USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dover > Old home day : proceedings of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Dover, Massachusetts, Wednesday, July 7th, 1909 > Part 6
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Although large quantities of cider and liquor were consumed the settlers were a law-abiding people and must never be thought of as a set of drunkards. The drink habit was universal and so had no injurious effect on a man's standing in the community.
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Flip, a century ago, was an almost universal drink. It was made of beer or cider, sweetened with sugar, with a dash of New England rum. It was mixed in a flip mug and stirred with a red hot iron, called a loggerhead, which made the mixture boil and foam. The hot iron is said to have imparted a bitter taste. Drinks were always taken hot, and generally spiced and sweet- ened, there was hot flip, hot toddy and hot punch. I have one of the old flip bowls and the old flip iron which was used for many years in the Williams tavern. It was kept heated in the fire-place, and shows the signs of having been many times re- paired by the village blacksmith. I also have my grandfather's two-quart runlet with his initials, D. S., (Draper Smith), in which he carried New England rum, when on the road team- ing for himself, or working for the United States Government in the War of 1812. I keep these things as illustrating the progress that has been made in the life and habits of the people during the last century. I see in them the fulfillment of God's law, that of evolution, rather than that of revolution. While statistics may be given that are appalling, yet when we consider the progress that has been made in the daily life of the people of this town during the last century, we may have some degree of satisfaction. The conditions that exist in Mr. Lord's Parish, or in Mr. Vrooman's Parish today, are entirely different from those that existed here at the time of the settlement of the last town minister, in 1812, when outside of his individual Congre- gational Church, there was no organization in town, beside the schools, to promote religion, temperance, education or any other good work. We are glad to know how well he met the duties and responsibilities of his time. Sprague, in his Annals of the American Pulpit, says of the Rev. Dr. Sanger: "Beside his appropriate duties as a clergyman, he did much for the promo- tion of temperance and in aid of the general cause of social improvement." The Rev. Dr. Edward E. Hale, a personal friend of Dr. Sanger's, in his installation sermon, preached here in 1904, says: " I might add to what is said of Dr. Sanger in the History of Dover, 'that he labored for the welfare of the Com- monwealth, for he was a valued adviser to the State and all who served her.'"
In many ways there has been an improvement in the male help employed on Dover farms. For years after the organization of this parish, degenerate Indians were numerous on the Indian farm at South Natick, who worked for farmers in building walls ; stoning wells and like work. With the money thus ob-
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tained they bought rum and led a rough and boisterous life. They harbored low associates and were a detriment to the morals of the community. Although their reservation was sold by a resolve of the General Court in 1828, yet they continued to live in the vicinity for many years afterwards. In 1861 there were twelve of the tribe of Natick Indians still living in Massa- chusetts. The following description of Massachusetts Indians tallies very closely with what I have heard old residents of Dover say of them. The wretched squaws, wrinkled, dirty, sore-eyed from the smoke in their miserable huts, toiled on patiently, ceaselessly making a great variety of wooden utensils which they bartered with the whites for milk and vegetables and rum. And if these poor creatures obtained in their bartering too much bread and milk, and too little rum and tobacco, they were beaten as no white man would beat the meanest dog.
A century ago, when the able-bodied men of the town gathered on yonder green and took part in the annual muster, probably every man was a patron of the village bar.
At public auctions liquor was freely given because it induced high bidding. There was not a house, barn, or meeting-house raised without liquor. When my grandfather bought, in 1812, the house in which I was born, and moved it across lots from the farm of George Battelle, to where it now stands on Smith Street, the tavern keeper was employed for two days to mix toddy for the men who were engaged in the work. At funerals liquors of a variety of kinds were provided. The body was placed in the front hall. Friends, on their arrival, went in to view the remains and then passed into the next room to help themselves to the liquor there provided. In the burial of paupers liquor was furnished at the town's expense.
Public executions were made days of merry-making and deep drinking; punch, flip and other liquors were drunk in large quantities. I remember hearing Jabez Baker of Dover describe a public execution which he attended at Dedham. People came from far and near. The roadway for several miles was lined with carriages. All witnessed the execution, and then the multi- tude stayed its thirst at the Dedham taverns. Mrs. Caryl, the wife of the minister of the Springfield parish, had her set of beautiful wine glasses and decanters from which she dispensed hospitality as well as her husband. Seventy-five years ago the taking of snuff was a very common practice among the women of the town. In every home there was found the ornamental snuff box, which was in daily use and always carried to church
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on Sunday. I remember seeing some of the grandmothers of present Dover families smoking their clay pipes in the chimney corner, which they seemed to enjoy as much as any man.
