USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > History of the town of Gardner, Worcester County, Mass., from the incorporation, June 27, 1785, to the present time > Part 24
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ART. 4. We obligate ourselves to use as small a quantity of ardent spirits and wine, as we seriously believe to be necessary to health ; and also to use all consistent means to discourage the free use of it, in all those within the sphere of our influence.
ART. 5. The officers of this society shall be a President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be chosen at each annual meeting of the society ; and who shall perform the duties customarily as- signed to such officers.
ART. 6. The society shall meet annually, on the 4th day of July, and at such other times as shall be judged necessary, by the officers of the society.
ART. 7. This constitution may be altered at any regular meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
Names of the first signers : Sumner Lincoln, Lewis Glazier, Asa Richardson, Ezra Baker, George Scott, Avery Turner, Joel Cowee, Elijah Travers, Joseph Wright, Samuel H. Clark,
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Charles Childs, Luke Whitney, Farwell Conant, Joseph Whit- ney, 2d, Lyman Conant, John Merriam, Jonathan Bancroft.
It was not till 1833, at a meeting held in Philadelphia, that the principle of " Total Abstinence from all that may intoxi- cate," was first propounded in this country, in a national gath- ering of the friends of temperance. The proposition was rejected by the convention. However, at its annual meeting, held at Saratoga Springs, in August, 1836, the principle of total abstinence was adopted by the union, and has ever since been the war cry of the champions of temperance. Prominent among the pioneer workers in the temperance cause at this time, were Dr. Lyman Beccher, author of " Six Sermons on Temper- ance," which had a great influence in arousing a public sentiment in behalf of temperance, throughout the country, and Dr. Eliphalet Nott, President of Union College, who was early and honorably known as a sturdy friend of temperance.
As one of the results of this increasing sentiment, concerning the evils of intemperance, we have the Washingtonian move- inent, which was originated in Baltimore, Md., by six hard drinking men, who occasionally met at a tavern, in that city, where, in 1840, they resolved, then and there, to drink no more. These men formed a society for the propagation of total abstinence among those who, like themselves, had been addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors. All but one of these men stood firm to this principle, till their death. The influence of this movement soon reached Gardner and resulted in the for- mation of a society, for the promotion of temperance, called the
WASHINGTON TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY OF GARD- NER.
This society was organized February 8th, 1842, with the choice of Dr. David Parker as Chairman and Mr. Thomas E. Glazier as Secretary. The following is the constitution of this society :-
ART. 1. This society shall be called the Washington Total Abstinence Society of Gardner.
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ART. 2. The members of this society agree that they will never again drink any intoxicating liquors, except when pre- scribed by a medical attendant, and that they will not provide them for their friends, or persons in their employ, and that they will, in all suitable ways, disconntenance the use of them in the community ; and above all, that they will use their utmost endeavors to reclaim and restore to temperance, those who are unfortunately addicted to drunkenness.
ART. 3 The officers of this society shall be a President, four Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, to be chosen annually.
ART. 4. The annual meeting of this society shall be holden in the last week in May; officers then to be elected and any business transacted that may come before the meeting.
ART. 5. The officers of this society, shall deliver to their successors in office, within one week after they cease to be officers, all property belonging to the society.
ART. 6. Any person may become a member of this society by signing the constitution.
ART. 7. This constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any meeting, such alterations or amendments being proposed in writing at least two weeks previous to action thereupon.
BY-LAWS.
ART. 1. It shall be the duty of each member to bring for- ward and reclaim all inebriates, wherever they may be found, and in no case to abandon a drunkard as irreclaimable.
ART. 2. It shall be the duty of any member of this society, to make known any case of habitual drunkenness that may come within the limits of this society, in order that the subject may be conversed with, and persuaded to abandon the deathly drink, and sign the total abstinence pledge.
ART. 3. If it should so happen that in an unguarded moment, any one who has signed the pledge, should partake of any alcoholic drink as a beverage, or in any other way violate the
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constitution, such committee shall be chosen as is thought proper to wait upon the delinquent, and remonstrate with him in a kind, affectionate manner, and in no case shall we consider any per- sons beyond reform, who, though they have broken their pledge, are willing to acknowledge the wrong and show a fixed deter- mination to try again.
