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SECOND AND THIRD EPOCHS.

dition, of adopting the American Pledge of Total Abstinence from the use of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage. On this occasion their former minister, then residing upward of thirty miles distant, was sent for to attend, with the special request from Dr. B. J. Clark, that if the manuscript of his first temperance address was preserved, he should deliver the same original address, verbatim, on the occasion. All this was performed in a numerous assembly, with the additional amendment, moved in resolution by Dr. Clark, and voted, nem con, by the assembly in the house of worship, that, not only the first address, but also the last, in preparation by the former pastor, manuscript, entitled "WOES OF INTEMPERANCE," should be delivered on the occasion, without intermission; both of which occupied but little more than an hour, and were followed by the unanimous vote of the Parent Temperance Society, reorganized on the adoption of the Pledge of Total Abstinence from all intoxicating beverages.

The following is a transcript of resolutions passed at that meeting, recorded thus in amendment of their original constitution:

"On motion of Dr. B. J. Clark, resolved, that the constitution adopted April, 1808, be amended by adopting the pledge of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate.'

"Resolved, that the subscribers to this constitution hereby pledge themselves not to use, traffic in, or furnish intoxicating drinks to any in their employ, except as a medicine.

"Recorded, by order of the Society.

"GURDON G. SILL, President."

This was considered as a glorious triumph of principle, which constituted the whole band of societies in the ranks

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTLED.

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of temperance on a par of union with each other, still in advance upon the enemy, with no other weapons of warfare than moral suasion, wielded by such providential instrumentalities as were found clad in temperance armor. Addresses were increasingly argumentative and numerous. Juvenile temperance societies were formed. Their banners were unfurled, and processions often displayed; all which, under the influence of moral suasion, brought thousands, old and young, rich and poor, male and female, into the ranks of total abstinence temperance societies.

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTled.

About this time, a variety of questions arose, doubtless from aspirants after popularity, akin to questions anciently proposed among a few men, once called fishermen, who wished to know, and made the inquiry, "Who among them was the greatest?" Very important question! So temperance questions once arose, when, and where, and by whom was the FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY ORGANIZED? The first must be the greatest! Surely the FIRST must be the GREATEST!

None in Africa, Asia, nor even among all the kingdoms of Europe claimed the honor. Wonderful!

But it came to pass, that a number of the sons of one Jonathan, expert players of the noted Temperance March Yankee Doodle, on almost all kinds of musical instruments, concluding, doubtless, that the FIRST organized temperance society must, of course, be the GREATEST, hence, earnest claims were accordingly made.

But Mr. Delavan, then chairman of the Publishing Com

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AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTLED.

mittee of the New York State Temperance Society, in Albany, after thorough investigation, decided, and so an nounced in the Temperance Recorder and Magazine, that, after an ancient example of judging—namely, that a little child, in a certain sense, is GREATER than a full grown man -so the little band of Temperance brethren in Moreau, although least in number and influence in the outset, yet were FIRST in organization—for this reason only, that their credentials of organization were PRIOR to any others of the kind that ever had been produced and authenticated!

And thus the GREAT question of GREATNESS was decided.

CHAPTER II.

Fourth Epoch-Origin of the Washingtonian Band-Their general Temperance character and usefulness-Dangers to which they are exposed, by which many have fallen back into their former habits of drunkenness, while many others have continued firm in their reformation, and highly ornamental members of Total Abstinence Temperance Societies-Orders of Sons and Daughters of Temperance-Rechabites, Cadets, and other denominations of Temperance Reformers, rush to the Temperance banners of Total Abstinence, and identify themselves with the great Temperance Family.

THIS epoch may be considered as commencing a few years subsequent to the adoption of the American Temperance pledge of total abstinence, A. D. 1836, and is marked with the existence of events increasingly important to the cause of Temperance. The following are among the most interesting events of this epoch :

First, The providential reinforcement of the Washingtonian Band of Reformers, which originated in Baltimore, in the month of April, 1840, more than four years after the adoption of the American Temperance pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, at Saratoga Springs, A. D. 1836. This recruit resulted in the reformation of thousands of hopeless drunkards, who have nobly joined the Temperance ranks, and exerted a salutary influence throughout the length and breadth of America and other nations of the earth. Their number in the outset was but six, and these were of the most hopeless class. A Divine Providence brought them together. They organized on a

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WASHINGTONIAN RECRUITS.

total abstinence pledge, worded to suit themselves, under the appellation of REFORMED DRUNKARDS. And not a few, but many of the thousands who have joined Temperance Societies, under their appellative banners, have proved to be among the most zealous, untiring, eloquent, and effective Temperance Lecturers, who have wielded the sword of moral suasion with almost resistless power and unparalleled success in bearing down heavily upon the ranks of the fell destroyer, King Alcohol, and all his hosts of desolation. (Drunkards! set down your glass, and be men, sober men, happy men!)

Discarding the principle and every appearance of adulation, it must be confessed that much honor and praise are their just due for the ranks which they have filled, the battles they have fought, and the victories they have achieved over themselves and others in the promotion of the Temperance Reformation during the dozen years last past of their existence. One thing, however, is much to be lamented, namely, that the license laws of our country have furnished means for the apostacy of many once promising reformed drunkards back-back again to their former and more hopeless habits of drunkenness. They were once reformed. Their families were restored to usefulness and happiness. Peace and joy graced their domestic hearth. But, alas! our license laws provide places of temptation. Enticers lie in wait for these men. The liquor-dealers' alluring arts (akin to the wiles of the arch fell destroyer of the bottomless pit) prevail over the appetite, judgment, and interest, till the poor reformed drunkard and his family are reduced again into deeper degrada