Health and Temperance

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 7, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 18.

Health and Temperance.

An Early Temperance Society.

“A WRITER to the Connecticut Courant, in 1811, says: I find in the Panoplist and Missionary Magazine of October, 1810, a letter from Rev. Mr. Badger, a missionary, to Rev. Dr. Holmes, stating the following facts. Mr. Badger began his missionary services with the tribe of which he speaks, in the summer of 1805. In his letter aforementioned he says: ‘Shortly after my arrival among the Wyandots, I had opportunity to see all the principal chiefs of the nation together. I determined not to let this opportunity slip without trying some arguments to dissuade them from the use of spirituous liquors. I stated to them the evils they had suffered, both in health and property, by their intemperance. After hearing me they consulted among themselves about an answer. At length the principal chief of the nation addressed me thus: “Father, listen. You have now told me the truth. We thank you for your advice. We have agreed to drink no more whisky.”’

“Mr. Badger adds: ‘From that time they have universally abstained from the use of spirituous liquors.’

“Viewing this account as unquestionably true, I must consider it as one of the most remarkable things I ever met with in the history of man. The letter was written April 20, 1810, so that it appears those drunken Indians, having agreed together to abstain from the use of spirituous liquors, had already kept this agreement universally for the term of nearly five years.”

As the drink known to these Indians which could intoxicate went under the general name of whisky, and as they abstained from spirituous liquor for five years under a pledge to that effect, we may safely believe that the Wyandot Indians formed one of the first temperance societies on record. How long they continued their temperate habits we are unable to say, but it is a great pleasure after the lapse of ninety years since they took the pledge to bear this testimony to their honor.—N. Y. Observer.