Temperance in Oakland by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 6, 1879

Temperance in Oakland.

By Editor

SOME time since Mr. Ezra Haskell came to Oakland and commenced a series of temperance meetings. Mr. Haskell is a minister, of what denomination we have not inquired, and he works for temperance on a Christian basis. He labored for some time, with rather small congregations, with little support from the city. He is a genuine philanthropist, sparing no pains or means to lift up the slaves of a debased and debasing appetite from their lowly condition.

Within the last week delegations were appointed by the following churches, the Free Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist, First Congregational, and Central Baptist, to co-operate with and aid Mr. Haskell in his praiseworthy efforts. As a consequence the audiences have largely increased in size, the singing is improved, and the interest seems to be greatly revived in the city.

The main fault we have to find with these temperance efforts is that they are spasmodic; too soon suffered to die out. The efforts of the liquor dealers never decline. They never grow weary in their work of evil. There are enough true-hearted temperance workers in this city to keep the work up the year round and to see that the laws of the State are respected and observed, if they will only unite with a determination to carry it on. We pray the blessing of heaven to attend these meetings, and that the minds of the people may be educated up to the very highest standard of temperance in their own practice and in their efforts for others.

The Seventh-day Adventists have held a meeting in their own house and organized the temperance work. We shall report on this next week.