USA > Maine > History of the Baptists in Maine > Part 26
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Temperance meetings were now frequently held, but they were not largely attended, and they did not attract much attention. March 31, 1833, the Portland Young Men's Temperance Society was organized. Neal Dow was one of those who were interested in the organization of this Society. He, with some others, desired to have the pledge include total abstinence from the milder forms of intoxicants as well as from "ardent spirits," but the majority were not ready for this action. It is a matter of interest that Henry W. Longfellow was one of the mem- bers of this Young Men's Temperance Society in Portland.
But the churches were still active in the work of tem- perance reform. The York Association, which met at Wells June 12 and 13, 1833, by the rising of nearly every person in the house, adopted the following: "Whereas, we consider the manufacture, vending and drinking of ardent spirits as a great moral evil, and that most of the cases of the discipline of the members of our churches arises directly or indirectly from its use, and as tending to continue the poverty, crime, wretchedness and ruin brought upon our happy country by intemperance ; also as increasing the difficulties of giving our children a virtu- ous education and preparing them for usefulness in time, and happiness in eternity, Resolved, That [the members of] this association are deeply penetrated with the import- ance of more energetic measures to purify our churches from the use and traffic of ardent spirits, and we ear- nestly entreat the churches to adopt immediate measures to make this whole body a temperance society on the
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principle of total abstinence." The Penobscot Association, at its meeting in Corinth, September 11th and 12th, took almost identical action. At the meeting of the Cumber- land Association in Portland, Aug. 28 and 29, 1833, in view of what had "been done among our churches for the cause of temperance," the following resolutions were adopted : "Resolved, That the manufacture or use of ardent spirits, or the traffic in the same, except for pur- poses connected with medicine or the arts, is an immoral- ity, and ought to be received and treated as such through the world. Resolved, That this immorality is inconsist- ent with a profession of the Christian religion, and that those who have the means of understanding its nature and effects, and yet continue to be engaged in it, ought not to be admitted as members of our churches. Resolved, That in the opinion of this association, those members of Christian churches who continue to be engaged in the manufacture, use or traffic of ardent spirits, except for the purposes already specified, are acting in opposition to the principles and precepts of the Christian religion."
These are clear, distinct utterances, and they mark the advanced position which our Baptist churches in Maine were now prepared to take. The Maine Baptist Conven- tion met in Readfield Oct. 9 and 10, 1833, and adopted resolutions of a like import, adding this recommendation : "That it be earnestly recommended to all the churches connected with this body to deliberate prayerfully upon the question whether they ought not to take some efficient measures to purify themselves from the evil of intemper- ance, and where such measures are taken, to report their success at the next meeting of their respective associa- tions."
At the meeting of the Bowdoinham Association at Fay- ette, Sept. 24 and 25, 1854, a resolution was passed declar- ing "the ordinary use of ardent spirits in any quantity," "a species of self-destruction," "contrary to the spirit of the gospel," and "a sin in the sight of God," while the Circular Letter, by Rev. S. Fogg of Winthrop, took the
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ground that those churches which stand aloof from the cause of temperance and countenance intemperance by temperate drinking cannot expect a revival of religion ; also that "those individuals in the church who use it as a common drink, and sell or give it to others, may never expect to enjoy, while pursuing this course to any con- siderable degree, the incomes of the Holy Spirit."
When Maine became a State, in 1820, the first legisla- tion enacted was in harmony with the Massachusetts laws relating to the liquor traffic. The first law of Maine's own enactment, approved March 20, 1821, was a license law, and similar to the existing statute in Massachusetts. In accordance with its provisions, licensing boards in the several towns might license as many persons of "sober life and conversation," and suitably qualified, as they deemed necessary. The license fee was six dollars. This law was amended from time to time, and in 1829 it was enacted that "no license granted as aforesaid shall author- ize the sale of wine, spiritous or mixed liquors, part of which is spiritous, to be drunk in the store or shop of any victualer or retailer." In taverns, however, it was still allowable to sell liquors to be drunk on the premises. In 1830, an act was approved making the cost of a license to sell liquors to be drunk on the premises six dollars, and that of a license to sell liquors not to be drunk on the premises three dollars.
