THE LATE REV. CHARLES STOVEL

avail ? The feelings of the child would naturally run in a certain current, and the impression would not be easily

effaced. Professional duties were greatly impeded by AS A TEMPERANCE REFORMER,

the drinking usages of society. Hell could produce no

evil equal to that of the pernicious customs which preBy Rev. Dawson Burns, D.D.

vailed in reference to strong drink. The feelings were blunted, the understanding was blinded, the judgment

was perverted, and infidel principles were engendered HARLES STOVEL"was a name

and matured. The man who could derive enjoyment of power in the Baptist denomina from a glass of liquor, had not attained to that elevation tion before most of the names now and happiness which he ought to enjoy. He trusted most celebrated-as, for instance,

that his brethren would enter on that sphere of Christian

labour with prayerfulness and self-denial. Let them leave that of Charles H. Spurgeon

the drink to the drunkard, and the moderationist; but 9 had been heard of. As a writer, a | let them give their hearts to the Lord, and apply them

speaker, and for many years as a selves devotedly to the promotion of the objects of the preacher, Mr. Stovel commanded a

Society. large audience and sustained a high reputation. During the same year Mr. Stovel addressed He lived to a patriarchal age, as patriarchs now

other Meetings for the advocacy of Temperance, are reckoned, and by his death was snapped and none could doubt the sincerity or deny the one of the few links of living men which still

cogency of his words. He had, as all who have join the Baptists of to-day with the Baptists of heard him on the platform must remember, a the days of William Carey and Robert Hall. manner at once dignified and earnest; and when It is to the honour of Mr. Stovel that in the his heart was stirred with a great emotion, the prime of his strength and popularity, he recog utterance was deep and majestic in its sweep. nised the value of the Total Abstinence principle Mr. Stovel not only adhered to his Temperance and the claims of the Temperance reform. He

rule of life while life endured, but he was recepdid not oppose it, or ignore it, but he embraced

tive of new ideas, and welcomed new modes of it,-made it his own, and employed his abilities

action. He was free from that narrowness of and influence for its promotion. I cannot say

vision which can see only in one direction; and whether he was identified with the earliest he both presided and spoke at meetings in the phase of the Temperance movement,—that of East of London convened for the legislative abstinence from ardent spirits, --nor can I state, suppression of the liquor traffic. On one of how soon he became associated with the Total these occasions, at the Beaumont Institution, Abstinence cause in the East of London. But | he delivered his soul with an energy and pathos I find in the Temperance Intelligencer, of March which thrilled and subdued the assembly. A 28th, 1840, an account of a meeting held in Temperance speech delivered by him at Exeter Little Prescot Street Chapel, for the formation Hall not many years ago was also justly reof a branch to the East London Auxiliary of garded as a masterpiece of its kind. To the the British and Foreign Society for the suppres last he took a lively interest in the progress of sion of Intemperance, of which Earl Stanhope the movement for which he had pleaded when was the President. At this meeting, February foes were many and mighty, and friends were 26th, 1840, speeches, were delivered by both few and often feeble. That he had faults is Rev. John Howard Hinton, M.A., of Devon

certain, for he was human; but it can never be shire Square Chapel, another Baptist celebrity, said of him that he allowed a great reform to and Mr. Stovel. The latter is reported to have grow up in the midst of his own sphere without said :

any mark of approval or any form of assistance.

Even when men were disposed to scorn the In reference to the medical use of wine, if a medical practitioner“ upon his honour" prescribed wine or

movement, they could not affect contempt for its spirits for some medical purpose, he might believe him, advocate, when that advocate was Charles but he was afraid men often prescribed such things to Stovel ; and in this respect he is a model which please their patients, who had acquired an unnatural taste

the younger ministers of our denomination for them. They ought not to take them to assist conversation nor in the way of compliment, and when medically

may fittingly reproduce, so that others may prescribed, whether wine or spirits or arsenic, or any

admire in them that devotion to a noble cause Other poison, they ought to be taken as a point of honour, which we long delighted to admire in him. and only as a means of preserving life or promoting health. In reference to the important principle to which attention had been directed that evening, he observed that

DISCUSSION UPON TeetOTALISM.--A debate took place it applied to ministers of religion with peculiar force, because of the value of the souls for whom they laboured.

