Carroll County, Indiana - The Temperance Movement, 1882

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT. Early Agitation of the Subject - Okganization as a more Effective Method - The Old Wasiiingtonians - The Sons OF Temperance - Work of the Order in Carroll County - Divisions Instituted - The Good Te.mplaks - Something OF what they Accomplished - The Murphy Movement -

A T the time when Carroll County began to be populated, and for -^--*- a long period antecedent thereto, the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage was rather the rule than the exception in the regulations of society. Drinking was a custom that had come down from preceding generations with the sanction of the masses - indeed, the chm'ch, at least some of the branches of it, recognized, even encouraged, the continuance of the custom as essential to the maintenance of good order and propriety. With this early custom, however, the phase of di'unkenness seldom manifesting itself was less common and less reprehensible, viewed in the light of its effect upon the victims of indulgence, than at present. Then, the choice liquors of the day were found in almost every side-boai'd or cupboard, the presence of which was deemed and observed as the only medimn thi"ough which a visitor could be received into good society, according to the accepted interpretation of the times. This method of interpretation was only moditied by the agitation consequent upon the abuse of the liberty under the privileges of which the frequent use of intoxicants obtained. Moral suasion, so called, embodied the chief element of the agitation, and was calculated to induce a recognition of the question in comparison with the moral obligations of each individual to every other with whom he or she might come in contact in the di'ama of life. At first, the agitators consisted of those persons in whom the moral idea predominated, whose stock in trade was the reprehensible feature of the excessive use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, without considering the matter in any other light than as a violation of the moral law.

These agitators often acquired notoriety as '" religious zealots," self-constituted committees, charged with the important functions of assisting in the reconstruction of individual and public economy. In many instances these functions were faithfully performed with results worthy of the effort expended; in others, however, the influences for good was scarcely perceptible, and among others, upon whom these influences were brought to bear - persons not given to the recognition of the rights of others as paramount to their own, the effect was, not unfrequently, to mduce greater excesses as an exhibition of stubbornness in the maintenance of the boasted privilege of "personal liberty," to do as he pleased. Persons of this latter class were not unfrequently met with in the earlier periods, even at the present day like examples were found who lose their personal liberty in their disability to exercise even the right to be sober.

At a later period, the representatives of religious organizations were clothed with the prerogatives of presenting in the name of the church, the ai'guments illustrative of the religious view of temperance and of forming societies for the more effective promulgation of the doctrines of moral refoi-m, temperance being made a specialty. Some of the church organizations sanctioned and even encouraged the formation of temperance societies as auxiliary instrumentalities for the inducement to membership in the church itself. All these agencies and others were brought into requisition in furthering these legitimate objects of refoim, and unitedly they produced a change in public opinion concerning the great question in issue.

The " Washingtonian " movement was, perhaps, the fii'st regularly organized effort designed to suppress the use of intoxicants as a beverage, even temperately, claiming that indulgence, even to a limtied extent, was dangerous, especially to those whose appetites had a craving for such excitants which, when gratified, exercised an unyielding control over the victim, notwithstanding the dictates of a mature judgment to the contrary. These organizations spread over the entire commimity and became a mighty power in the land, in the face of the most formidable opposition. Through its agency a great reform was wrought and the public mind was thoroughly imbued with the spirit that actuated the movement. Leading men and women made common cause with the prime movers, and, by example and influence, exerting themselves to their utmost in the interest of sobriety. Societies were organized in town and country. Lecturers were in the field cultivating all available ground and accomplished much, oftentimes availing themselves of the confusions of the " reformed " as arguments too potent to be gainsayed. The " refoimed " also were made vualuable auxiliaries in inducing others far gone in intemperance, by a comparison of experiences in the sin with the means of reformation and the beneficial results of total abstinence. The existence of branches of this society in Carroll County is a wellremembered fact, but the record of their operations and the active agents engaged in them cannot now be accurately recalled. This movement had its origin at Baltimore, Md , and was the outgrowth of the labors of Dr. George B. Cheever, of Salem, Mass., and others designed to concentrate an effort for the common good of all who indulged their appetites for strong drink.

The following details are copied from " Our First Century," and give a fair and accurate outline of the circumstances incident to the organization of this first temperance society or order.

