whip in hand, sing out with what little voice he could command to his oxen to go on-while his oxen were standing, chewing their cuds, in the rear of three or four other teams, the teamsters of which were drinking drams still at a groggery in Belmont-in front of which their teams were stopped. Are the distiller and retailers and taverners and common victuallers fully aware of the extent of the evils of intemperance upon the body and mind that present themselves to every traveller into the village of Belfast at that time of day when the teamsters are leaving it ? If they are, one can with difficulty account for the difference manifested by so many, and so respectable men, who are concerned in furnishing the facilities-the means-whereby such disgraceful and degrading scenes are daily produced and exhibited. Communications have BELMONT-has no Temperance Society. been often made to individuals of Belmont, but have never been answered. A circular was sent to the Town Clerk in 1832, and he returned it promptly unanswered, and without comment. BURNHAM-No information has been obtained from this town. The Post-master and others have been addressed, but no answers have been received. CAMDEN-There was an almost unanimous vote to instruct the Selectmen, &c. not to grant licenses, and none have been granted; and 16 individuals are daily violating the law by selling without license. It is said one of the Selectmen is among the violators of the license law. The Secretary remarks, "Although we have not been so actively engaged in the temperance cause here as in some other places, still I believe there has been much good done. Many, we have reason to believe, who were fast hastening to a drunkard's grave have been reclaimed and are now doing well, and gaining respect, and their families are made happy." FRANKFORT-Society formed in September 1829; annual meeting in September; meets quarterly. The consumption of cider has increased in 1833, but it is principally to be attributed to the increased production. There are no licensed retailers, but all the traders at the Marsh Village sell openly in violation of law. "It is worthy of remark," says our correspondent, "that at least seven eighths of the intemperance and pauperism are in the immediate neighbourhood of the rum selling stores. "The cause of temperance," says the Secretary, "is certainly gaining ground among us-there are frequent conversions from among those who were loud and violent, three years since against temperance measures-among the young especially a favourable feeling is very evident." The Corresponding Secretary communicated the farther fact that the Rev. Mr. Pearl has been lecturing them in most of their school districts and "procured 500 signers to a temperance pledge." Another correspondent says that he has no doubt that the cause of temperance" has been essentially promoted" by the lecturing of the Rev. Mr. Pearl. FREEDOM-“ Temperance" says our correspondent, "is gaining ground in this place. We shall probably, next spring, instruct our Selectmen, &c., not to grant licenses to sell spirits." Another correspondent has reported the organization of a school district temperance society on the 21st of December, 1833, consisting of 21 male and 16 female members; Samuel Flint, President, and Joseph Hockey, Secretary-meetings on the 1st Monday of each month, and says, "The cause is growing moderately in public favor," but there is "much opposition; principally from the retailers and their adherents with some of our most respectable citizens who, in charity, I believe do not understand our principles, and are afraid to read lest they may be convinced, and at the same time calling themselves temperate because they do not get drunk. We also have to contend against some very worthy members of the church of Christ, and it is strange that men whose sole wish is to advance the cause of religion, do not see that religion cannot bear the fostering influence of alcohol, and that in all cases where rum and religion have come together in the church, that the latter has suffered by the influence of the former." "I regret very much that an interest cannot be excited in this county. There are men enough here capable of making a strong impression in favour of our principles. If they could be brought to a sense of their duty, and act with half the promptness and energy that you have evinced, (to say nothing of the pecuniary sacrifices you must have made) we should soon be able to report considerable progress in the good cause." HOPE The Secretary remarks, "Some professors of religion do not join our society because (as they say) our meetings are held on the Sabbath. In some parts of our town new stores have been erected during the past year, and intemperance has gone forth with gigantic strides disturbing the peace of many families." The first annual report of the Maine Temperance Society has been distributed in each school district, and several Temperance Recorders have been gratuitously circulated." "One JACKSON—The two societies reported in 1832, have united. No spirits have been sold in this town during several past years. intemperate man has drank no spirit for more than a year. There is no permanent pauper in town, and three occasionally aided in their support were not intemperate." LINCOLNVILLE-"Many have commenced a reform in 1833, and those who commenced before generally persevere well." "The Temperance Reform," says the Secretary, "has already visibly increased the comfort and health of many of our citizens-and although our society has not increased in numbers much of late, still