At the ordination of Mr. Ralph Sanger, as the town minister in 1812, a vast concourse of people were present. The council and their friends, after the public exercises, were entertained at the Williams Tavern. My gradmother, who was then twelve years of age, used to tell of a party of ladies and gentlemen from Roxbury, who ordered an abundance of wine with their dinner. They were much chagrined, however, when they were not allowed to pay for it, for everything was freely given on that occasion. This was the civilization under which our fathers lived a century ago. But the night is always the darkest before the dawn. With the incoming of the nineteenth century began a temperance reform which was far-reaching in its results. Pre- vious to this time liquor was almost universally used. The first temperance society in the United States, and perhaps in the world, is said to have been formed in Litchfield, Conn., in 1789, when two hundred farmers simply pledged themselves not to use liquor in carrying on their farm work. A little later, minis- ters in various places, who at that time exerted a mighty influ- ence on the community, became temperance advocates, and happily the minister of this town was enrolled in the number. In 1813 the Massachusetts Temperance Society was organized. It was a temperance organization but not a total abstinence society. Its members did not oppose the use of wine, cider, or malt liquors ; they only pledged themselves not to use "ardent spirits," as a beverage, nor provide it as an article of refresh- ment, or give it to any person in their employ.
Even the strictest church covenant did not forbid the use of liquor. In 1683 the Dedham Church added to its covenant a paragraph relating to the particular sins of the times, in which it mentions mis-spending of time and excessive drinking. In the organization in 1736 of the South Church in Dedham, now Nor- wood, its members, among other things, did covenant with the Lord not to engage in "excessive drinking." Even in the Methodist Church, which today stands so nobly for the cause of temperance, the General Conference as late as 1811 refused to accept a resolution " that no stationed or local preacher should retail spirituous or malt liquor without forfeiting his ministerial charter." And the Mendon Association of Congregational Min- isters, of which the Rev. Benjamin Caryl and Dr. Sanger were members, used intoxicating liquors at all its regular meetings
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until 1826. As late as 1870 Joseph Larrabee, a deacon in the First Parish Church and the founder of the Larrabee fund, who up to the time of his death in 1872 was the best representa- tive of the old-time hospitality, offered some rum to Mrs. Locke, the wife of the minister, when making with her husband a parish call. In Mr. Larrabee's day it would have been regarded as a lack of hospitality if the guest had not been treated to sling, flip or toddy. The universal custom of giving hired men at least a half a pint of rum a day, began to be abolished by some in this town soon after the organization of the first temperance society in 1813. In lieu of the rum the men were paid a higher wage. The Rev. Dr. Sanger was one of the first to refuse to give liquor to those whom he employed. Later the custom was abolished by Hiram W. Jones, a carpenter who had quite a force of men in his employ. While building the barn now owned by Irving Colburn, on Farm Street, he took a decided stand and refused to give any more liquor to his men. On that spot he settled the question, once and for all, with his men. Now the employers of labor in the metropolitan districts insist on having temperate workers. Upon railroads, in factories, stores and of- fices, only clear heads are tolerated, and the intemperate person soon finds his place taken by a sober one. Employers of labor are today doing the effective temperance work in the land.
The Washingtonian Temperance Society was formed in 1840. It had for its object the reformation of hard drinkers. John B. Gough was one of its first great converts. And from that time on, through many years, the most prominent temperance lec- turers in New England, from Mr. Gough down through an eminent line of public speakers, including the Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, Elias Nason, Edwin Thompson, and Mayor Johnson, have here aroused the conscience of the people and educated them in the cause of temperance. There was a Washingtonian Society here sixty-four years ago which held its meetings in the Baptist Chapel at Dover Mills, and while there is no existing record of its officers, there are those still living who were mem- bers and recall its efficient work.
The first Total Abstinence Society was formed in Massachu- setts in 1835, a corporation of which your late President, Mr. J. W. Higgins, had the honor of being the secretary, a society which has commanded the support of many of Dover's best citizens. As the temperance sentiment grew County Temper- ance Unions were formed, one being organized in Norfolk County May 3, 1870, of which the Rev. William M. Thayer of
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Franklin was the President. Mrs. Thayer - the helpmate and earnest supporter of her husband in all his religious, educational and philanthropic work - is a native of Dover and is still re- membered and esteemed by the older residents. This union held quarterly meetings at first which met in rotation in the different towns of the County, and for many years the meetings were very largely attended. From its start the Norfolk County Temperance Union has had no stauncher friend than your oldest citizen, Dea. Asa Talbot. He stands in my mind as the first and strongest temperance advocate in Dover during my boyhood days.