It appears that six individuals who were in the habit of associating together, were seated, as usual, on Friday evening, April 2, 1840, in Chase's tavern, in Liberty street, Baltimore, where they were accustomed to meet almost every evening, for the purpose of enjoying mutually all the benefits and conveniences which that establishment and each other's society could possibly afford. These were William K. Mitchell, tailor; John F. Hoss, carpenter; David Anderson, blacksmith; George Steers, blacksmith; James McCurley, coach-maker, and Archibald Campbell, silver-plater. A clergyman who was preaching in the city at that time had given public notice that on that evening he would deliver a discourse on the subject of temperance. Upon this lectiu-e the conversation of the six comrades presently turned, whereupon it was agreed that four of them should go and hear it and report accordingly. So, after the sermon they returned and conversed on its merits for some time, when one of the companions remarked: 'After all, temperance is a good thing.' 'Oh,' said the host, 'they are all a parcel of hypocrites." ' Oh, yes,' replied McCurley, 'I'll be bound for you; it's your interest to cry them down, anyhow. I tell you what, boys, let's form a society and make Bill Mitchell, President.' ' Agreed !' cried they . The idea seemed to take wonderfully, and the more they talked and laughed over the idea the more they were pleased with it.

After parting that night, they did not all meet again until Sunday, when they took a stroll, and, between walking and treating, they managed to arrange the whole matter to their entire satisfaction. It was agreed that one of them should draw up a pledge, and that the whole party should sign it the next day. Accordingly, on Monday morning, Mitchell wrote the following pledge: "We whose names are annexed, desirous of forming a society for our mutual benefit, and to guard against a pernicious practice, which is injurious to our health, standing and families, do pledge ourselves as gentlemen, that we will not drink any spirituous or malt liquors, wine or cider."

He went with this about 9 o'clock to Anderson's house, and found him still in bed, sick from the effect of his Sunday adventlu'es. He arose, however, dressed himself, and, after hearing the pledge read, went down to his shop with his friends for pen and ink, and there did himself the honor of being the first man to sign. After obtaining the names of the remaining four, the worthy President finished this noble achievement by adding his own. On the evening of that day, they met at the residence of one of their niunber and duly formed themselves into a society with the usual officers. Little did these six associates know of the fame and achievements they were molding.

Having thus got under way, they next turned their attention to obtaining members and devising moans to defray the expenses of their meetings. It was therefore agreed that each man should bring a man, and every one should pay 25 cents upon becoming a member, and 12 J cents monthly thereafter. The next debate was as to tl;e name they should give their society. A number wove proposed, among them that of Jefferson, when it was finally agreed that the President and Secretary should be a committee to draft a constitution and select a name. This they did, giving to the association the name of the " Washington Temperance Society," in honor of the father of his country, and were consequently known as "Washingtonians."

" Great and wonderful were the results destined to flow from the ' Washington Temperance Society,' thus started from those six inebriates in the city of Baltimore. At their second meeting they had two new members; but, in a comparatively short time, the society increased so much that it became a question how they could employ their time so as to make their meetings interesting. The President thereupon suggested that each member should rise in his place and give his experience, and, by way of commencement, he arose and told what he had passed through in the last fifteen years, and the advantages he had derived from signing the total abstinence pledge. This was the origin of that most popular and efficient method which the Washingtonian Society and all its auxiliaries adopted for giving interest and effect to their gatherings. Signers were thus obtained and the attentic.u of the public was attracted, so that a class was reached which otherwise might not have been affected by the labors of those other good men who had, for so many years, been engaged in promoting temperance in a different way."

By Christmas in 18-40, the reform had become so popular that thousands had flocked to its standard and enrolled themselves as the friends of temperance. The wave had swept onward and tidings of the great reformation reached distant cities. On invitation from New York, for a delegation of five men to hold experience meetings twice every day for one week in that city, Messrs. Hawkins, Pollard, Shaw, Casey and Mitchell, proceeded to that place and there held the first Washingtonian missionary meeting ever known in the United States. It was a tyj^e of that success which was to accompany this new system in behalf of temperance, for, dm'ing each of the speeches, multitudes came forward and signed the pledge, and, taken all together, such a scene had never before been witnessed in New York. But the most powerful among all the advocates of Washingtonian reform was Mr. John H. W. Hawkins, who rose from the very gutter of drunkenness to the rostrmn of impassioned eloquence in advocacy of reform, and with prodigious success.

