THE ORGAN OF THE BAPTIST TOTAL ABSTINENCE ASSOCIATION.

To Promote Unity in Temperance plan and action in the Churches of the Denomination.

THE LATE JOSEPH LIVESEY,

cheeses were purchased, and having made a small profit,

the young trader determined to continue in the business .E announced in last month's BOND OF

thus providentially started. He made a present of his

discarded loom to a Joseph Woodruff, and years afterUNION that we should give a portrait | wards purchased it for a sovereign, and had the materials of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, with a made into a writing-desk. Not long ago the noble old biographical sketch, in this month's man was heard to say—"Turn it over and you will see number, little anticipating that the

the several pieces that constituted the cradle of my future

usefulness; and when I am in my grave may this remind “Father of Total Abstinence,"

my children that their father was a poor man, and that Joseph Livesey, would have passed of all duties incumbent upon them they should never foraway from us so soon. It seems to get the poor." us that in connection with the

HE SIGNS THE PLEDGE. decease of one who has held so long and honourable Mr. Livesey had practised total abstinence about a year a position in the Total Abstinence world—who en

before he signed the celebrated pledge, which contained

the names of six other Prestonians. On the ist January, joyed the peculiar distinction of writing and signing

| 1832, he formed a Temperance Society, consisting of the the first Total Abstinence pledge-special notice young men in the adult Sunday School which he conshould be taken. Under the circumstances, therefore, ducted. The pledge was simply one of abstinence from we give a portrait of the late veteran in this number

ardent spirits and great moderation in fermented liquors.

This, however, soon proved of little value, and after conof our magazine, reserving that of Sir Wilfrid

sulting John King, it was decided to hold a public disLawson until our next number. We are sure that cussion on total abstinence, as against moderation, and our readers will readily acquiesce in this rearrange-| this was held on Saturday, Sept. ist, 1832, and resulted ment. In the following brief sketch we have

in the signing of the following pledge :-"We hereby

agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating endeavoured to give the salient points in Mr.

quality, whether ale, porter, wine, or ardent spirits, exLivesey's career; but space fails us to present cept as medicine." The names of the seven men who anything like an adequate account of a life so signed were John Grattan, Edward Dickenson, John remarkable and full of living energy for the benefit

Broadbelt, John Smith, Joseph Livesey, David Anderton, of his fellow creatures. We cannot do better than

and John King.

°HIS PUBLICATIONS. advise our readers to obtain the little book

In the year 1832 he set up in business as a printer, written by Mr. Frederick Sherlock, entitled “ Joseph

and the temperance reformation has indeed been indebted Livesey, a Life Story," which may be obtained at to his incessant contributions to its literature, espe7. Paternoster Square, London, E.C., for the į cially in the form of pamphlets and tracts, which have

been circulated by the million. From his early years he small sum of one shilling.

had a taste for "scribbling," which he exercised in a HIS EARLY DAYS.

variety of ways--sometimes in the form of “addresses " Toseph Livesey was born on March 5th, 1794, in the or “appeals condemnatory of some popular vice, and village of Walton, one mile from Preston. His father was published as posters on the walls. Then followed pama hand-loom cloth weaver, and his mother a farmer's phlets, one being entitled “The Besetting Sin," directed daughter. He had a brother and sister who died early, and against drunkenness , but recognising the moderate use of his parents both died of consumption within ten weeks of strong drink. In January, 1831, he issued the Moral each other in 1801. Thus at the age of seven little Joseph Reformer, a monthly periodical, which was continued for was left without father, mother, brother, or sister, and he three years; this was superseded by the Temperance Adi. was taken in hand by his grandfather Livesey.

cate, which was the first teetotal serial issued in the kingAs soon as he was old enough he worked at a weaver's dom, and which survives to-day in the British Temperai.. loom, and because he had had but little schooling he used Advocate. In 1844 he started the Preston Guardian, which, to place his open book upon the weaver's beam, so as to with the aid of his sons, was successfully developed and read and work at the same time. His spare moments ultimately disposed of to its present proprietor. Of the after work were also given to close study, so determined numerous temperance publications issued, the “ Staunch was he to push his way in life.

Teetotaler," and the "Malt Liquor Lecture" were preHE COMMENCES BUSINESS.

eminently useful. The latter has been the most widely

circulated; it was first published as a pamphlet at sixAt the age of twenty-one he came in for a legacy of

pence, but penny editions were soon after issued, and in thirty pounds, and with this he furnished a nice little

this form it has been continued ever since. Although cottage, with a garden attached, in his rative village, which

Mr. Livesey disposed of his printing plant with the he took at a rental of seven pounds a year, and on

Guardian, he did not cease to make use of the printingMay 30th, 1815, was married to Miss Williams, the daughter of a master-rigger in Liverpool, and took possession of

press, which continued to work at his behest. his cottage. In the following year he removed to Preston

