but 170 of whom are regular frequenters of places of worship."

We have another statement from working men. "We, the undersigned operative smiths and cutlers, members of the New British and Foreign Temperance Society, having acted upon the principle of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, willingly state, that since we have done so, we have found ourselves much more capable of performing our work, with less fatigue, with our healths improved, and our domestic comforts greatly increased." This declaration was signed in London by Three coach-spring makers, Two coachspring makers' hammermen, One tyre smith, Two coach smiths, One smith and farrier, One engineer's hammerman, Five blacksmiths, One scale-beam maker, and Two cutlers. These men varied from the age of eighteen to sixty; and some of them had adopted and practised total abstinence for nearly Two years.†

Similar testimonies could be readily multiplied. May we not, therefore, thankfully exclaim, "What hath God wrought ?"

* Annual Report of Birmingham Total Abstinence Society, 1838.

Anti-Bacchus, p. 123.

G

CHAPTER IV.

THE PLEDGE-DISRUPTION AND ATTEMPTED REUNION.
1836 TO 1840.

aring this period teetotalism made steady but not rapid progress. During the year 1837, J. Meredith, Esq., was appointed secretary, and Mr. J. W. Green, editor, to the New British and Foreign Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, and a premium of £100 was offered by the committee for the best essay on the principles of teetotalism. On the 12th of May, Earl Stanhope signed the pledge, and became an annual subscriber of £5 to the funds of the society. It was during this year also that R. D. Alexander, Esq., of Ipswich, signed the pledge at the close of a lecture delivered by Mr. T. A. Smith. since done good service to the cause. he built the Temperance Hall at Ipswich, at a cost of £1,400, and commenced the monthly publication of the Temperance Recorder. He afterwards commenced the publication of the Ipswich Temperance Tracts, above

Mr. Alexander has

In the year 1840

fifty millions of pages of which have been circulated in all parts of the United Kingdom.

On the 25th of May, 1837, the first anniversary of the New British and Foreign Society for the Suppression of Intemperance was celebrated at the Horns Tavern, Kennington, on which occasion 368 persons sat down to tea, under the presidency of J. S. Buckingham, Esq., M.P. A meeting of delegates had been held at Exeter Hall on the previous day, when it was reported that the number of persons enrolled by the societies represented by the delegates present, was 110,427; 2,019 of whom were reformed drunkards. The sum of £226 3s. 4d. had been collected during the year in subscriptions and donations, of which £70 12s. 8d. remained in the treasurer's hands.

"The reports of the four London Auxiliaries were very encouraging; they showed that the North London Auxiliary had held 119 meetings, and had 693 good members on their books, who had stood firm more than three months, and renewed their cards of membership, thirty-three of whom were reclaimed characters. Three branches had been formed in various parts of this auxiliary. The East London had held sixty meetings; the number of signatures exceeded 1,000, among whom were many reformed drunkards, and who up to this day bless the hour they ever heard of teetotalism. They formed a Juvenile Society, from which much good resulted. The Western Auxiliary was flourishing beyond the most sanguine expectations of its warmest friends :

they had held from five to six meetings per week, and had 968 members, with several very striking instances of reformation. Two branches had been formed, one at Chelsea, the other at King's Cross. The South had held about 100 meetings since its formation: great interest had been excited among the hatters and tanners, many of whom signed the pledge, and a great number employed as labourers, &c., amounting to 744, including nine reformed drunkards. Much weight and influence had been thrown into this auxiliary by the signatures of the Revds. J. Sherman, R. Knill, J. Bridgman, and G. Clayton; and a great amount of good was produced by the support and countenance of these gentlemen. Between fifty and sixty delegates were present at this meeting, which was one of paramount interest, and much good feeling existed.

The business being over for that day they adjourned to the large room to hold the first anniversary of the New British and Foreign Society for the Suppression of Intemperance; here was congregated together a large number of persons. The Earl Stanhope took the chair. The speakers were Rev. J. Edwards of Brighton, Mr. T. Whittaker, who had just come to London, Rev. J. Sherman, S. B. Beaumont, Esq., Messrs. J. Greenbank and R. Webb of Reading, Rev. J. Chevers, Mr. Barlow Coachsmith of Birmingham, Major Walsh, Robert Charlton of Bristol, J. S. Buckingham, M.P., and W. Janson, Esq. The name of the society was altered a second time at this meeting to the NEW BRITISH AND FOREIGN TEMPERANCE

SOCIETY; the Earl of Stanhope was appointed president, Mr. W. Janson treasurer, Messrs. Meredith and Howard honorary secretaries. At this meeting £44 12s. 4d.

was collected.* Mr. Thomas Whittaker was afterwards engaged as an agent, and the Rev. W. R. Baker as travelling secretary of this society.

On the 16th May, 1838, the second annual meeting was held in the large room, Exeter Hall-Earl Stanhope in the chair. The meeting was large and respectable, and addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. Pye Smith, Rev. Hill Rowe, Messrs. Wiseman, J. Andrews, Beaumont, Higginbottom, Moore, W. R. Baker, Rev. J. Edwards of Brighton, T. A. Smith, Rev. G. Moyle, and Rev. J. Sherman. At this meeting some dissatisfaction was expressed at the constitution of the committee, and a baker of the name of Whiteman moved an amendment to the effect that more working-men should have a place on the committee. His amendment, however, was not seconded. At the close of this meeting many signatures were obtained, and the collection amounted to £36 12s. 6d.

On the previous evening a meeting of delegates from various societies was held at the Guildhall Coffee-house, and by adjournment at Surrey Chapel, on the 17th of May the Rev. J. Sherman in the chair-upon which occassions the following resolutions were agreed

upon:

*Hart's Truth Unfolded, pp. 25, 26.