ART. 4. Each member shall hold himself or herself ready to relieve the wants of any who may need, that none from dis- couragement, may be tempted to go back to partake of the intoxicating cup.
APT. 6. No speaker, whether a member of this society, or a stranger, shall introduce in any of his remarks, either politics or sectarianism, or personal allusions of any kind, in debate, but shall confine himself to the abolition of drunkenness and the building up of total abstinent principles. A violation of this article will subject the speaker to be called to order by the chair.
The total number of signers, to this constitution, was three hundred and ninety-six, at the outset. Isaac Jaquith was the first President ; Henry Whitney, James M. Comee, John Kemp, Jr., John Comee, Vice Presidents ; Thomas E. Glazier, Secre- tary ; Theophilus P. Wood, Treasurer.
As an evidence of the earnestness, with which this society began its work, January 25th, 1843, it " Voted, To choose two in each school district, to obtain members to the abstinence pledge and to serve as a committee to reclaim those who have broken it." August 14th, 1843, the society voted to have a picnic, as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made. This was the day of cold water armies, when the principle of total abstinence was inculcated among the children. With this end in view, celebrations and picnics were in order, for the benefit of the young, as well as those older. Upon the occasion now under consideration, the society voted to choose a marshal of the day and his assistants. They made choice of Mr. Levi Heywood for Chief Marshal. It was also voted that the "ladies write letters to the gentlemen, anonymous, if they please, on any
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subject they wish. The gentlemen to pay ten cents postage on all letters, to the number of five or less. The proceeds of the postage, to be appropriated towards the expenses of the picnic."
The society voted, June 24th, 1844, to unite with the various sabbath schools, in the town, in the celebration of the coming Fourth of July. It appears, from the records of this society, that the interest in the temperance movement had so far abated, that September 9th, 1846, a suggestion was made, " upon the necessity of having lectures before the society, in order to arouse the slumbering energies of the total abstinence men," showing how quickly the enthusiasm, at first manifested, in this movement, had abated. In 1846, the old Washingtonian con- stitution and by-laws were annulled. The same year, a new society was formed, with a new, yet similar constitution, called the
GARDNER TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
Mr. Thorley Collester was its first president. In 1848, Dr. David Parker was chosen president. December 21st, 1851, a new constitution was adopted. January 11th, 1852, the follow- ing board of officers was chosen : Rev. John C. Paine, Pres- ident ; Messrs. Thomas E. Glazier, Thorley Collester, Ephraim Wright, Amasa Bancroft, Vice Presidents ; Alonzo Gould, Sec- retary ; Seth Heywood, Treasurer. At this meeting, the society " Voted, To choose a committee of two, in each school distriet, to obtain signatures of the legal voters, to petition to the legislature for a law similar to the ' Maine Liquor Law,' so called." Under this new constitution, the society evidently flourished for a number of years, enjoying, from time to time, lectures from various individuals, by which the interest in the temperance cause was kept revived. At a meeting of this society, held in August, 1852, the following individuals were chosen a prosecuting committee, " for the purpose of taking some action in relation to enforcing the new liquor law, so called : Messrs. Henry Lawrence, Benjamin H. Rugg, Joseph Whitney, Hubbard Kendall, Ivers Whitney, John Sawin, Nel- son P. Wood, Amasa Bancroft, C. W. Bush, Thorley Collester,
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C. S. Greenwood, Farwell Edgell." That this committee per- formed the duty assigned it, with discretion, boldness and entire thoroughness, is evident from the records of the secretary of this organization, who evinces a facetiousness worthy of notice. The following is, in part, his record of January 3d, 1853: " In the Boston Times of to-day, appears the following paragraph :-
"' There were five seizures of liquor in Gardner, last Thurs- day ; three of which were decided adverse to the defendants, and the trial of the others was postponed for one week. In the evening a bonfire was made, amidst great rejoicing of the people.'"
