THEIR PROFESSED OBJECT IS GOOD.

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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.

That the professed object of the institution is good, will appear, 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.

When we look around us, and take a view of society at large, we discover a numerous train of evils existing, which, to all human probability, are drowning many of the human race in ruin, or leading them onward in the road to perdition. Tracing the sources of these evils up to their fountain, we find the greatest part of them originating from an intemperate use of spirituous liquors. It does not fall within my province to point out the effects of spirituous liquors upon the human body, in the production of an universal debilitation of the nervous and muscular system, until life falls a prey to disease and death. This is a truth which can be investigated to better advantage by those who are versed in the theory of physic.

The unhappy consequences resulting to individuals, and to the community at large, from the frequent and intemperate use of spirituous liquors, are evincible from outward circumstances, which those of but ordinary abilities are capable of discerning. In recognizing past occurrences of life which have fallen within the compass of our knowledge, there are few, perhaps, but who can advert to mel

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ancholy instances of the ruinous and destructive effects of spirituous liquors, in the loss of character, of property, of happiness, and, finally, the loss of life itself.

How many of the human race, who were once temperate and industrious; whose fair estates have been earned by the sweat of their brow, have fallen victims to poverty, shame, disgrace, and to death, by abandoning the principles of temperance, and by giving themselves over to the bru tal force of ungovernable appetite! Though in the first formation of this appetite, there was but little apparent danger of such awful degeneracy and ruin, yet the seeds of destruction began to spring and grow the moment they had contracted an appetite for regular morning drams. This is generally the first beginning of intemperance. The habit of taking morning drams soon creates an appetite, which, being fostered and fed, grows like the noxious plant, into a state of downright intemperance. From this small beginning, many have generally proceeded from step to step, till at length their appetite for spirituous liquor, overpowered every other faculty, and they gave themselves over to the force of intoxication.

View a person of this description, and what is his situation? What is his character? What is his prospect of happiness, either in this life, or in the life to come? However industrious, frugal, and thriving he might have been, yet now he soon discovers the ruinous effects of intemperThe first loss he sustains is character. This is gone almost at one stroke. The next loss is property. Neglecting the proper and necessary attention to the business of life, if a farmer, every thing around him soon wears the

ance.

RESULT OF MORNING DRAMS.

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appearance of ruin; if a mechanic, customers forsake his shop; if an attorney, no client will risk a cause at his disposal; if a physician, the sick will not venture their lives in his hand; and if a minister of the gospel, the wicked will despise him, his hearers will withdraw from him, hist friends will forsake him, and the sacred desk will declare that he is not a teacher sent from God! In all these instances, the loss of property is an inevitable consequence. The sources of revenue being cut off, the capital stock will soon depreciate, and scatter into oblivion. Thus the mind is filled with anxiety and perplexity-happiness is gone; families are deprived of the necessary means of subsistence; diseases hovering round, light upon the vital part; death at last closes the scene! And what reception will be met with in the future world, let Divine Inspiration declare, and it will inform us that drunkards are denounced among the black catalogue of the enemies of holiness, who shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The unhappy consequences of an intemperate use of spirituous liquors, are felt by the community at large, as well as by individuals. How often is the peace of society disturbed by unhappy quarrels, brawls, contentions, and even assault and battery, which sometimes end in bloodshed and death, and which owe their existence to the ef fect of spirituous liquors! Such cases occupy a great portion of time in our courts of justice, which cost the community at large a heavy tax, and sometimes the loss of citizens. Instance the murder of John Scott in Catskill, which was solely the effects of spirituous liquors. After spending the evening in filling and emptying the jovial

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BLOODSHED AND DEATH!

glass, a quarrel at length arose, about a pipe and tobacco, which terminated in bloodshed and in death! Without enumerating the immense sums of money annually and daily expended by the community for the importation of spirituous liquors, instances of the above description are sufficient to evince the ruinous and destructive consequences resulting from the intemperate use of the fluid poison.

If, therefore, the institution of this Union Temperate Society is founded on a conviction of the injury done to community by the intemperate use of spirituous liquor; if its professed object is to save its adherents from the path that leads to intemperance and destruction; and if its plan of operation is such that in any probability it will be likely to rescue even one from impending danger, or to save one from the contraction of a habit so ruinous in its consequences, the balance must be found in favor of the instituvion, and it must be pronounced good. If so, it is worthy of the attention and patronage of all who become acquainted with it, and its utility and influence ought to be diffused through the community at large.

Secondly, the happy consequences resulting to society from a strict adherence to its principles, will abundantly compensate all pains that may be taken for its publicity and enlargement. The institution inculcates an entire abolition of the use of ardent, distilled spirits, prescribes a number of useful and beneficial substitutes, and directs to measures to stimulate its adherents to a strict observance of its rules. Should its influence upon society prove even in a small degree commensurate to its professed principles

HOW TO BE HAPPY.

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and object, advantages will be derived, not only of a pecuniary nature, but also such as will render society happy. The moneys which may be saved will enable the society to adopt such measures for disseminating useful and important knowledge, as would do honor to any institution whatever. How much more happy is society, when young and old can divert their minds and improve their understandings at the same time, by the perusal of useful, instructive, and religious books, than, when they can be contented only in a confused company at the tavern or grog-shop, where all kinds of vicious habits are contracted, and nothing obtained for the good of body or of soul! A strict adherence to the principles of this institution will tend to reform those who have been addicted to intemperance, and instead of seeking diversions and happiness from the bottom of their glass in the company of grog-drinkers,* they will hereby be stimulated to seek for diversions and happiness in new sources of enjoyment. Should their attention be taken off from strong drink, and an appetite be contracted for the acquisition of useful and important knowledge, the advantage would be almost incalculable. These, at least, may be some of the good things which may be hoped for and expected from a strict observance of the laws of this institution. Should these objects be obtained, and their influence on society be thus happy, we shall be favored with additional evidence of the utility and importance of the institution.

From a review of the foregoing remarks, we are led to the CONCLUSION, that the only way to render this insti

* Rum and water, with a toast in it, was formerly called "grog."