The Story of our Health Message

The American Temperance Society Organized

While at this time there were individuals here and there who abstained from the use of ardent spirits, and who agreed not to furnish them to others, there was not at first any effective system of working or means of co-operation. A few of these reformers met together and began a correspondence with others, and these communications resulted in the organization of the American Temperance Society. It was their hope “by light and love to change the habits of the nation, with regard to the use of intoxicating liquors.” The organization was effected in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 10, 1826, with the Honorable Marcus Morton as president and Justin Edwards as secretary. SHM 40.4

The labor exerted by the charter members of the society and the enthusiasm of others who united with them were phenomenal. In less than a decade they were able to report approximately 5,000 local societies, with more than 1,000,000 members. Thousands of manufacturers of spirits had been led to cease their occupation, and over 6,000 retailers had discontinued its sale. Five thousand drunkards—supposed to be incurable—had been reclaimed. And 700 ships were being navigated without the use of spirits. Temperance journals were numerous. One, The Temperance Recorder, of Albany, New York, claimed a subscription list of 200,000 copies. The Moral Reformer 1:64, Wm. A. Alcott, editor. Boston: Light and Horton, 1836. SHM 41.1

Several years passed, however, before “teetotalism” was generally adopted by the temperance societies. The inconsistency of taking only half measures was seen by many, and protests were made, but it was difficult to move the public to take the next logically advanced step. One correspondent of a temperance journal wrote in 1835: SHM 41.2

“While attacking spirit drinking only, we are beating the air, exciting the laughter of our opponents, and sinking beneath their scorn. Who can answer the charges of inconsistency and hypocrisy incurred by this system? A gentleman drinks his half bottle of wine, but will not allow the poor man his two pennyworth of whisky, although it were reduced with water to half the strength of his wine.”—The Temperance Journal, August, 1835. (Boston, Massachusetts.) SHM 41.3

The difficulties encountered in making such appeals effective are indicated by the plaint of another would-be reformer: “‘I am sorry,’ says one, ‘that the wine question should be agitated.’ ‘I regret it exceedingly,’ says another. ‘It is ruining the temperance cause,’ says a third. ‘O what a pity,’ says a fourth, ‘when we were going on so well.’ ‘I’ll withdraw,’ says a fifth, ‘and have nothing more to do with them.’”—Ibid., Vol. 4, December, 1835. SHM 41.4

By the middle of the century the initial activity and success of the temperance movement had greatly abated. Most of the temperance journals had only an ephemeral life. The local societies to a large degree ceased to function. It was to be a few decades before the more modern movement, fostered by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and its affiliated organizations, was to take shape. However, the effects of the earlier crusade were manifest in a greatly enlightened conscience, and the use of intoxicating drinks had lost caste among church members. SHM 42.1