The Order of the Sons of Temperance, organized in 1842, and an offspring of the Washingtonian movement, had a num- erous membership here and did much good work through a careful study of temperance questions. Like its parent, it was based upon "moral suasion." This was the last organization in town to hold meetings in the hall of the old tavern. It held its sessions later in the vestry of the First Parish Church.
The first temperance organization in the country for juveniles was formed in 1839 and was called the "Cold Water Army." Its members marched in procession, with banners and badges and had a picnic in connection with each celebration. It was powerful in Massachusetts previous to 1850 and gave the tem- perance movement a strong start. At the open-air meetings of the "Cold Water Army" a luncheon was enjoyed and the people afterwards listened to temperance addresses, while the children sang cold water songs. I recall such a celebration which occurred when I was a boy. It was held in the beautiful pine grove, on Centre Street, which then covered the present grounds of the Dover Historical Society. This grove was called "Celebration Woods," and was later cut off. These picnics made a lasting impression on the minds of the children of that time and helped to fix in them habits of temperance. It has been thought by some that much good might be accomplished by a renewal of the "Cold Water Army."
Another temper- ance organization for juveniles, called the "Band of Hope," was organized in England in 1847. The movement spread through- out all English-speaking countries and is still very popular in England. In Dover a band was formed in 1859 through the efforts of the Rev. Edward Barker, himself an Englishman, which held meetings in the Centre School House. It was active for several years and pledged its members as follows: " I hereby solemnly pledge myself to abstain from the use of all intoxicat-
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ing drinks including wine, beer and cider as a beverage; from the use of tobacco in every form and from all profanity." An organization known as the Order of Good Templars was formed in this county in 1852, and had a large membership. A lodge was organized in Dover in 1869, which held meetings in the Baptist Chapel. It was a secret society with a pass word, grip, etc. It admitted both old and young and for several years had a numerous membership in Dover. Its charter was finally sur- rendered in 1872.
In the sixties there was a town agency in Dover which sold liquor to the residents. A register was kept in which the name of the purchaser, the kind and amount of liquor sold was re- corded. This agency did a flourishing liquor business. As it was not carried on in accordance with the spirit of the law it was a detriment to the town and there was great rejoicing when it was finally closed.
There never was more activity in the temperance cause in this town than in 1867 when a large number of influential persons throughout the Commonwealth organized what was called Per- sonal Liberty Leagues. For brevity its adherents were called P. L. L's. The avowed purpose of this organization was to elect a legislature that would repeal the prohibition law. There were many members of this League here who entered into the cam- paign with much earnestness. To offset the influence of the League much active temperance work was done, including a series of temperance lectures in which prominent temperance advocates took part. Dover cast her vote for a representation to uphold the law, by a good majority. Through the means of literature the work has been advanced in Massachusetts since 1878 by the issue of the Temperance Cause, a periodical which has circulated in town although its list of subscribers has never been large.
In 1861 the Civil War broke out and for four years demanded the attention and interest of every citizen. How well this de- mand was met is illustrated by the remarkable record of the patriotism of this town which was far in excess of all demands. During this time nothing was done to promote the cause of temperance except, perchance, an occasional lecture. About 1870 the Rev. Thomas S. Norton, that indefatigable temperance worker, commenced a series of meetings in Noanet Hall at Charles River Village, and in the several schoolhouses of the town in which the children took a prominent part in temperance songs, dialogues and declamations. At these meetings a tem-
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perance pledge was circulated and received many signers. In the public schools temperance pledges have been circulated occasion- ally for more than fifty years and have received, with the per- mission of parents, a goodly number of signatures. In 1871 the Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society offered prizes to the pupils in the public schools, for the best essay upon the subject, "The evils of intemperance and its remedy." In this contest some of the pupils in Dover schools not only won prizes, but re- ceived honorable mention from the officers of the Society for the excellence of their essays.
In accordance with the requirements of public statutes scien- tific temperance instruction was introduced into the schools in 1884. This instruction has been faithfully carried out although the attending results have not been all that was hoped for the enterprise by its advocates. There has been a great improve- ment in the text books used in the public schools. When I was a boy at the West school we used to solve problems in getting the proportion that a man and his wife would individually drink in emptying a keg of beer, and earlier young pupils were actually required to give the sum of two glasses of ale, three glasses of toddy and seven dippers of gin, the answer being, of course, twelve. Laws have been enacted in Massachusetts from time to time to promote the cause of temperance. The first restrictive liquor law was enacted in 1838, which prohibited the sale of ardent spirits in less quantities than fifteen gallons, to be deliv- ered and carried away, all at one time, and at that date this was advanced temperance legislation.