But in 1834, after twelve years of unsatisfactory experi- ence, all former legislation was repealed, and a new law was enacted making the license fee one dollar. There was no restriction upon the sale of cider, beer, ale, etc. "No person was to be allowed to drink to drunkeness or excess in any licensed shop, nor was liquor to be sold to any minor or servant, under pain of incurring forfeiture of the bond. Notices were to be given, as under former laws, of persons who were addicted to the use of strong liquors, and licensed persons who sold to such were to forfeit the penalties of the bond." 1
1 Reminiscenses of Neal Dow, p. 228. The licensees were to give a bond of $300 to observe the requirements of the law
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But the evils of intemperance continued, and the need of a more effective organization on the part of the advo- cates of temperance reform was recognized. A State organization was formed in February, 1834, at Augusta. It did not make total abstinence a test of membership, but sought "the promotion of sobriety and temperance among the people." In other words, its voice was for modera- tion in the use of intoxicating drinks. At the annual meeting of this society, held in Augusta Feb. 2, 1837, it was proposed to make total abstinence, not only from "ardent spirits," but from the milder alcoholic liquors, a prerequisite for membership. Ex-Gov. King, who was president of the society, and other prominent members were opposed to any such action. "They took the ground that there was a Bible warrant for the use of wine; that harm was sure to come to the temperance cause from the adoption of a proposition so generally regarded as unwise and fanatical."1 These views prevailed, and the advo- cates of total abstinence withdrew and organized, in "the public meeting-house at Augusta," the Maine Temperance Union. Abner Coburn of Bloomfield, afterward governor of Maine, was one of those who assisted in organizing this new temperance society. In the new organization Neal Dow, Lot M. Morrill and Gen. Samuel Fessenden were active members. Among the resolutions adopted at the first meeting of the Union was the following : "Resolved, That the subject of petitioning the Legisla- ture for prohibiting, under suitable penalties, the sale of intoxicating liquors as a drink be recommended for dis- cussion at the next meeting of this society."
So far as is known, this was the first recorded public utterance in favor of prohibition in Maine, and from that time prohibition as a restrictive measure had its earnest advocates-an advocacy that resulted in the enactment of the prohibitory law in 1851.
In the Legislature that year Gen. Appleton advocated the principle of prohibition, and in the following year,
1 Reminiscenses of Neal Dow, p. 233.
2.
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in his inaugural address to the Legislature, Gov. Kent called attention to the importance of putting such "a seal of reprobation" upon the traffic in ardent spirits. When the Maine Temperance Union met in Augusta, Feb. 7, 1838, after considerable discussion, the following resolu- tions were adopted : "Resolved, That a committee of one from each county be raised to appear before the commit- tee of the Legislature which has under consideration the license law. Resolved, That this committee be instructed to advocate the passage of a law by the Legislature pro- hibiting under suitable penalties the sale of all intoxicat- ing liquors as a drink." This committee attended to its duty, but prohibition was not enacted. Its importance, however, was more and more widely acknowledged in temperance circles in the State.
When the Bowdoinham Association held its annual meet- ing at Leeds, Sept. 24, 25 and 26, 1839, Rev. W. O. Grant introduced resolutions on "Our Country," in which the first distinct note in favor of prohibition was sounded in our Baptist associations in these words : "That the man- ufacture and use of all intoxicating drinks be legally sup- pressed, and that these alarming and formidable obstacles in the way of our country's peace and happiness, and the success of the gospel, may be removed forever."
The advanced temperance people in the churches con- nected themselves with the Maine Temperance Union, which at its meetings emphasized the importance of a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a bev- erage.
In 1841, came the great Washingtonian movement. In this movement moral suasion was made prominent. The Maine Temperance Union hailed it as the dawn of a brighter day, and at the meeting of the Union in 1842, a resolution advocating prohibition was laid on the table. In the following year, however, after a warm discussion, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That while moral suasion shall continue to be urged upon those engaged in the sale of intoxicating drinks, we are con-
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strained to regard them as offenders against the good and wholesome laws of the land, and can see no reason why they as well as other offenders should not be held amen- able to those laws." But the battle was not yet won. The advocates of prohibition and the advocates of moral suasion in the Maine Temperance Union continued the discussion at its annual sessions. At the meeting held in Augusta, June 24, 1846, the resolutions adopted took strong ground in favor of prohibition, and it was voted that "Gen. Appleton, Neal Dow and John T. Walton be requested to appear before the legislative committee on license laws to represent the views and wishes of the thousands of our State who have asked by their petitions the passage of a law which shall effectually close up the drinking houses and tippling shops." Such a law was passed by a vote of eighty-one to forty-two in the House, and twenty-three to five in the Senate, and the law was approved by Gov. Anderson Aug. 7, 1846.
Many of the advocates of temperance reform were not entirely satisfied with the law as enacted. At the Cum- berland Association, which met in New Gloucester Aug. 25, 26 and 27, 1846, a resolution was adopted to this effect, that as citizens of the State they would use all proper efforts to carry into effect the recently-enacted law for suppressing the sale of intoxicating liquors, "holding our- selves at the same time ready to co-operate in all proper measures to procure such amendments to the law as expe- rience may prove needful." It was evidently believed that some amendments would be found necessary. The resolution adopted by the Bowdoinham Association, which met at East Livermore Sept. 23 and 24, 1846, contained no reference to amendments, but rang out loud and clear as follows : "Resolved, That we regard the recent law passed by our Legislature, restricting the sale of ardent spirits, as indicative of sound temperance principles in the State, and that we are bound to do all in our power to secure universal obedience to it."