The peculiar circumstances of his history had an almost overpowering effect of his own feelings whenever he spoke, and his audiences listened now breathlessly and anon with nnconti-ollable demonstrations of enthusiasm. He was a man of plain good common sense, with a peculiar sincerity about him and an easy way of working up his hearers to a state of sympathy with him. He would at one time assume the melting mood, and picture the scenes of a drunkard's home - and that home his own - and the fountains of generous feelings, in many hearts, gushed forth in tears; as he related some ludicrous story, those tearful eyes glistened with delight, sighs changed to hearty shouis and long faces were convulsed with broad grins and glorious smiles. Drunkards and outcasts of the worst type that swam in the festering piu-lieus and penetralia of New York, were reclaimed, and such was the overwhelming power of the movement, that, finally, immense meetings were hold in the pai-k. In Boston, too, the old 'Cradle' of Liberty rocked with tumultuous enthusiasm for independence from the tyrant of strong drink."*

The popularity of this new organization, as shown by the influence exerted by it in checking tlie progress of the cuiTent of intemperance so disastrous to life and life's purposes in the cities of the East, having traversed the vast fields there, presented and lifted thousands from the slough of degradation into which the habitual use of alcoholic beverages had thrown them, gradually moved Westward conquering and to conquer. The fii'st introduction of the order into this portion of Indiana was about the year 1843, soiae three years or more subsequent to its most auspicious commen<;ement in the Monumental City. Here, as elsewhere, its introduction was hailed by the friends of good order and reform with heartfelt satisfaction; by those, however, who, from a fear of being deprived of the freedom guaranteed by the great Charter of American Liberty, marshaled themselves in the ranks of the drunken and dissolute of society, with defiant sneers or silent iudiiference. Notwithstanding some of those adverse manifestations, the meetings were well attended and the niunber who signed the {irescribed pledge in their own behalf and for the benefit of others, was great, compared with the aggregate of the population. The societies organized here continued to flourish^ exerting an influence for good for a number of years, the efi'ects of which are observable in the manners and characteristics of our people to-day. Though the societies so formed, in the course of time, through a want of the vitalizing energy consequent upon continued success, disbanded, yet the spirit of the teachings remained and the good results obtained continued also - tangible evidences that the work had not been in vain - monuments marking the former existence of a movement destined to

The work thus forwai'ded by the molding hands of the Washingtonians constituted a safe foundation of an order possessing less of the public promiscuous enthusiasm characterizing the earlier organization, but promising and foreshadowing a working system not subject to the gaze of the outer world, with secrets behind the vail of the most attractive significants - beautiful symbology representing the prime virtues - " Love, Purity and Fidelity." The beneficent order was known as the Sons of Temperance. It was a legitimate outgrowth of the Washingtonian system preserving most or all of its attractive features, omitting those not well received, and adding new ones calculated to interest and sustain the members, while cultivating temperance as the cardinal element, embellishing the ceremonies with the chaste and elegant lessons of Christian duty and obligation. A brief reference to the date and circumstances of its origin and development will not be oiit of place in this connection. Touching this matter we cojiy the following from the report of Luke Hassert, Grand Scribe of the National Division of the order, prepared and submitted by him pursuant to a resolution of that body, on the 17th of June, 1844:

"On the 29th. of September, 184'2, sixteen persons engaged in the temperance cause, believing that an institution was called for, based upon the strictest virtue, morality and sobriety, affording mutual aid in seasons of sickness and distress, met at Teetotalers' Hall, 71 Division street. New York, and organized the order of the Sons of Temperance, adopted a constitution and took other preliminary measures to commence active operation. So well pleased were they with the plan proposed that they entered into it with an ardor seldom witnessed.

"The constitution and principles were extensively circulated through the country by means of The Organ (a newspaper devoted to the good cause of temperance), and an application for a charter to open a division in the city of Newark, N. J., was received ere our order was a month old. As there were not a sufficiency of brothers legally constituted to form the Grand Division, and, as the power to gi-ant charters, and perform othei' functions appertaining to that body was called for, New York Division, No. 1 (the original, and, at that time, the only Division of the Order), appointed a delegation, consisting of Daniel H. Sands, E. L. Snow, John W. Oliver, James Bale, Thomas Edgerly, Evan Griffith and Francis W. Wolf, to act as a Grand Division, pro tem. Thus constituted, that body went into operation, December 10, 1842, on which occasion the charter for Newark Division, No. 1, of New Jersey, was granted, and, on the 15th of the same month, the Division was instituted by the Grand officers. On December 15, a charter was gi-anted for Union Division, No. 2, and, on the 30th, a charter for Friendship Division, No. 3, both of New York City.