HIS WIDE-SPREAD USEFULNESS. at the time when the corn laws were in full opera. Throughout his long-extended career of usefulness tion, and he felt the pinch of poverty. At this period his Mr. Livesey had a strong faith in the efficacy of house-tohealth, never very robust, became impaired, and he was house visitation, both in regard to the general relief of advised to live better by the doctor he consulted, who distress and for the promulgation of temperance truths. said that a little cheese and bread, with a sup of malt He not only recommended this course, but pursued it, so liquor, would be of service to him. He does not remem long as he was able, to the benefit of many who were ber whether he had the latter, but he bought a small thus brought within the range of his personal influence quantity of cheap cheese. The Lancashire Cheese Fair His teetotalism has ever been associated with practical was then being held, and he happened to hear that the efforts to ameliorate the condition of his fellow-men. He wholesale prices had declined; it occurred to him that it initiated a number of charitable schemes in times of distress would be an advantage if he could buy a whole cheese notably during the cotton famine, between the years 1862 and and sell it among his reighbours, and this he was enabled 1865, when he devoted most of his spare time to beneficent to do by the timely aid of his friend, John Burnett. Two | labours connected with the Relief Committee. In efforts

associated with the training of the young he took a warm and one for himself; and I was dressed in a interest, and in 1825 started a Youths' Sunday School, new gown, and the children all had new clothes, which provided for the education of those obliged to labour through the week, and who had but little learning.

and shoes and stockings, and upon his chair I Three years later he founded a "Mechanics' Institute,"

put a brand new suit, and upon his plate I put and followed this up with a “Working Man's Club," the bill and receipt for them all, just the eight both of which flourish to this day.

sixteen shillings, the cost that I'd saved out of HIS LAST DAYS.

his wages, not knowing what might happen, Considering his advanced age of 91 years, Mr. Livesey

and that always went for drink. And he cried, had, until quite recently, enjoyed excellent health. It is not long since he was driven to Walton-le-Dale to see his

good lady and good gentleman-he cried like a former residence and the old weaving cellar where he baby, but 'twas with thanks to God; and now had spent his earlier years. On the 15th of August last where's the healthier man than my husband in he was attacked by a painful malady, which had been

the whole county of Cork, or a happier wife anticipated by his immediate relatives. It was seen from the first that the attack was a dangerous one, and the

than myself, or decenter or better-fed children pain accompanying it was at times intense. The veteran, than my own ? " however, bore his affliction bravely, and with great patience and fortitude. His excellent constitution was manifested time after time, and he surprised his doctors Bel ons "THE GOOD OLD TIMES." by frequently rallying after the most painful attacks. He passed away peacefully and tranquilly on Tuesday,

2.OME people live in the past, and September 2nd, after an illness of eighteen days. His

never seem happier than when dis. funeral, which took place on the 5th of September at the Preston Cemetery, was conducted by the Rev. Charles

paraging the present. They look at Garrett, and attended by a large number of leading tempe

everything through dark spectacles, Tance men, and witnessed by at least ten thousand people:

and long (or pretend to) for the good He, being dead, yet speaketh."

old times” to come back again.

To judge by some people's talk, in PLEDGE SIGNING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT!

olden times they could put old heads

on young shoulders, an achievement which is *73HEN Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, were seldom accomplished in the present age. So travelling through Ireland some years They admit that there are certain advantages

since, they entered a cottage in the 1 to be gained by the introduction of railroads,

suburbs of Cork, at the door of which instead of the old cumbersome coach, or the sat a young woman knitting stockings. The marrowbone stage; that the half-penny and cottage was asneat and comfortable as any in the penny post, and the telegraph system, are in most prosperous district of England. Entering many respects preferable to the former expensive into conversation with her, the woman told her and roundabout mode of transmitting letters and story to the following effect :-“ My husband is messages; that cheap food, and clothes, and a wheelwright, and always earned his guinea household requisites are better than the highper week; but the love for strong drink was priced articles that used to be sold; that a cheap powerful in him, and it wasn't often he brought daily press, and the easy access to literature me home more than five shillings out of his generally, are benefits not to be thought lightly guinea on a Saturday night; and it broke my of; and that the improvements which science has heart to see the children too ragged to send to made in the various manufacturing concerns of school, to say nothing of the starved look they the nation are of some value; yet, in spite of all had out of the little I could afford them. Well, | this, the former times are better than the present. God be praised! he took the pledge, and the We are ready to admit that there are many next Saturday he laid twenty-one shillings upon | drawbacks connected with the “rush and the chair you sit upon. O! didn't I give drive” of the present day. It is a difficult thanks upon my bended knees that night! matter to get any quiet time, at least so far as Still I was fearful it wouldn't last, and spent no the Metropolis and our large towns are concerned, more money than the five shillings I used to, where everything is done at express speed; saving to myself, “Maybe the money will be and there can be no doubt that to many of our more wanted than it is now. Well, the next young people, cheap literature is not an unmixed week he brought me the same, and the next, blessing. But, after allowing for all the disadand the next, until eight weeks had passed; vantages of the present time as compared with and, glory to God! there was no change for the the past, we are convinced that the country is bad in my husband; and all the while he never infinitely better,-morally, socially, politically, asked me why there was nothing better for him and religiously,—than it was a century and out of his earnings; so I felt there was no fear | more ago. for him; and the ninth week, when he came Take, for instance, the drinking customs of the home to me, I had this table bought, and these day. They are bad enough now, forsooth; but six chairs, one for myself, four for the children, they are not to be compared with the past.