in the Lower Room, Exeter Hall, on December 14th, "Physician heal thyself" was a proverb often applied, and between Mr. C. R. Haig, Wine and Spirit Merchant, and they must abandon their little drops before their example

the Rev. Dawson Burns, D.D., on the question, “ Is the would be made fully available. They might converse with a child for an hour, but if the precept was contrary to

sale of intoxicating liquors as beverages consistent with their own example, if when a friend came in, the wine

Christian principles ?” The Bond of Union for February was produced out of courtesy, what would the precept will contain a report of the discussion,

MY REASONS FOR BEING A TOTAL

quacks in advertising their nostrums for curing

all the ills that flesh is heir to. Life without ABSTAINER.

health is better than death, most people say ; By the Rev. Thomas Henson.

“skin for skin, all that a man hath will he give

for his life,"_but it is life with health, or with LIKED a social glass, and fancied— the best health that I can secure, that I want,

like many others that it did me good. I and finding that alcohol, in whatever form it In 1863 I had a helper in my Christian might be taken, vitiates the blood, which is the work in North London who was a | life, my resolution grew stronger; and my exMember of a Congregational Church, perience, with the wisest and best medical and had the charge of the Weekly testimony and practice, have confirmed the perOffering boxes at the Chapel doors. 'fect safety of the plan. So, to secure to myself I missed him several weeks, and his the best health possible, is my fourth reason.

work was falling sadly into arrears. Every man should try and leave the world Calling at his house one day, I was shocked better than he found it, as Timothy Bennet, the exceedingly by the weird, haggard, woe-begone shoemaker of Hampton Wick, said to Lord face of his poor wife. She had been a cheerful, Halifax, when he contended with him for the pleasant woman, but here was a change! To right of way through Bushy Park. Now that is my enquiry as to her trouble, she said as well just what I should like to do, and as much betas she could, “ My poor husband has not been ter as possible. But every man needs strength sober this three weeks." He was not at home, if he will do much work for the world-strength por could she tell when he would be: but at of brain, strength of nerve and muscle, and length I caught him on a Sabbath afternoon. / strength of purity. I found that alcohol cannot He was then drunk; to my enquiry after his make bone, or brain, nerve or muscle, and that welfare, he said, “I am none the better for see its action upon nerve, muscle, and brain, is to ing you.” It was useless to reason with him in diminish strength and force. Hereupon I resolved that state, so, after persuading him not to go to keep to Total Abstinence, and I am confirmed out again till I had called the next morning, I in that resolution by the experience and testileft him. He kept his promise, and I found mony of many of the hardest workers among him somewhat sobered. He told me then how navvies, boat racers, blacksmiths, soldiers, he had fallen. His business was in the baga travellers, and brain toilers. And that is my telle table line, and going to a public-house to fifth reason. do some repairs, he had been persuaded to drink Perhaps I ought to finish the story with which and drink, till he was drunk: then shame I began. The man for whose sake I signed the drove him deeper into the mire. I proposed pledge kept it well and truly for a long time, and the pledge to him ; he resented that, and would many months after he thanked me for having not hear of it, but at length he yielded when he helped him. His wife's face brightened up again, saw me, for his sake, sign it before him. That and her heart seemed to return to its wonted was my first reason.

serenity. After a while, I removed into the That step led to reflection upon Christ's ex country, and for some years heard nothing of ample and self-denial in seeking men's souls, him. Then I learned that again he fell, through and finding that total abstinence from all strong his trade leading him to work in public-houses ; drinks gave me a power for Him, which mode his wife died ; his business failed ; from being rate drinking deprived me of, I determined to a master he became a workman; growing incontinue an abstainer for Christ's sake. That temperance disgusted his employers, and dewas my second reason.

prived him of his work, and he became a social I am charmed with life ; to live is a joy. To wreck. Perhaps, that may suggest a reason live long seems the craving wish of all, and I why, when the pledge is taken, it should be kept. am no exception in that wish. I wanted to live He is safe who keeps it, he is not who breaks it. as long as I possibly could ; and I had given up my glass which I had fancied was good for me. But I was led into the studying of alcohol and HOW TO OBTAIN "THE BOND OF UNION." its action on the human body; and finding that strong drinks tended to shorten life, and that Send an EIGHTEEN PENNY POSTAL NOTE Total Abstinence tended to longevity, I resolved to the Hon. Sec., Mr. JAMES T. SEARS, 11, Crane to stick to the good practice, and the wisdom of Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C., and One Copy that resolution is being confirmed every day by I will be sent Monthly, post free ; or, better still, the books and returns of many life assurance send a HALF-CROWN Postal Note, and Two offices. And so, my desire for a long life became Copies will be sent, one of which can be given my third reason.