Says the secretary, " the circumstances in relation to the above paragraph appear to be something like the following : Our faithful, patient and persevering committee, that was chosen last August, to prosecute all known violations of the new anti- liquor law, it seems, have not been asleep nor idle. They were chosen to annihilate the traffic and pursue the seller to judgment, and the above paragraph shows how faithfully they have per- formed the duties of their office. They have held secret meet- ings occasionally, at which they have reported what information they have been able to obtain, in regard to certain shanties, stables, sand-banks and other localities, which had a good deal of suspicious manoeuvring about them, and have laid and per- fected their plans for their destruction, with so much prudence and secrecy, and so simultaneous was the grab made by the officers, that nobody, but the officers and the committee, had the least idea of what was in the wind, till they saw the 'old king himself,' on his way to judgment. Some of those con- vieted, were fined twenty dollars and costs, while others con- cluded they would go to Worcester. In the evening, while the liquor was being emptied out, some of the boys tried to set it afire, and when they found it was such contemptible, poor stuff, it would not burn alone, they got some dry straw and poured some of the liquor on that and set fire to it, and in that way, made out to get up considerable of a bonfire. The scene was witnessed by quite a crowd of spectators, some of whom were mad and some were glad."
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RESIDENCE OF PHILANDER DERBY.
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This seems to have been the first real temperance blaze, if not the last, which the town has enjoyed. Gradually the Gard- ner Temperance Society continued to decrease, in interest and numbers, till January 5th, 1870, when its last recorded action, by its last secretary, Mr. Charles P. Wood, was made. The pres- idents of these societies, besides those already mentioned, were Messrs. Benjamin H. Rugg, C. K. Wood, Charles P. Wood, Rev. Samuel J. Austin, Allen Folger, John M. Moore and Dea. Henry Lawrence. That this society was founded upon the right basis and was so conducted as to result in great benefit to the town, in promoting the interests of temperance, no one, familiar with the facts, will care to dispute.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
There was an organization, called the Sons of Temperance, in this town. The precise date of its rise and disappearance we are not able to state, the records of the society not being within our reach.
PHILOKALIA LODGE NO. 82, I. O. OF G. T.
A lodge, of the " Independent Order of Good Templars," was formed in this town, in January, 1866, and was called Philokalia Lodge, which name signifies " love of moral and personal beauty." This was a secret organization. It con- tinued to thrive for several years, its sessions being held every week. Its exercises were of a literary nature, embracing plays, original essays and declamations, all in the interests of temper- ance. In 1873, this lodge became extinct, by the surrender of its charter.
REFORM CLUB.
This movement was inauguated by Dr. H. A. Reynolds, in March, 1876. Dr. Reynolds had the reputation of being a very successful apostle of temperance, in Maine and the eastern part of this state, previous to his coming to Gardner. Thousands
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had been induced to take the pledge, through his instrumentality. Having experienced the degradation and sorrow that befalls the man who surrenders himself to the power of strong drink, and having himself been mercifully lifted up, he was enabled, out of his own experience, to make simple, strong, earnest and pathetic appeals to drinking men, " to be good to themselves," by taking and keeping the pledge. His motto was " With malice toward none, with charity for all." During the few days he remained in town, he made an apparently strong impression upon the class of men he sought to reach. Many were induced to take the pledge and become members of the " Reform Club of Gardner," which was immediately organized, with constitu- tion and by-laws. The first president of this club, was Joseph Whipple, who was afterwards succeeded by Messrs. George W. Mason, Levi W. Wood, J. L. Alger, Jr., and M. A. Powers. The club held frequent meetings, in the Town Hall, and else- where, and great enthusiasm was awakened throughout the town, in behalf of the movement, which seemed to give promise of highest success. The old friends of temperance, waiving all private preferences in regard to means and methods, united cordially in support of the movement. All, without denominational distinction, united in holding a fair in the Town Hall, the object of which was to procure funds for the benefit of the Reform Club. As a result of this fair, together with a temperance ball, which succeeded it, about five hundred dollars were secured. Messrs. Philander Derby and John A. Dunn, generously offered the club a lot, on Vernon Street, upon which was to be erected a suitable house for the accommodation of the club, providing two hundred names should be secured to the pledge. Stimulated by this offer, frequent meetings were held and urgent efforts made to obtain the requisite number. At length the efforts of the club were crowned with success, in procuring the required number of signers. Still the fond antici- pations, of the more earnest and steadfast members of the club, were destined not to be realized. As the summer advanced, many, who had taken the pledge, began to violate it, and having
