p. 345 | Temperance by Barbara C. Stickney

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1880

Temperance.

By Barbara C. Stickney

TEMPERANCE WORK IN CALIFORNIA.

It is now about one year since the temperance question, as presented by the American Health and Temperance Association, began to be agitated in this State. Of course the principles set forth in the pledges had been observed to some extent by our people, yet there were many among us not very sound on the temperance question. There has been a steady advance in the work, and much good has been accomplished. Hundreds have reformed, by renouncing evil habits which had been difficult to overcome without something to assist them in their endeavors. Many of these have been those outside of our own people. Our brethren have almost invariably signed the teetotal pledge, as have many others not of our faith. Some clubs are comprised entirely of teetotal members, and embrace the whole church.

Our total membership at present is 946, of whom 713 are teetotal members. Those who have paid the initiation fee of twenty-five cents and become full members number 548. This is encouraging when we consider that there are more than 75,000 acres of the soil of California devoted to grape culture for wine manufacture, and that in many places it is almost the universal beverage.

The teetotal pledge is probably as strict as any temperance pledge ever presented. It not only attacks alcohol, the citadel of intemperance, but also attacks the outer walls, consisting of tobacco, tea and coffee. In some places much interest is taken in the meetings held by the clubs, of which there are now sixteen fully organized. In one place, where the membership of the church has been reduced to six, by removal, the interest in the temperance cause has increased, until it now has fifty-seven members; and in compliance to the request of the citizens in an adjoining neighborhood, the place of meeting has been changed to accommodate those in different sections.

A few extracts from a letter just received from Bro. Geo. Grayson, secretary of the Woodland club, illustrate the interest taken by some of our clubs in this State:

"A deep interest is manifested in the cause of temperance by all the members of the society, with the exception of a few who have fallen back. We have held several meetings with an attendance of between one hundred and one hundred and fifty. Our meetings consist of speaking, recitation, and singing, as you will see from the following programme: 1. Singing; 2. Prayer; 3. Reading of minutes; 4. Remarks from Leader; 5. Singing; 6. Address; 7. Singing; 8. Oration; 9. Singing by the children; 10. Recitations; 11. Essay; 12. Singing; 13. Miscellaneous, pledges presented, remarks, etc.; 14. Singing."

The officers in our clubs should be active, and the members should sustain them in their efforts to make the meetings interesting and profitable.

We are now prepared to receive orders and expect very soon to be able to furnish copies of the new book, "Temperance and Gospel Songs," issued by the American Health and Temperance Association, and prepared by J. E. White. This book is just what every club and temperance worker needs; price thirty cents.

BARBARA C. STICKNEY, State Sec.