Baptist Total Abstinence

Association. aren

Temperance Societies, and the increase of total abstinence practice in

THE BOND OF UNION, must be sent to Mr JAMES T. SEARS, Ilon. Sec.. u Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C., before the 15th of January,

among the Baptist Churches of our land, we trench on no ground already occupied, and

while we hope to receive the kindly notice and President.-W. S. CAINE, Esq., M.P. Treasurer-J. B. Meredith, Esq., St. Loo, Upper Richmond Road,

help of Temperance workers generally and Putney, S.W.

especially of Societies similar to our own, we Hon. Secretary-Mr. JAMES TRESIDDER Sears, 11, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.

hasten to offer to them all our loving greetings Travelling SecretariesLondon and Home Counties--Rev. P. G. Scorey, 53, Oakhurst Grove,

and the assurance of our fraternal regard. We East Dulwich, S.E.

wish our magazine to be a “Bond of Union,” not Provincial-Rev. J. M. HEWSON, Henley-on-Thames.

only within our own borders, but also between 1.-OBJECTS.-To assist in the formation of Baptist Congregational

ourselves and our brethren of kindred Associa

tions. Their words will, we trust, often adorn and by the Baptist Denomination, by means of deputations, lectures, sermons, meetings, the circulation of literature, and all other suitable

our pages, and their work will be reported here, methods of operations.

11.-MEMBERSHIP.-To consist of abstaining Baptist Ministers, and no effort shall be wanting on our part to Deacons, Elders, Professors and Students of Baptist Colleges and of abstaining Delegates to the Baptist Union.

maintain and foster the good understanding and Other Baptists who abstain, and contribute to the funds of the Association a subscription of at least 2s. 6d. per annum, shall also be

friendly relations which, happily for us all, exist eligible for membership.

among Total Abstainers of every class and 1SS. and Communications should be addressed to "the Editors,

name, Bond of Union," 11, Cranc Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C. All Con. We shall, of course, give monthly reports of the tributions must be accompanied by the name and address of the sender.

work and progress of our own Association, and ADVERTISEMENTS intended for insertion in the next number of if the future fulfils the promise of the past, these

will be gratifying and full of interest. We For terms, &c., apply as above.

shall farther seek to furnish directions and materials which may aid and guide the labours of those who are comparatively new to Temperance advocacy. The young will never be forgotten in our pages, and nothing will give us greater pleasure than to know that our magazine finds acceptance and renders service among those most promising of all Temperance

Societies-our Bands of Hope. And from time - - - - - = - ==

- - .. JANUARY, 1884.

to time (as in the present instance) our numbers will contain articles from the pens of Brethren,

beloved and honoured wherever they are known, E send forth this first number of the in which the principles underlying the great

Bond of Union in humble depen Total Abstinence movement, and the object and dence on the Divine blessing. It claims of our own Society, will be expounded

will, we are sure, be welcome to and commended. For these papers especially, 29 the growing membership of the we bespeak the candid and thoughtful perusal wote Baptist Total Abstinence Association, of friends who are not as yet in full sympathy 36 and to many other friends who wish us with us, earnestly hoping that many may thus God-speed in our work.

be induced to join us in a work, the advanceIn issuing our magazine we have no need to ment of which will, we believe, largely promote apologise as if we were intruding where we are the prosperity of the Churches, the success of not wanted. Numerous as are the Serials which the Ministry, and the salvation of n worthily claim the attention of the public, there And now we bid our Messenger go on its way, is a place left for us, and we must try to fill it. | charged with kindest and heartiest New Year's The recent rapid growth of the Association with wishes for our readers, and bearing with it the which we are connected, affords ample scope prayer, the spirit of which will, we trust, guide for our efforts, and requires such aid as we seek | and animate all our future work—“ Grace be to render. In this endeavour to assist in with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ spreading the principles of Total Abstinence in sincerity.”