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been several times restored, at length abandoned the organiza- tion and returned to their old habits. Gradually the club diminished in numbers, until in the spring of 1877, a division occurred between the members residing in the Centre and South part of the town, and a separate club was formed, in each village, with an amicable division of the funds, remaining in the hands of the treasurer. For the accommodation of the club, while it remained undivided, as well as afterwards for the club at the Centre, Mr. Philander Derby furnished a room, free of rent, while members of the " Woman's Christian Temperance Union " provided the same with suitable furnishings. Still, in spite of all the efforts made, on the part of its friends, to sus- tain it, the Reform Club, at the Centre, continued to diminish in numbers and interest, till the day it committed a felo de se. A better destiny however, was in store for the Reform Club of South Gardner, which was organized as a separate institution April 2d, 1877, with Mr. J. R. Foster, as its first President. At its organization, this club numbered about twenty-five members, and rapidly increased to a membership of seventy-five, which has since decreased, till it has about thirty at the present time. This club holds its meetings in a building owned by Mr. S. K. Pierce, by whom the rent is gratuitously afforded. The room is supplied with daily and weekly papers and periodicals, and pictures adorn the walls, furnished by the friends of the club. The following gentlemen have acted as presidents of this club : Messrs J. R. Foster, M. A. Powers and W. O. Sawin. The badge, of the Reform Clubs, formed by Dr. Reynolds, is the red ribbon.
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNIONS.
These Unions, one at the Centre, and one at the South Vil- lage, are organizations designed to be auxiliary to the Reform Clubs, and have proved themselves efficient aids in the promo- tion of temperance work. Mrs. W. D. Herrick has been presi- dent of the union at the Centre, since its organization. The following ladies have officiated as presidents of the South Gard-
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ner Union : Mrs. Abel Jackson, Mrs. S. T. Frost and Mrs. Allen Newton.
TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.
This organization was formed November 16th, 1877, through the instrumentality of Mrs. L. C. Partington, of Providence, R. I. This organization is now in operation, holding its meet- ings weekly, its exercises being chiefly literary.
THE MURPHY MOVEMENT.
This peculiar kind of temperance work has been begun and is in progress, at this time, April 20th, 1878, in this town. The originator and inspirer of the movement, Mr. Francis Murphy, was born in Wexford County, Ireland, in 1834. He came to this country, when he was but seventeen years of age, led a varied life, till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted and went through the war as a soldier, and at its close, went to Portland, Maine, as a hotel keeper, where, with the many temptations, incident to such a life, as he had led, he found himself addicted to the use of strong drink. With troubles and sorrows, he plunged deeper into intoxication, and, at last, was placed, by friendly hands, in the jail in Portland, where, with time for reflection and an escape from temptation, it was hoped he might be led to reform. In the midst of his disgrace and discouragement, Capt. Silas Sturdevant visited the jail, and by his kindly christian influence, inspired him with a desire for reform, and encouraged him to begin a better life. In time he was liberated, and as he went forth a free man, he went so in a new sense, for he was free from the old habits which had been the cause of all his woe. He went out address- ing temperance meetings and laboring for intemperate men, and quietly grew in favor until he was invited West ; hitherto he had simply a local name, and had met with but little more than ordinary success.
However, in January, 1877, he was invited by some tem- perance men to go to Pittsburg, Pa., where his labors were
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crowned with great success, over forty thousand signers being pledged to the work of temperance. This was the beginning of a series of meetings, held all over the country, which have resulted in good to millions of men. The work is denominated " The Gospel Temperance Work," having for a motto, " with malice toward none and charity for all," and the prayer for God's help upon the pledge. Mr. Murphy has a corps of workers, who, filled with the spirit of their leader, go out all over the country with the Bible in one hand and the pledge in the other.
