ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION by John Harvey Kellogg; W. B. Sprague

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1879

ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION.

By John Harvey Kellogg; W. B. Sprague

PRELIMINARY MEETING.

A meeting to consider the propriety of organizing a national health and temperance society, was held at the REVIEW Office chapel, in Battle Creek, on Monday evening, Dec. 30, 1878.

On motion, Eld. S. B. Whitney was appointed chairman pro tem., and Eld. S. H. Lane secretary.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Eld. M. B. Miller.

Eld. S. N. Haskell stated that the object of the meeting was to consider the organization of a society in the interests of health and temperance, the present being a specially favorable time to form such an organization.

Dr. J. H. Kellogg stated that he had been considering this matter for some time in the past. That though there are many health reformers in this country, no such organization as that contemplated yet exists. That some such societies have been formed in England, but they have grasped a single idea, and have not taken a comprehensive view of the matter. They have not struck at the root of the evil of intemperance. He enumerated the following reasons why such a society would prove beneficial:—

It would secure unity of action.
It would give vitality to the work.
As the subject of health reform does not receive as much attention among Seventh-day Adventists as it did a few years ago, it is needed as an incentive to renewed zeal and activity.
If this organization becomes responsible for our work in the interests of health and temperance reforms, it will remove the odium of denominationalism which has attached to the subject of health reform.

Should such an organization be effected, it might be well to adopt several pledges, for instance the following:—

A teetotal pledge, discarding all stimulants.
An anti-rum and tobacco pledge.
An anti-whisky pledge.

A certificate should go with each pledge: an elegant one with the first, a nice one with the second, and a good one with the third.

He referred to the excellent work of George Trask in his anti-tobacco organization.

The union of this work with the tract and missionary work was strongly advocated by Eld. Haskell, who thought it might be a help to ministers in new places, if judiciously introduced, to pave the way for the introduction of religious reforms.

On motion, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, W. C. White, and Eld. S. N. Haskell were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, and prepare a plan for the organization of a national health and temperance organization.

On motion, the meeting was adjourned to 6 P. M., Wednesday evening, Jan. 1, 1879.

FIRST MEETING.

A meeting for the purpose of effecting the organization of an association was held at the S. D. A. church in Battle Creek, Mich., Wednesday evening, Jan. 1, 1879. The meeting was called to order by Eld. S. B. Whitney, the chairman of the previous meeting. Prayer by Eld. S. H. Lane.

Eld. S. N. Haskell stated that the object of the meeting was to take preliminary steps for the organization of a national association for the purpose of promulgating the principles of health and temperance. After the reading of the minutes of last meeting, some very interesting remarks were made by Dr. Kellogg respecting similar societies which have been organized in England, and especially concerning the Danielites, who base their principles upon the Bible, and who abstain from the use of tobacco, are thorough hygienists, are strictly moral, and accept the word of God as of divine origin.

The report of the committee on drafting the Constitution and By-laws being read, was accepted, and adopted after a few remarks.

Upon motion, a committee was appointed by the Chair to nominate officers for the society. W. C. White, J. O. Corliss, and S. N. Haskell were appointed that committee. It was moved and carried that a committee be appointed to solicit signers to the pledges. F. D. Allen, C. C. Lewis, Dr. Kellogg, Mary K. White, A. Swedberg, George Randall, Jennie Thayer, and S. H. Lane were appointed. 155 names were obtained; 133 for the teetotal, and 22 for the anti-rum and tobacco pledge.

The Nominating Committee reported as follows: For President, J. H. Kellogg, M. D.; for Vice-Pres't, S. Brownsberger, A. M.; for Secretary, W. B. Sprague; for Corresponding Secretaries, Maria L. Huntley, A. B. Oyen, A. Swedberg, C. A. Nielson, and Ella E. Eaton; for Treasurer, W. J. Fairfield; for Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, James White, W. C. White, J. H. Kellogg, and W. B. Sprague. The report was accepted and adopted. Adjourned to Jan. 5, 1879. S. B. Whitney, Chairman pro tem. S. H. Lane, Sec.

SECOND MEETING.

The Association convened in the S. D. A. church, Sunday evening, Jan. 5, 1879.

The meeting was called to order by the President.

After music by the choir, prayer was offered by Eld. J. N. Andrews.

The choir then rendered a second piece of music, and after a few preliminary remarks by the President concerning the object of the Association and the steps already taken for its organization, the minutes of the last meeting were called for and read, together with the names of those who had already complied with the requirements for membership.

The committee on drafting the Constitution and By-laws, which was continued for the purpose of perfecting the same, then reported through the chairman, who read the Constitution and By-laws as perfected, in full. The report was accepted, and the Constitution and By-laws as amended were adopted by the Association.

As the amended constitution provides for a publishing committee of three in addition to the officers already elected, it was moved and carried that the Chair appoint a Nominating Committee. S. B. Whitney, S. N. Haskell, and W. C. Sisley were appointed.