BOND ON UNIUL

our Abstainers' List. Of the 235 Students in the Colleges, 223 are abstainers.

For the first seven years' of the Association's existence, a quiet and useful work was done, | but as the Subscription List in 1880 was only

£24 gs. 6d., it will be seen that there was no means for aggressive work. It was at this

time that the Committee determined on taking ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS.

a bolder course of action, and nobly led by

Mr. Caine, their resolution soon took a By James TRESIDDER SEARS, Hon. Sec. practical form, and resulted in the appointment

of the Rev. W. L. Lang, as Travelling SecreOWARDS the close of the year 1873,

tary in March, 1881. A summary of his work Mr. Samuel Bowly, the President will be found on page 15. of the National Temperance League,

The progress made during the past three invited a number of abstaining

years will be seen from the fact that the receipts Baptist Ministers and other gentle

for the twelve months ending March, 1883, were men to meet him, to consider what £377 5s. Id., and expenditure £373 175. 4d. steps could be taken to extend the

The sum of £30 145. 4d. was received for V Total Abstinence Movement in the Publications last year, as against nothing * Denomination.

in the previous year. As the outcome of this Conference, a Com

As, however, the funds had been repeatedly mittee was formed to draw up a constitution overdrawn during the year, and a further and plan of action, and the first Meeting was

extension of the work was considered advisable, held on December 8th, 1873, in the rooms of

a Grand Bazaar was held last June in Cannon the National Temperance League.

Street Hotel, and a nett profit of about £ 500 The first President of the 'Association was realized. This enabled the Committee to Mr. J. S. Wright, of Birmingham, who was

secure the services of the Rev. P. G. Scorey, seven years later elected Member of Parlia late of Southsea, as Travelling Secretary for ment for Nottingham, but was suddenly re

London and the Home Counties, and to engage moved by the hand of death before entering a clerk to assist the Honorary Secretary in upon his Parliamentary duties. Mr. W. S. the greatly increasing duties of that position. Caine, M.P., for Scarborough, was then elected

“The BOND OF UNION,” has also been launched, President.

in the hope that it will prove an additional The first Treasurer was Mr. J. P. Bacon, who

means of extending the principles of Total also worthily filled the office of Chairman of Abstinence in the Denomination.. Committee until 1881, when he resigned his

As many of our readers are aware, the official connection with the Association, the

Rev. W. L. Lang has resigned the office he vacant post being filled by Mr. J. B. Meredith,

filled for two and a half years with so much our present Treasurer.

credit to himself and benefit to the Association. The first Hon. Secretaries were the Revs. John We are sorry to lose his services in that Clifford, M.A., D.D., and W. J. Mayers, but capacity, but are glad that he will continue the latter was only able to fulfil the duties for

to render the Association service by joining a few months, in consequence of his removal to

the Committee. The Rev. J. M. Hewson, late Bristol in the year 1874. He was succeeded

of Henley-on-Thames, who has had large by the Rev. R. R. Finch, who held the position

experience in Temperance work, has been until May, 1875, when he resigned, and the

appointed Mr. Lang's successor. present Hon. Secretary, Mr. James T. Sears,

The success which has lately attended the was elected to the vacant office in conjunction

work of the Association is indeed remarkable, with the Revs. John Clifford, M.A., D.D., and and affords reason for deep thankfulness. To S. H. Booth. Twelve months since the two

secure the continuance of the present operations, latter gentlemen retired from the Secretaryship,

however, it is absolutely necessary that the and became Vice-Presidents.

Subscription List shall be doubled during the At the end of the first 18 months the next eighteen months. Will our readers kindly Membership of the Association consisted of

help towards this ? Any contributions sent for 138 Ministers, 72 Students, and 103 Church

this purpose, will be thankfully received, and Officers, making a total of 318.

acknowledged in “ The Bond of Union.” The present Membership is 1,086 Ministers, 223 Students, and 2,130 Church Officers and MarriaGE OF THE Rev. W.L. LANG.–Our readers will be Subscribers, giving a total of 3,439. There is