Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/848

 818 TOTAL ABSTINENCE national convention was held in Chicago in 1875. It resolved "to nominate and vote for such candidates only, state and national, as will unqualifiedly indorse and sustain the pro- hibition of the liquor traffic," and "that when- ever suitable nominations are not otherwise made, independent prohibition candidates be nominated." Political action was early taken by temperance organizations, many local offi- cers being elected in various states as temper- ance candidates ; and in 1854 the candidate of the temperance party for governor in New York, Myron H. Clark, was supported by the remnant of the whig party, and elected. In 1872 the Hon. James Black of Lancaster, Pa., was nominated for president, and received votes in New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. To- tal Abstinence Societies. The " Washingtonian Temperance Society" was formed in Baltimore, April 5, 1840, by six men of intemperate hab- its, who signed a pledge of total abstinence with the determination to urge others to do the same. The number of members rapidly increased, and at the first anniversary of the society more than 1,000 reformed drunkards marched in procession. Similar societies were formed in various parts of the United States, and speakers travelled through many states, advocating the cause. It is estimated that 150,000 decidedly intemperate men signed the pledge and gave up drink. The first division of the " Sons of Temperance " was organ- ized in New York city in 1842, by John W. and Isaao Oliver. The order increased with great rapidity, numerous divisions being or- ganized in every state and territory, and in Canada and Great Britain. The strength of the order reached its maximum in 1850, when there were in the United States, Canada, and England 37 grand divisions and 6,097 subor- dinate divisions, with a total membership of 238,903. In 1873 there were 42 grand and 1,836 subordinate divisions, with 82,299 mem- bers; the number of members in Great Brit- ain was 11,116. The basis of the organiza- tion is: 1, a strict adherence to the princi- ples of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks ; 2, the payment of regular dues to form a common fund for cooperative tem- perance agitation, mutual aid in sickness and distress, and funeral expenses. The " Temple of Honor and Temperance " was organized by prominent sons of temperance, and designed as a higher branch of that order. The first temple was instituted in New York city in 1845 ; a national temple was organized in 1846. In 1848 all connection with the sons of tem- perance was severed, and the temple of honor assumed an independent position. In 1855 there were 343 temples, with 13,860 members. In 1874 there were 20 grand temples, with 315 subordinate and 110 inner temples, the total membership being 16,923. The order stands firmly by total abstinence as the only rule of personal duty, and prohibition as the true policy of the state. The " Independent Order of Good Templars" was formed in 1852, on the basis of total abstinence from all intoxi- cating liquors as a beverage, and the absolute prohibition by law of the manufacture, im- portation, and sale of intoxicating liquors for beverages. The society has passwords, signs, grips, and signals. There are four degrees: the subordinate degree, degree of fidelity, de- gree of charity, and grand lodge degree. Each grand lodge is the head or legislative body of the state or territory where it exists, and is composed of representatives from the subor- dinate lodges within the jurisdiction. The grand lodges meet annually and elect repre- sentatives to form the right worthy grand lodge, whose province is to legislate upon all matters of general interest to the whole order. In 1875 there were 60 grand lodges within the jurisdiction of the order ; there are grand lodges in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere, besides subordinate lodges in China, India, Japan, France, Ger- many, Holland, Portugal, Africa, and the West Indies. The total membership is estimated at 735,000. In England, where the order has its greatest numerical strength, there are 3,618 lodges, with 166,708 members. Great Brit- ain. The temperance movement in Great Brit- ain was begun by John Dunlop, a justice of the peace for Renfrewshire, who devoted him- self to the cause in Scotland in 1828, and in 1829 formed the first temperance society near Glasgow. The first total abstinence society was organized at Dunfermline in 1830. In Ire- land the cause was first advocated by the Rev. George Whitmore Carr, who organized a so- ciety at New Ross, county Wexford, in 1829. The first total abstinence society was formed at Strabane in 1835. Father Theobald Mathew began his labors at Cork in 1838, and soon ex- tended them not only to all parts of Ireland, but to England and Scotland. The total ab- stinence society formed by him in 1838 con- tained 1,800,000 members in 1840. The con- sumption of whiskey in Ireland decreased from 12,500,000 gallons in 1838 to 6,500,000 gallons in 1841. In 1843 the number of persons pledged to total abstinence exceeded 5,000,000. The active movement against intemperance in England began in 1830, when the first society was formed at Bradford by Henry Forbes, a merchant. Other societies were organized du- ring the same year at Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds ; and in 1831 the " British and Foreign Temperance Society " was formed, with a pledge " to abstain from distilled spirits except for medicinal purposes." This society, which had for its patron the bishop of Lon- don, and among its vice presidents bishops, ad- mirals, and other persons of high official rank, held for many years a prominent place in the temperance movement. At first these societies did not oppose the moderate use of wine and malt liquors. The first total abstinence socie- ty in England was formed at Preston in 1832.