the friends of the cause are daily increasing-our streets that were wont to be filled with the riotous and drunken, have in a great measure become calm; and the good cause seems to prosper in a manner highly gratifying to every philanthropist and friend of hu manity." MONTVILLE-No licenses granted to retailers, but there are three traders who occasionally retail without license. "There is a part of 3 temperance societies in Montville,viz ::-one connected with Liberty- -one in the easterly part of the town-and some in the northerly part of the town belong to a society in Knox." Our correspondent supposes they have their "proportion of poverty and misery," and he attributes "nearly the whole of both to intemperance" and says, there is "one case in a particular manner," visible and striking, of the good effects of the Temperance Reform, but "calculates a much greater benefit will result from it in preventing drunkenness, than in curing the habitual drunkard"—and that they "have a few habitual topers, who are somewhat advanced in life; but that it is very seldom that a young person (whether he belongs to the temperance society or not) drinks any ardent spirit.' PALERMO -Palermo Temperance Society was organized February 26, 1833-annual meeting 1st Tuesday in January; meetings quarterly and pretty well attended: money tax $1100, highway tax $3000. The South Palermo Temperance society was formed Oct. 3, 1833. "Our society," says the Secretary, "progresses very well. We find very little opposition comparatively, to what we did at the commencement-we feel determined to pursue the course of temperance. And I feel a strong desire that alcohol, that fell monster that is devouring mankind, may be pursued and driven from the face of the earth." PROSPECT―Thirteen or fourteen vessels built in Prospect in 1833, 10 of which at least were built without ardent spirit. "Not far from 40 vessels are navigated and managed by our citizens without ardent spirits. It is not known that any vessel in town carries spirit during the passages-but some masters use them when in port." "We have some instances of the good effects of the Temperance reform here worthy of notice," says an officer of one of the societies. "One man, who had become greatly reduced by intemperance, and who often rendered the domestic circle a scene of strife and wretchedness, was persuaded to abandon the use of spirit in the early stages of the Temperance reform. He become kind, industrious and prudent. Though dependent entirely upon the labour of his hands to repair his ruined fortunes, he soon purchased a small tenement, which he repaired, and enlarged, and rendered comfortable and convenient. His family were soon well clad and taken to the sanctuary upon the Sabbath. By industry and frugality he continued to prosper and increase in prosperity till he became able the past year to purchase a new house-among the best in our village. It was said of him what could be said of comparatively few men in our town, that he was able to pay for his new tenement at the time of purchase. Into his new house he has recently removed, leaving his former house in the occupancy of a son-in-law, who has more recently commenced a reform from the same degrading and ruinous vice. The traveller passing through our village, would no doubt select this tenement as being the habitation of one of the leading and most prosperous men in the place. "Another case is that of a man whose intemperance had become most gross and degrading. Though once the owner of a good farm and a large stock of cattle, he bad become the tenant of a hut probably not superior to the mudwalled but of the Hottentot. His poverty was so extreme that its was a current opinion that his young child, being unwell, literally starved to death. His family somewhat numerous, presented one of the most humiliating specimens of human depravity and wretchedness to be found in any community. At length the angel temperance knocked at his door and kindly offered to become an inmate of his house. After some hesitation the stranger was admitted, and a train of blessings soon followed. The sons were just beginning to earn some thing for the support of the family; and now that the all-obsorbing rum jug had ceased to devour, all the common wants of life were soon supplied. It was not long before they could show three barrels of flour in their house at one time and corn to lend their neighbours. The sons saw so much wretchedness growing out of the drunkenness of their father that instead of following his example, as is common, they became rum haters. Their father's health had become too much impaired by his excesses ever to be fully restored. Death, however, was arrested in his work, and he still lives to test the value of temperance. His sons have purchased a new and commodious dwelling-house, and being thoroughly temperance young men, they provide for the family, which now enjoys a full share of the common comforts of life. "Such are some of the blessed fruits of that "bondage" into which the Tem perance Society, it is said is trying to bring men. 1 would that such chains bound the whole family of man. Let them be forged with tenfold rapidity and bind forever, every individual of our race. It is the bondage of principle-of chastened and corrected moral feeling. Let it fly the world around, and it will secure the emancipation of man." "It will be perceived," says one of our Prospect correspondents, "that the number of retailers of spirit has increased the past year. It is a humiliating fact that they are twice as numerous as they were a year