PREFACE.

THE design of this book is to promote the cause of TEMPERANCE among the present and future generations of mankind. The author has written for Sabbath-school children-for young gentlemen and ladies-for evangelical Christians-for the rich and the poor--for the learned and unlearned in city or country-for the aged, who are confined to their fireside for all who make, vend, or consume any kind of intoxicating liquor as a beverage, or are interested, directly or indirectly, in the LIQUOR TRADE-for all Total Abstinence Temperance Societies, and their members, of every age, rank, order, or sex--and for all, who are on a journey to the grave, and must soon leave their possessions to survivors in this ever-changing world.

The following REMINISCENCES will be found to contain much pleasing and instructive variety, adapted to all who have abandoned the wine cup, the haunts of vice, and all intoxicating beverages, for cold water. Drunkards, read this-try the ex

periment, and you will find it to be a reality, true to the life, and conducive to prosperity and happiness.

Various ERAS and EPOCHS were commenced with the organization of the First Temperance Society, which was considered as a novelty by many, and by many others, as a subject of ridicule, in the midst of a vast liquor-consuming community. An authentic history of the time, place, and circumstances of that organization; the constitution; its pledge of total abstinence from distilled liquors only, with but a partial rejection of wine, and no restrictive constitutional article against the use of various fermented beverages of common use (the best pledge, however, that could then be adopted), together with the number and names of the pioneer subscribers, will disclose an interesting contrast between the infancy of the Temperance Reformation, and the present state of its progress. Also, an important Report of a member, in accordance with a usage of the parent Temperance Society, made on the first annual meeting, will be found peculiarly interesting, instructive, and worthy of permanent remembrance and imitation.

The various Epochs of the Temperance Reformation in its onward progress, will be found particularly noticed; each marked with the most eventful changes, both prosperous and adverse, from one stage to another; until the most important discovery

was made of the great secret, and most effectual means of successful warfare against the combined powers of Intemperance, for their total overthrow, all which is comprised in the plan and adoption of the Liquor Law of the State of Maine, the amount of which, in a sentence is, To destroy the power of the LIQUOR-MONOPOLY CRAFT, which makes and destroys millions of drunkards, and fills the earth with wretchedness and woe!

The influence of the promulgation of the Liquor Law of Maine on the political interests of the City and State of New York, is noticed in a REPLY to the Twelve noted and popular REASONS of a Remonstrance of citizens of New York city against the Law of Maine. Under this head it is shown, that the conflicting powers of TEMPERANCE and INTEMPERANCE, are formed into lines of political battle array, under Banners of Total Abstinence from all intoxicating liquors on the one line of political demarkation; and liberty, or license, to manufacture, and traffic in, and consume all kinds of intoxicating liquors, without legal restriction or limitation, on the other political line of array; thus fronting, face to face, in a WAR OF EXTERMINATION; founded on the question, shall intoxicating liquors be manufactured, vended, and consumed under sanction of the supreme law of the land; and all the wretched consequences of such a law, amounting to habitual drunkeness, debauchery, pauperism, crime, suicide,

murder, premature death, and an intolerable burden of taxation loaded upon the industrious, temperate portion of the community; all under sanction of LAW, for the sole purpose of protecting and sustaining a horrid LIQUOR-MONOPOLY CRAFT, to heap up wealth in profusion for the endless destruction of its abettors, as well as their victims, allured into the vortex of ruin? Or, shall the supreme law of the sovereign, independent people, under God, be so constructed, as to demolish the abominable liquorcraft monopoly, for the total and permanent overthrow of its power to create and propagate the destructive evils under which our whole land has long been groaning under bondage? In a word, this political War of Extermination is founded on the question, Shall KING ALCOHOL live, or die? Destroy the infernal old MURDERER, is the declaration of the unfurled banners of his sober, fearless, and united INVADERS. Save the good old fellow for the worthy deeds he has done, and is doing; for the wealth he bestows, and his blessings on those that love him; is the virtual inscription of the unfurled banners throughout the whole line of his defense. Oh, save him! Destroy him not; for we tell you, believe it or not, he looks good! He smells good! He tastes good! He makes us feel good! and he is good! Oh, spare him, as good old Agag was spared by king Saul. Do spare him for our sake! If he dies, O dear, what will become of us!

The weapons of this warfare are not fire-arms, swords, spears, and daggers; but ballot-boxes, resolutions, and votes of legislative authority. And by such weapons, the sovereign power of intoxicating liquors must, sooner or later, fall into disuse as a customary beverage, and the legalizing power of making drunkards must fall into perdition, even if the contest should result in the fulfillment of the foretold Great Battle Day of the Lord, in the Battle-field of the WORLD'S GREAT VALLEY OF ARMAGEDDON! And, woe be to the inhabitants of the earth, while INTEMPERANCE, "the abomination of desolation," retains its predominance in the land!

This book of historical temperance reminiscences, and argumentative deductions in support of the principles and progress of the temperance reformation, will be concluded with several Moral-suasive Addresses, delivered by the author, on various occasions; comprising the First Address delivered before the pioneer parent Temperance Society, on their first quarterly meeting, verbatim from the original MS., together with various temperance anecdotes founded on well-authenticated facts, all which is hereby dedicated to the Friends of Temperance in this land, and all other nations of the earth.