" There being now the constituted number of Patriarchs and Associates to form the Grand Division proper, January 0, 1843, the organization existing under the resolution of New York Division, No. 1, above referred to, was dissolved, and the Grand Division of the State of New York duly organized. The following were the officers elected: Daaiel H. Sands, G. W. P.; John P. Jeraleman, G. W. A.; John W. Oliver, G. Scribe; Alexander Young, G. T.; Evan Griffith, G. Chaplain; A. L. West, G. Conductor; AVilliam Tate, G. Sentinel." From January 9, 1843, to January 8, 1844, twenty-eight other Divisions were instituted in and in the vicinity of the city of New York. At that date, the Grand Division of the State of New Jersey was chartered by the Grand Division of New York, acting as the Grand Fountainhead of the United States, and was regularly instituted by the Grand officers on the 25th. Between that time and the 17th of June, 1844, thirty-seven other charters were granted, including those for Grand Divisions in the States of Mai-yland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, At the date last named, the Grand Division of the United States was constituted, holding its session in the hall of the Grand Division of the State of New York in the city of New York.

" On the 11th of May, 1845, under the authority of the National Division, P. G. W. P. White, of Pennsylvania, organized the Grand Division of the State of Ohio, fi-om which body the following subordinate Divisions - Indiana, No. 1, Wayne, No. 2, Clark, No. 3, Christal Fount, No. 4, Unity, No. 6, Fayette, No. 7, Madison, No. 8, and Washington, No. 10, in the State of Indiana, received charters empowering them to work. These charters were granted to those Indiana subordinate Divisions in the winter of 1845-46.

"The representatives of these eight Divisions, working under the aforesaid authority, met at the town of Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., on the 2d of May, 1846, at which time J. C. Vaughn, G. W. P., of Ohio, vested with power as Deputy Most Worthy Patriarch, organized the Grand Division of the State of Indiana. The following were the Grand officers elected and installed on that occasion: E. H. Barry, G. W. P.; John Pritchell, G. W. A.; J. R. Goodwin, G. Scribe; William B. Smith, G. F.; James A. Nelson, G. Conductor; Anselm Butler, G. Sentinel. At the time of the institution of the Grand Division of the State of Indiana, there were ten subordinate Divisions represented whose charters had been granted by the Grand Division of Ohio. From the time of the institution of the Grand body, charters were granted for the organization of subordinate branches of the order in most parts of the State, wherever the situation seemed to make the organization an important element in the advancement of the temperance cause. At a quarterly session of the Grand Division.

held in January, 1847, thirty-seven subordinate Divisions were reported as being in active operation, and, at the quarterly session, held in April following, three months later, sixty-six Divisions were reported by the Grand Deputies as being actively engaged in their important mission and accomplishing much good within their respective jurisdictions. Dm'ing the session, the Appropriate Committee reported favorably on applications for ten additional Divisions and granted charters.

In July, 1847, ninety-two Divisions were reported with a membership of 3,040, among whom but fifty violations had been reported, of which number twenty- five had signed over. During the quarter preceding, a charter was granted to Cascade Division, No. 88, at Delphi, and it entered at once upon a successful career, including in its membership some of the most influential cttizens of the place. In July, 1848, on petition, a charter was gi-anted to Pittsbm-g Division, No. 172, at Pittsburg. For the quarter ending March 31, 1849, Cascade Division reported a contributing membership of fifty-six, including eighteen initiated and one admitted, the Division being represented by Aquilla Jones; Pittsburg Division reported a contributing membership of seventythree, twenty-eight having been initiated during the quarter and one admitted by card; Benjamin Winans was the representative. A charter was also granted to Lockport Division, No. 199, in March, and to Camden Division, No. 218, in April, 1849, and to Burlington Division, No. 234, in Jvine of the same year, making four subordinate branches of the Order in Carroll County. For several years subsequent to the organization of these Divisions, the temperance movement was very popular, exerting a good influence to the discouragement of indulgences in the use of intoxicating drinks, and in strengthening those who needed encouragement in their efforts to free themselves from the slavery to which the use of intoxicants had long subjected them.

During the years 1851, 1852 and 1853 especially, the current of public opinion was largely in favor of the cause, manifesting itself very decidedly in the choice of officers to discharge the important duties imposed by law upon the public servants of the people, in the affairs of county and State. The greatest activity was generally observable in the neighborhoods where Divisions of the Sons of Temperance were located and operating most successfully. But the greatest zeal and the most effective work was not always confined to the membership of the order, as might be infen'ed, many persons in no way connected with it, often proving themselves leaders and directors of public sentiment in this regard.

At later periods, when these Divisions, having subserved their purpose for the time being, surrendered their charters and ceased to work, the Good Temjjiars, and finally, the spirit of the Blue Ribbon or Murphy movement came to the front, each in its particular sphere, educating the people so as to qualify them for the responsible duties of citizenship, in giving character to society as it should be - worthy the example of coming generations. Today, notwithstanding intemperance is tolerated, sometimes, in high places, and wields a powerful influence for evil, the sober second thought of the fathers and mothers of oiu- community is on the side of temperance and good order.