Phenix Gazette

THE FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

From the Philadelphia Morning Journal.

In a paper a few weeks since, it was mentioned that the first temperance society was formed by the President of Virginia College. I submit to you the following as proof that they are of no modern invention—extract of the first chapter of the Book of Daniel—evidence of the benefits and advantages of total abstinence.

When Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem from Zedekiah, king of Judah, he directed an officer to select some of the most promising and well educated youths from the most distinguished families in the land in language and literature, and that at the end they might be instructed in the Chaldean tongue on the victorious monarch. And that with the improvement of their minds, their diet was to consist of the king's meat and wine from the king's own table. Among those selected for this purpose were four young men whose names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, but were changed by the master who had them in charge into Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The first of these resolved that he would not 'defile' himself with the king's provisions, and in the name of his God and his associates petitioned their guardian that they might be excused from partaking of the rich food and wine. He replied that the abstinence proposed would have so bad an effect upon their appearance that it would be at the risk of his head if he should comply. Daniel, with much better ideas of physiology, proposed that an experiment should be made for ten days: for which time they should be fed upon nothing but pulse and water, then that their countenances be looked upon and compared with the countenances of the children that eat the portion of the king's meat. The scheme was agreed upon, and at the end of the prescribed term, the abstemious youths proved on comparison to be 'fairer and fatter' than their fellow-probationers. They were therefore fed upon pulse and water, and at the end of the three years they were found far superior in every respect to their pampered brethren, and were advanced to the highest offices in the kingdom. I take this association to be the aboriginal temperance Society. With great deference,

ALPHA.