ago. There are 17 places where spirits are sold. Three firms sell-so that 20 persons are involv ed in the guilt and disgrace of rum selling. Six or seven of these establishments do a respectable business-three at least are taverns, and the rest are mere grog-shops. Our licensing authorities seem to have no respect to the character of persons requesting license, nor to the wants and welfare of the community. Even a female of no very enviable reputation, has procured a license to deal out N. E. Rum to her thirsty neighbours. Rum and virtue* are her only commodities of traffic. The consumption of spirits has by no means increased in proportion to the increase of those who retail them. Still it is highly discreditable that so many tippling shops should exist in town. They prove the need of further exertions in the temperance cause. "We have eleven temperance stores, and probably more than half of the business of the place is done by men who have too much conscience to spread poison and death through the community." "In the three societies of this town there are 455 members. A few of these have removed to a distance, and some more than 50 live in that part of Belfast contiguous to this town-so that the members actually resident in town are a little short of 400. Frequent meetings are held, and notwithstanding all the op position which prevails, the cause is steadily advancing. We do not despair of its complete and final triumph. Strong hope is entertained that the vote to withhold licenses may be carried in the spring.' Another correspondent writes, "I believe it to be a lamentable fact that even in the school district in which I reside, there are many heads of families who are determined to be "independent," and to prove it, are frequently intox icated. Of these I have very little, if any hopes; but we shall, if possible, endeavor to save the rising generation-and here we have much encouragement, even where parents are setting the worse than beastly example of drunkenness." Our correspondent after stating that the temperance reform has improved the condition of many of the citizens within the district in which he resides, &c. &c. remarks, Here, sir, 1 would gladly close this communication did it not appear to me that a regard for the truth demands a few words more. Whether the devil, knowing that his time is short-has come down with a greater quantum of wrath, or what exactly to impute it to, I know not, but the facts seem to be that the favorers and promoters of intemperance have been more wakeful for a few months past than for a considerable time previous, and it is my opin ion that not a little pains is taken to counteract the temperance cause. This makes it the more necessary to endeavor to influence our neighbours to do those things which shall be not only for their temporal, but eternal interests." SEARSMONT-The society has raised a fund for procuring forty copies of the Temperance Recorder for circulation. SWANVILLE-The Secretary of the Society accounts for the great difference in the amount of expenses of paupers in 1832 and 1833, from the circumstance of an intemperate man from another State falling sick in that town and remaining so until the expenses amounted to nearly $200--and from the fact that the wife of an intemperate man who has been put under guardianship on that account, has subjected the town to nearly $100 expense for her support, but which will ultimately be paid from the estate of the husband. THORNDIKE-Society organized in November 1831; annual meeting in September--meetings quarterly and well attended-money tax $1200; highway tax $1500. The society in Thorndike was got up by a single individual, who by great industry and perseverance obtained 45 signatures to a constitution previous to the organization of the society-and that individual says, "there is but little opposition to the society; occasionally its members are honored with the appellation of "cold-water men"-that there has not been a rapid accession of members, but some join at every meeting." TROY-A society not yet organized. Thirty five persons have signed a pledge of total abstinence, and will soon organize their society. WALDO-Twenty three persons have signed a pledge to total abstinence in Waldo, but no constitution is yet adopted. Our correspond*This is not said thoughtlessly—she has already one illegitimate child. ent says, "We have no retailers, or taverners, or paupers here." "The temperance cause is gradually advancing, but not with that rapid pace which is desirable."" İSLESBORO-Has a Temperance Society of some 50 or 60 members, and the Rev. M. Emery has been President, or Secretary of it, but no information has ever been obtained from him, or any officer of the society. What progress is making there in the Temperance Reform is not known. NORTHPORT-Has no Temperance Society, but will probably form one soon. There are two traders in Northport, one sells ardent spirits, and the other does not. "Ardent spirit is commonly used at trainings, raisings, and on highways; and spirit and wine at social par ties." LIBERTY. Your Cor. Sec. has not succeeded in obtaining a correspondent in Liberty, and knows nothing concerning the progress making there in this good cause. If there is any thing in names, every man in town ought to be in the practice of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, that they may enjoy, as well as possess "Liberty." Some of the inhabitants of this town belong to a Temperance Society in Montville. HANCOCK COUNTY. S. M. POND, of Bucksport, President, REV. J. GILPATRICK, of Bluehill, Cor. Secretary |