Dr. H. B. Rankin, a descendant of one of the early families in Gardner, (Kendall), and Col. E. I. Moore of Ithaca, both reformed men, came to Gardner as lieutenants of Mr. Murphy and labored for three weeks, holding meetings every evening, and by affectionate and earnest endeavor, won many men addicted to intemperance, to the pledge, so that at the time of this writing, the town is thoroughly alive, and a thousand names have been recorded as signers of the pledge and workers in the Murphy movement. The blue ribbon, the Murphy badge, is seen every where, upon the breast. This is regarded as the most efficient and popular temperance movement yet known in this town, a movement which commends itself most heartily to the judgment and candid consideration of a great majority of our citizens, encouraging the lovers of temperance to struggle on, till the final triumph is obtained over that which leads men to say, with Cassio, "O that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains ! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure and applause transform our- selves into beasts !"
It will be seen, by a careful review of the account of the various temperance organizations, now given, that while they promote the interests of temperance, during the periods of their existence, they yet are of brief duration, suggesting to the friends of temperance whether this cause, so dear to their hearts, should not be vitally connected with those organizations, which have in them the elements of perpetuity, namely, the Sabbath
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School and the Church, which must keep themselves constantly identified with the work, if its highest and most permanent success is to be secured.
Although there have, for years, been many staunch, strong, intrepid and unswerving temperance workers, in this town, who have never failed to identify themselves with the temperance cause, in its various methods of labor, some of whom have suffered in their persons and property, because of their undis- guised adherence to their principles, as temperance men, yet it cannot be conscientiously said, that, acting in its corporate capacity, the town has ever taken anything like advanced ground upon the subject of temperance. In 1834, there was an article in the warrant for the annual town meeting, " to see if the town will instruct the selectmen not to recommend any person to be licensed to retail or mix any spirituous liquors, within the limits of the town, during the year ensuing, or trans- act anything relating thereto." Of this article the town made short work. The record is, "Voted, To dismiss this article." This action may serve to indicate the sentiment of a majority of the voters, regarding the subject of temperance, from that day, to the present. However, in justice to the friends of temperance, it should be stated that the town, September 6th, 1870, upon the question, " shall any person be allowed to sell ale, porter, strong beer, or lager beer, within the limits of the town, previous to the first Tuesday of May, next?" voted in the negative, there being seventy-eight votes in favor, and ninety-six against allowing the sale of the above named articles. Also, April 5th, 1871, upon the question, " shall the sale of ale, porter, strong beer and lager beer, be allowed in this town for one year from this date ?- May 2d, 1871-," the vote was, "yeas, twenty-eight, nays, thirty-nine." These votes, although they do not represent a very large proportion of the voters of the town, yet are indicative of the ability of the citizens to expel the traffic in these beverages, from their midst, when they are so disposed.
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Under the present license law, our selectmen have not failed, annually, to respond to the wishes of those, by whom they have been elected to office, in furnishing such number of licenses as, in their opinion, the highest need and welfare of the community have seemed to require. It should be recorded, however, that there are many among us, who would be better pleased with less licenses, or even none at all.
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A
CHAPTER XI.
CEMETERIES.
" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
" The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave."-Gray.
" E'er sin could blight or sorrow fade, Death came with friendly care,
The opening bud to heaven conveyed And bade it blossom there."-Coleridge.
" To live in hearts we leave behind, Is not to die."-Campbell.
" Above the gloomy grave our hope ascends, E'en as the moon above the silent mountains.
These partings are reunions in the skies. To that great company of holy ones
They go; and we that stay how soon shall follow ! Through all our stubborn fears and craggy doubts Are Christ-worn paths that lead into the future, Well-beaten by the stress of pious feet.
Let not our hearts be troubled; Christ has gone Before; whither we know, the way we know."
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