The President then invited Eld. J. N. Andrews, of Bâle, Switzerland, to address the society. He responded with a very interesting account of the condition of the temperance cause on the continent of Europe. He stated that with the exception of the British Isles he thought there were no temperance societies on the continent of Europe, unless perhaps there existed a small organization in Holland. According to his observations, the use of alcoholic drinks and tobacco is almost universal in France, Germany, and Switzerland. He went to Europe with the impression that drunkenness was rarely found there, having seen many reports to that effect from various newspaper correspondents who claimed that on account of the abundance of good wine in those countries intoxication was seldom seen. This he soon found to be a great mistake, and he has since been vigorously at work combating the use of wine and all other intoxicants, by the publication of articles against these two monster evils in his journal, “LES SIGNES DES TEMPS.”

Eld. Andrews remarked that the temperance societies of Europe are not really temperance societies, but, rather, temperate societies. The purpose of their organization is to prevent the use of liquor to such great excess as to produce intoxication. He has already seen some good results from his own efforts in the direction of reform, and hopes for the accomplishment of much good.

Upon invitation, Eld. S. N. Haskell then offered a few interesting remarks, referring to his own experience in the signing of temperance pledges, and his own observations concerning the propriety and advantages of temperance organizations. He endeavored to impress the fact that temperance is the Lord’s work, and that we must be imbued with true Christian principles if we would attain the greatest success.

Eld. S. B. Whitney also made a few remarks, which were calculated to impress his hearers with the importance and solemnity of the work, and our dependence for success, upon Divine guidance and strength.

The President, Dr. Kellogg, then offered a few remarks respecting the history of temperance reform and the objects of the present organization. He stated that the first temperance societies organized in America were like those now existing in Europe. They merely prohibited such excess as to produce drunkenness, and even permitted members to become intoxicated upon such occasions as funerals, wedding parties, and the dedication of churches, and at any time by the payment of a fine of twenty-five cents. Societies of this sort were organized at various times between the years 1789 and 1825, when Capt. Joseph Bates; afterward one of the most energetic of the early leaders of the S. D. Adventist denomination, and long known and loved by most of us as an able minister and exemplary Christian, was chiefly instrumental in the organization of the first teetotal temperance society in America. In the year 1826, Dr. Edwards, of Boston, organized another society on the same platform; and since that time, numerous similar organizations under different names have been effected.

It is a noticeable fact that there has always been a more or less active warfare waged against both alcohol and tobacco. In almost every country where the latter poison has been introduced, it was at first vigorously opposed by both civil and ecclesiastical authorities. King Henry of England wrote a vigorous “counterblaste” against tobacco. The Pope of Rome fulminated a bull against it, pronouncing excommunication upon all who used it in church. In Switzerland and several other countries, its use was made a capital offense. In Turkey its use was also made a crime. On one occasion, a Turk was led through the streets of Constantinople with the stem of his pipe thrust through a slit in his nose, for smoking. The famous “blue laws” of Connecticut contained the following paragraph respecting the use of tobacco:—

“No tobacco shall be taken in the streets, yards, or houses, or in any plantation or farm in this jurisdiction, or without doors near or about the town, or in the meeting-house, or about any of the train-soldiers, or in any other place where they may do a mischief thereby, under penalty of sixpence a pipe or a time; but if he be a poor servant or hath not to pay, and his master will not pay for him, he shall then be punished by sitting in the stocks one hour.”

There have also been societies organized for the suppression of the use of tobacco. At least, there was one society, organized by the Rev. Geo. Trask, which did very efficient work in warring against tobacco, although he was himself not only the president, but also the secretary and treasurer of the society, and also constituted the entire membership.

There has been, however, no organization which has made its platform so broad and comprehensive as to include under a single pledge alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, opium, and all other narcotics and stimulants. The work of the various temperance organizations has been rather superficial on this account. It is this fact which makes appropriate and necessary the organization of this society. There is a work to be accomplished which no other organization has done or can accomplish. It is evident that no organization should be brought into existence unless there is a real necessity for it, unless it aims to accomplish some necessary work which would otherwise be undone. Such a necessity has called into existence this Association, and whether or not the want is met will depend upon the individual efforts of its members.

It seems, indeed, most appropriate that the very denomination, one of whose earliest members was the originator of temperance societies in this country, should be the organizers of the first temperance society with a thorough-going temperance platform, and a comprehensive pledge.

The report of the Committee on Nominations being called for, the names of Eld. U. Smith, Eld. J. H. Waggoner, and Dr. J. H. Kellogg were submitted as the publishing committee, and the report was adopted by the Association.

After a few brief remarks concerning the purport of the pledges, and an able refutation of the usual objections to signing pledges, with strong arguments in favor of the same, the President again announced music, and during its rendition the Corresponding Secretaries were requested to go through the audience and solicit signers to the pledges, and receive initiation fees from those who had signed at the previous meeting.

In order to extend the influence of the Association as widely as possible, and to advance the cause of health and temperance in remote parts of the country, and in foreign lands, the following persons were appointed as special agents for the Association:— Eld. J. N. Andrews, Switzerland. Eld. Erzenberger, Germany. Dr. H. P. Ribton, Italy and Egypt. Eld. J. N. Loughborough, England. James E. White, California. Mr. Kingsbury, Australia.

A few general remarks filled the time occupied by the solicitors in canvassing the audience, and after their report, which showed a paid membership of 110, and 75 additional signers, who had not yet paid their initiation fees, the doxology was sung, and the Association adjourned to the first Wednesday evening in February, 1879.

J. H. Kellogg, Pres. W. B. Sprague, Rec. Sec.