that the name of Jehovah alone should be exalted; and, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Doctor Clark, at that time, was not a professor of Christianity; but, (although his wishes were answered by the entire co-operation of his pastor,) it was principally through his influence and indefatigable exertions, that arrangements were made, and a Temperance Society was organized in Moreau, based on the principles of TOTAL ABSTINENCE from all kinds of distilled liquors, and also from wine, except at weddings and public dinners, with a proviso, that no infringement should be made by such restriction on any religious ordinance, as may be seen in the IVth Article of the Constitution of the aforesaid society, which was unanimously "adopted on the last Tuesday of April, A. D. 1808," and ratified by the signature of forty-three male subscribers, of whom some are yet living, and joyful witnesses of the glorious results of that Providential event.

The By-Laws of that society required annual, and quarterly meetings of its members; one of whom, by the previous appointment of the presiding officer, should deliver an address on temperance at each meeting; and made provision, also, for the establishment of a library, all which, were observed with unanimity, and a good degree of punctuality, during the progress of the society. Col. Sidney Berry, formerly of the State of New-Jersey, then ex-judge of Saratoga county, was elected president of the society, for the first year of its

Photograph from the

'AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY Worcester, Mars. 01609

Permission for use of this photograph for any other than the agreed purpose must be procured from the Society. A credit line is required, when published

existence, and the pastor of the congregation to whom allusion has been had, was appointed to deliver the first quarterly address, which was done the 25th of July, subsequently to the organization of the society.

Such, are some of the facts relating to the origin of the Temperance Reformation of this nineteenth century. And, it is submitted to the consideration of all who love the cause of temperance, and to those, also, who hate it, whether the events of the enemy's flood of interperance in our land and world, during hundreds of years past, and the Standard of the Temperance Reformation of this century, which has been Providentially lifted up, and is now in progress, blessing the world with sobriety, were not both the subjects of Divine prediction; foreseen, and foretold by the prophets of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and whether the history of those events, as they have actually come to pass, would not be the best comment that could be made on the Divine prediction and its fulfilment.

It is readily admitted, that the pledge of the first temperance organization was imperfect. But, does its imperfection destroy the fact, that such a pledge existed, and prove that no temperance society was ever organized in this country, at the time, under the circumstances, and for the purposes above specified? 'This would be strange logic, indeed.

May it not be presumed, that the first boat propelled on water by steam, was very imperfect in its construction compared with all the subsequent improvements of steamboat machinery? Doubtless, such was the fact. But, will the admission of that fact prove that no steamboat was ever invented by John Fitch and improved by Robert Fulton, nor the propelling power of steam on engines discovered, till a fleet of steamboats appeared on every ocean, sea, lake and river, of the most perfect construction, invented by somebody, made by somebody somewhere,and at some period of time? Such fallacy could hardly be palmed on the intelligent part of mankind. Let it never be so applied to the original temperance organizers, because their pledge was imperfect. The pioneers of Temperance Reform had to contend with their own propensities to evil; with the prejudices, appetites, customs, pride, and interest of the whole community around them, who were accustomed from infancy to the free use of alcoholic liquors, and urged on to continue its use by the innumerable wiles of Satan to defeat every contemplated measure of reform. Under such circumstances, the restrictions specified in the pledge of their adopted constitution, was the ne plus ultra point that could possibly be secured at that time by a Temperance organization. But, let not the imperfect attainment of that auspicious event, be disparaged as a thing of nought by succeeding generations, who have acquired, or may hereafter acquire improvement in the system of reform. The Temperance Reformation at the commencement was the cause of God. He foresaw the evil, and provided the remedy in his eternal purpose revealed to man in his book of truth. And though it was "like a grain of mustard seed” in the beginning, yet, it was then the incipient development of God's predicted plan of defeating a most subtle stratagem of the adversary to destroy the church, and to curse the world.

a