There has always been an honest difference of opinion regard- ing the advisability of sustaining a temperance political party. In 1869 those who looked upon prohibition as a great national issue organized the Third or Prohibition Party. This party had a very rapid growth for about fifteen years and at one time polled more than 250,000 votes. The party had an organization here, and in the days of its greatest strength, in 1889, polled a considerable percentage of the whole number of votes cast in Dover. The party, by death and removals, has gradually de- clined until no organization is maintained and its principles have but scant support. I think those of you who remember the supporters of this cause will agree in this that they were intelli- gent citizens, men who lived consecrated and consistent lives. In 1882 the Local Option Law went into effect in Dover, as it did in other towns of the State, a law which necessitates an annual consideration of the subject. In the twenty-seven years
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of its existence the town has steadily voted No and there has never been danger of license here. On the first submission of the question, seventy-one per cent. of those voting voted No, while in 1909 seventy-four per cent. voted that way, showing an in- crease in favor of No-license. The work for Constitutional Prohibition commenced in Massachusetts in 1883 and continued until 1888 when the legislature voted to submit the question to the electors of the Commonwealth. On April 22, 1889, the vote was taken and illustrates the strong temperance sentiment which prevailed in Dover. Of those voting forty-six voted for the amendment and forty-one voted against it, showing that a majority of those voting favored a constitutional amendment forbidding the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage, while a large majority of the voters of the State cast their vote against the amendment. Much pre- paratory work was done by the Dover Temperance Union in holding public meetings and in the distribution of literature. Of all the organizations for promoting the cause of temperance which have existed in this town, the Dover Temperance Union is the most ideal. It was formed in 1872 by the Rev. Thomas S. Norton, a man whose life in this community will ever be a pleasant memory. This society has had the longest existence of any temperance organization in town and still has, I trust, the buoyancy of youth. It seems to unite the popular features of all its predecessors and long may it flourish.
We have now seen in this brief review the sure and lasting progress that has been made in the cause of temperance in Dover. While much still remains to be done, we may yet take courage from the steady gain that has been made, and say, with Whittier :
Oh, sometimes gleams upon our sight, Through present wrong the eternal right, And step by step, since time began, We see the steady gain of man.
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APPENDIX TO MR. STIMSON'S ADDRESS. Harvard College Library.
SMITH,* FRANK. The founders of the First Parish, Dover, Mass., with description of houses now standing which were built before the Revolution. 10334.12.5 SMITH, FRANK. Narrative history. A history of Dover, Mass., as precinct, parish, district, town. Dover 1897. 10334.12 DOVER HIST. & NAT. HIST. Soc. Old home day in the town of Dover Aug. 19, 1903. Natick. 1903. 10366 (box)
JONES, ALICE JOHNSTON. In Dover on the Charles; a contribu-
tion to N. E. folk-lore. Newport, R. I. 1906. 15354.70
PALMER, STEPHEN. The Glory of the Second Temple, etc. A sermon at dedication of new meeting-house in Dover, 1811. Dedham. 1811. Tr. 2169 (7)
SANGER, RALPH. Brief review of 40 yrs. Dedham 1853. 17313.12
SANGER, RALPH. Thirty years' ministry. Two sermons. 1842
B. 1843. 22 1-2 133
DOVER, MASS. Vital records. 16382.29.85
SMITH, FRANK. Biog. sketches of residents of Dover (1748- 1848) who graduated from college. 17313 (box)
EVERETT, MRS. G. D. Dover.
(HURD, D. H. Hist. of Norfolk County 1884. pp. 238-256).
10355.22 SMITH, FRANK. The deeds of our fathers. A Memorial Day address delivered in the town house, Dover, May 30, 1904. (Dover) 1904. 9342 (box)
SMITH, FRANK. A geographical and historical catechism of Dover.
SMITH, FRANK. Col. Daniel Whiting of Dover, Mass. 7337.15
SMITH, FRANK. Ralph Sanger. Dover, 1909. 10366 (box)
SMITH, FRANK. The Williams Tavern, Dover, Mass. 1908. 10366 (box)
DOVER, MASS. Blank form for highway surveyors.
DOVER, MASS. Report of the receipts and expenditures of the town. 1866, 1870, 1873. Pam.
Pam.
DOVER, MASS. Annual report, 1873.
*Titles are not repeated. The same book may be found in each of the libraries named.