Let us look back one hundred years, and high glee, 90,000: drunkish, 30,000; staggering what do we see? From an old copy of Chambers' tipsy, 10,000 ; muzzy, 15,000 ; dead drunk 5,000; Miscellany, we find that in London, there were Total, 200,000. certain Hackney coachmen who carried on a There is one feature about these “good old lucrative business by going with their vehicles times,” which would highly commend them to through the streets during the night, in order topers of the present day, for gin could be to take home drunken “gentlemen,” whom they obtained at the following low prices : a gallon, saw staggering about, and who next day paid 25. to 2s. 8d.; a quart, 6d. to 8d ; a pint, 3d. to them liberally for their pains.

4d.; a half pint, itd. to 2d; a quartern, d. to id. ; It was a common saying, and is sometimes a half quartern, d., and occasionally they would quoted at the present day," as drunk as a lord," I make a farthing's worth. No wonder, then, that for in Ireland the rule was that “no.man was the signs of the licensed victuallers' houses to leave the company until he was unable to announced, “You may here get drunk for one stand, and then he might depart if he could penny, dead drunk for twopence, and have walk;" and a story is told of a Lord of Sessions clean straw for nothing." in Edinburgh, showing a guest out of his own So much, then, for this aspect of “the good old door with a lighted candle in his hand at eleven o'clock times.” Glad are we that they are gone, ne'er on a Sunday morning, when the good folks were to return ! passing to Church. Sometimes in those days,

In view of the energetic action now taken by in Scotland, the dinner or supper party were all sections of the Christian Church in favour not suffered to have their own way in departing. of the Temperance Movement, the strong The door was locked by the host, who, pointing

advocacy it now receives from the medical with one hand to the bottles on the table, and profession, and the enlightened state of the with the other to the shakedowns in the adjacent public conscience owing to the faithful workers apartments, showed what he expected from his

in the movement during the past fifty or more guests.

years, we say that the present times are inDr. Grindrod, in Bacchus, gives the following

finitely better than “ the good old times,” about the parish books of Darlington, which we have heard so much. written in “the good old times,” showing how May the next hundred years witness an even intimately the habit of drinking was connected

greater improvement, so that the “good times" with religious services in the seventeenth of the present shall be looked back upon then century :

in the same spirit as we look back upon “the “A.Þ. 1639 (14 Charles I). For Mr. Thomp- | good old times” of a century or two ago. son that preached the forenoone and afternoone, for a quarte of Sacke xiiid.

" A.D. 1650 (Commonwealth). For sixe quarts of Sacke to the ministere, when we had not a

NOTHING TO DO. ministere, gs. “A.D. 1666(6 Charles II.) For one quarte of Sacke

"N OTHING TO DO!” in this world of ours, bestowed on Mr. Jellett, when he preached,

Where the weeds grow up with the fairest 25. 4d.

flowers, “A.D. 1691 (4 William and Mary). For a

Where smiles have only a fitful play,

Where hearts are breaking every day? pint of brandy, when Mr. George Bell preached here, is. 4d.”

"Nothing to do!” thou Christian soul, “ When the Dean of Durham preached here, Wrapping thee round in thy selfish stole?

Oft with the garments of sloth and sin, spent in a treat with him, 3s. 6d.'

Christ, thy Lord, hath a kingdom to win. “For a stranger that preached, a dozen of ale,

“Nothing to do!" There are prayers to lay IS."!!!

On the altar of incense, day by day; Another feature of the good old times is

There are foes to meet within and without, referred to by a writer in an old magazine printed

There is error to conquer, strong and stout. about the year 1789. Speaking of the persons

"Nothing to do!” There are minds to teach whose habit it was to resort to the various tea

The simplest form of Christian speech; gardens near London, on a Sunday, he calculates

There are hearts to lure with loving wile, them to amount to 200,000. Of these he con

From the grimmest haunts of sin's defile, siders that not one would go away without

"Nothing to do!" There are lambs to feed, spending half-a-crown, and consequently the

The precious hopes of the Church's need ;

Strength to be borne to the weak and faint, sum of £25,000 would have been spent in the

Vigils to keep with the doubting saint. course of the day, or equal to £1,300,000 as the

"Nothing to do!” and thy Saviour said, annual consumption on the Day of Rest. The

"Follow thou Me in the paths I tread "? writer calculates the returning situations of

Lord, lend Thy help the journey through, these persons as follows:-Sober, 50,000; in

Lest, faint, we cry, “ So much to do."