Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

TEMPERANCE CONVENTION,

HELD IN

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA,

FEBRUARY 22ND, 1843.

The Convention assembled in the M. E. Church about 11 o'clock, A. M., and was called to order by Col. John Kinney of Harrisonburg, and opened by prayer by the Rev. A. G. Chenowith.

On motion, the following gentlemen, E. Dyer of Pendleton, Dr. G. Moorman of Augusta, Henry Forrer of Page, W. T. Early of Greene, Benjamin Samuels of Shenandoah, and A. S. Gray of Rockingham, were constituted a committee to report the officers for this Convention.

Thereupon the Committee reported Doct. P. Harrison of Harrisonburg, for President, E. Stribling Esq., of Staunton, for 1st Vice President, Col. S. Harnsberger, of Augusta, for 2d V. P., and R. P. Fletcher of Rockingham and S. H. Shepherd of Page, as Secretaries, who were unanimously elected.

The President, upon taking the Chair, briefly but very appropriately addressed the Convention, thanking them for the honor done him, adverting to the glorious recollections connected with the anniversary upon which they assembled, and concluded with stating the object for which the Convention had assembled.

On motion, the following gentlemen, Rev. T. L. Hamner, Rev. B. N. Brown, Col. John Kinney, Col. A. S. Gray, and E. Stribling, were appointed a committee to prepare and report business for the Convention.

On motion, the Secretaries of the different Societies were requested to report to the Secretaries of the Convention, the number of delegates in attendance from their Societies, and also the number of names attached to their respective pledges of total abstinence.

After some desultory discussion of minor matters,

On motion of Col. A. S. Gray, the Convention adjourned to meet again at 3 o'clock, P. M.

3 o'clock, P. M.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment and after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hamner,

On motion of Col. Kenney, the business of the Convention was suspended in order to afford a discussion of the subject of tee-totalism.

Mr. George Miller of Harrisonburg, being called upon from various parts of the House, arose and in a very feeling and appropriate manner, depicted the evils of intemperance and the beneficial results flowing from the teetotal system, illustrating and enforcing his arguments by reference to his own experience.

Mr. Miller was followed by several gentlemen, when,

On motion of Col. Kenney, the business of the Convention was resumed and the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report business for the action of the Convention reported by their Chairman, the following rules and resolutions which were unanimously adopted--

Rule 1. All the meetings of the Convention shall be opened and closed with religious exercises.

2. No member shall speak more than fifteen minutes at one time, without permission; nor more than once on the same question, (till all wishing to speak shall have done so,) without a vote by the Convention.

Resolved. That our grateful and devout acknowledgements are due to Almighty God, for the special favor and success with which His gracious providence has crowned our efforts in this great reform, and that the approbation so signally and graciously vouchsafed, lay us under renewed obligations to push this work to the speediest consummation possible.

Resolved, That the first Sabbath in July be set apart as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the success with which our labors have been attended, and that each minister be requested to conduct the exercises of that day according to the forms of their respective churches, and preach a sermon on Temperance.

Resolved, That this Convention have contemplated with interest and gratitude from the commencement of the Temperance enterprise, the influence of Woman in this great work, and look to her to continue her unwearied labors for the removal of all those drinking usages in society, which tend to perpetuate intemperance.

Resolved, That the systematic distribution of Temperance Tracts, Tales and Periodicals, is a sphere which might be very efficiently occupied by the ladies, and that it be recommended to the President of each local society to appoint a committee forthwith, whose duty shall be--1st To solicit the necessary funds for the purchase of tracts, &c. &c., and 2d. To distribute them to every individual in the village or neighborhood.

Resolved, That the intimate connection between the cause of Temperance, and the virtue and prosperity of the community--its results in the diminution of pauperism and crime--its influence on the freedom and purity of elections, and the permanence and stability of our civil institutions, commends it to the love and patronage of every friend of his country and his race.

Resolved, That the recent efficiency of the (total abstinence) pledge in raising the slave of intemperance to self-government and confirmed sobriety, calls for special action, and imposes upon every individual a powerful motive to give his signature, that all this wretched class may be induced to come under its salutary influence and be free.

Resolved, That while new developments in the character and instrumentalities of the Temperance cause, are always interesting and to be wisely improved, our chief reliance under God, for its continual progress, must be upon the spread of truth in the spirit of Christian love; that it is incumbent on the long tried friends of the cause to adhere closely to their fundamental principles, hold up their regular organizations, and maintain an enlightened press, and in a spirit of wise liberality, toil on to the consummation of their blessed enterprise.

Resolved, That when we adjourn as a Convention, we adjourn to meet on the 4th of July next in Harrisonburg, when and where the whole county is invited to partake of a dinner prepared by the Temperance societies of this county.

Resolved, That the formation of juvenile societies, is one of the most successful methods of carrying forward the Temperance reform.

The report of the Secretaries as to the number of delegates in attendance at this Convention, and the strength of the several Societies represented in this Convention, being called for, they reported 194 delegates in attendance, viz:

and the aggregate of members belonging to these Societies to be 3184.

On motion of the Rev. Mr. Seiss, the Convention adjourned to meet at the same place this evening at half past 6 o'clock, P. M.

The Convention met at the time and place to which it was adjourned. After being called to order by the President and prayer by the Rev. T. L. Hamner, the house proceeded to business.

Mr. J. H. Wartmann presented to the Convention an Original Air, composed by Mr. J. Salyards, and dedicated to the members of the Convention, for which on his motion, the thanks of the Convention was tendered to Mr. S.

The Convention was then addressed by Mr. Early, Dr. C. H. Harris, Rev. Mr. Seiss and others, in an eloquent and spirited manner.

On motion of Mr. Wartmann, the thanks of the Convention were presented to the Woodstock and Harrisonburg Bands of Music, for their services on the occasion--to the Trustees of the Church for its use and to the President and Secretaries, for the manner in which they discharged their respective duties. And on Rev. B. N. Brown's motion, the Vice Presidents and Marshalls were also thanked by the Convention.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That the proceedings of this Convention be published in the Rockingham Register, Staunton Spectator, Lexington Gazette and Valley Star, Charlottesville Advocate and Republican, Sentinel of the Valley, and Good Samaritan.

On motion, the Convention adjourned, sine die.

P. HARRISON, Pres't.

L. H. SHEPHERD,

R. P. FLETCHER,

Secretaries.