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DOVER, MASS. School Com. Report. 1865-66. Pam. BARBER, J. W. Historical collections, etc., relating to history and antiquity of every town in Mass. Worcester, 1844. Reference to Dover, p. 467. (1 paragraph only). 10355.3 CHICKERING, MRS. LIZZIE A. Cemetery inscriptions from Dover. M. S. Mrs. L. A. Chickering, Dover.
FLAGG, C. A. Guide to Mass. local history. 10331.1.5
COLBURN, JEREMIAH. Bibliography of local history of Massa- chusetts. 10331.1
GRIFFIN. Bibliography of American Historical Societies
Ref. 108.22.5
RICHARDSON & MORSE.
Ref. 108.22.3
MCLAUGHLIN & OTHERS.
Ref. 108.22.3
GRIFFIN.
Ref. 108.22.3
Mass. Historical Society Library.
AMERICAN QUARTERLY REGISTER. Vol. 8, Boston, 1836.
DEDHAM HISTORICAL REGISTER. July, 1898. Vol. IX, pp. 80- 85. Tilden, W. S. The Legend of Tubwreck Brook.
DEDHAM HISTORICAL REGISTER. Vol. III. 1892. Smith, C. H.
Dover Records. Smith, F. Dover in Revolution.
DEDHAM HISTORICAL REGISTER. Dover Records.
Vol. IV. 1893. Smith, C. H.
DEDHAM HISTORICAL REGISTER, Vol. V. 1894. Dover Records.
NOYES' ADDRESS AND PALMER'S SERMON.
JOHN JONES' BOOK OF MINUTES.
HAVEN'S MEMORIAL ADDRESS, p. 21.
NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL GENEALOGICAL.
44, 158
DEXTER'S KING PHILIP'S WAR.
DEDHAM HISTORICAL REGISTER, XI., 149; IX., 37; IV., 11.
Boston Athenaeum.
MANN'S ANNALS. TOWN REPORTS.
JOHN LATHROP'S DISCOURSE, M. Sam'l West.
Dedham Historical Society.
DR. AMES' JOURNAL. (MS.)
Dover Historical Society.
ORDINATION. Mr. Ralph Sanger, 1812. SANGER, RALPH. Two Sermons, 1812.
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SANGER, RALPH. Funeral Sermon, Capt. Lewis Smith, 1819. COLLECTIONS DOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. General. (MS.) COLLECTIONS DOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. (Biographical.) (MS.)
COLLECTIONS DOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. (The Greater Dover.) (MS.)
DEDICATION SAWIN MEMORIAL BUILDING, 1907.
DOVER-EDISON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY, (1909.)
SMITH, FRANK. Biographical Sketches of Dover Soldiers. 1909.
Dover Public Library.
DOVER VITAL RECORDS, to the year 1850. (1908.)
CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 1875. (MS.)
ADDRESS. Dedication Town Hall. 1880. (MS.) SMITH, FRANK. Address, 150th Anniversary Dover First Parish. 1898. (MS.)
LOCKE, REV. C. S. Address 150th Anniversary Dover First Parish. Dedham Historical Register, Vol XI. 1900.
BURRAGE, GEORGE D. Address of Welcome 150th Anniversary Dover First Parish. (MS.)
BRUNTON, REV. WILLIAM. Poem. 150th Anniversary Dover First Parish. (MS.)
ADDRESS. What the First Parish had done for Civilization. 1906. (MS.)
JOHN ELLIOT and his difficulty in gaining an Indian settlement. 1898. (MS.)
HALE, EDWARD E. Sermon preached at installation of Rev. Robert Collyer Douthit. 1904. (MS.)
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ADVERTISEMENT.
The following publications relating to the history of Dover have been issued :
History of Dover, cloth, 354 pages, 2 maps, 20 illustrations. Price, $1.80, postpaid. Address, Town Clerk, Dover, Massa- chusetts.
The Founders of the First Parish, cloth, 8 vo., 1 map. Illustrated with pictures of all the houses now standing (12) which were built before the Revolution. Price, $1.00 postpaid. Address, Clerk, First Parish Church, Dover, Massachusetts.
Dover's First Old Home Day, (1903), paper, 55 pages. Price, 25 cents, postpaid.
Proceedings, Dedication Sawin Memorial Building, (1907), paper, 3 illustrations, 40 pages. Price, 25 cents, postpaid.
Proceedings, 125th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Dover, (1909), cloth, 70 pages. Price, 50 cents, postpaid; paper, 25 cents, postpaid. Address, Dover Historical Society, Dover, Massachusetts.
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