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Amendments were made to the new law by succeeding Legislatures, but they were for the most part along the line of increased penalties for the violation of the law. More and more prohibition became a disturbing element in the politics of the State. Its friends very naturally desired to make the provisions of the new law as effective as possible, and it was found necessary to have as mem- bers of the Legislature men who were favorable to such legislation. In all parts of Maine the issue was squarely made in town, city and State elections. In Portland, in 1851, Neal Dow was elected mayor of the city, and in his inaugural address he gave expression to his well-known views : "I have good reason to believe," he said, "that a very large majority of the people of this city and of the State are in favor of the adoption of some effectual meas- ures for the suppression of a business which is at war with every principle of humanity and enlightened patriot- ism, and which violates the law of God as well as the law of the land. In the larger towns and cities in this State, no decisive movement can be made to suppress the numerous drinking houses and tippling shops by which they are infested without the enactment of a law for that purpose which shall be sufficiently stringent in its provis- ions and summary in its processes to effect its objects."
It is evident from these words that the law of 1846, even as amended from time to time, was not regarded as satis- factory by the advocates of prohibition. A new law was drafted by Mr. Dow, and presented in the Legislature, which was strongly Democratic. It came up for action May 29, 1851, and was passed to be engrossed in the House on that day by a vote of eighty-one to forty. In favor of the bill were forty-two Democrats, thirty-one Whigs, and eight Free Soilers ; opposed to it were twenty- five Democrats and fifteen Whigs. In the Senate on the following day the vote was eighteen in favor of the bill and ten opposed, divided politically as follows: for the bill, fourteen Democrats, three Whigs and one Free Soiler ;
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against it, ten Democrats. The bill received the approval of Gov. Hubbard June 2, 1851.
In all the movements that led up to this result the mem- bers of Baptist churches in Maine had a deep, abiding interest and their satisfaction in the enactment of the prohibitory law of 1851 found expression at the meet- ings of the denomination that followed. The Cumberland Association, at its meeting in Auburn, Aug. 26, 27 and 28, 1851, adopted the following: "Resolved, That we sym- pathize with the friends of temperance generally in hail- ing with deep interest the new law for the suppression of the sale of spirits, passed by the Legislature of this State at its last session, and we hope that all will endeavor to use it to the best possible advantage, until the nefarious traffic in spirits is entirely broken up."
The Penobscot Association, which met at Bradford Sept. 9, 10 and 11, 1851, passed the following resolution : "Re- solved, That in the opinion of this association, the law of this State, prohibiting the traffic in ardent spirits, is, in its essential character and provisions, demanded by the best interests of the people, and conformed to the princi- ples of Christian righteousness ; and that all good and Christian men be urged to give it their cordial and active support."
Oxford Association, which met at Bridgton Sept. 17 and 18, 1851, adopted the following : "We hereby express our strong approval of the anti-liquor law, lately enacted by the Legislature of the State, and we recommend to all the members of our churches to sustain it, as the last hope of thousands who are suffering by unholy traffic in spiritous liquors, which has been so largely carried on by men who neither fear God nor regard man."
Bowdoinham Association, at Leeds, Sept. 24 and 25, 1851, took the following action : "Resolved, That the law passed at the recent session of our Legislature for the suppres- sion of the traffic in intoxicating liquors deserves the hearty approval of every Christian and good citizen."
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The good effects of the law were soon apparent. There was a diminution of crime and pauperism in the State. For the first time since their erection the county jails of Kennebec and Oxford were empty. The law was found to be a practical working law, and when the Legislature of 1852 met there was no attempt to repeal it.
The general feeling was expressed at the meeting of the Maine Baptist Convention in Bath, June 15, 16 and 17, 1852 : "Resolved, That the Legislature of the State in the enactment of the law known as 'The Maine Liquor Law,' has furnished occasion for hearty rejoicing ; and the suc- cessful operation of the law during the year since its enactment has awakened confident hopes in regard to the suppression of intemperance."
When the Legislature met in 1853, Gov. Crosby, in his inaugural address, said : "I am not aware that any fur- ther legislation upon the subject [of temperance] is con- templated. If it is, I can only invite you to give it the calm and deliberate consideration to which a subject mat- ter of such magnitude, involving principles so important and consequences so momentous-the moral welfare and civil rights of a people-is entitled. But I would here, as elsewhere, in the name of humanity, forbid the banns between temperance and religious sect or political party." At a State temperance convention, held in Augusta soon after, Neal Dow, responding to the governor's sugges- tion, offered the following resolution : "Resolved, That the banns be forbidden between rum and religion and politics of every party and every sect, and, in the name of God and humanity, that a union be proclaimed, holy and indis- soluble, of affection as well as of necessity, between tem- perance, religion and politics of every party and of every sect."
The amendments made to the prohibitory law by the Legislature of 1853 were in the line of increased effi- ciency. But the opponents of the law were active in their endeavors to overthrow it. At the meeting of the Lincoln
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Association in St. George, Sept. 21 and 22, 1853, the voice of the churches found expression in the following resolu- tions which were adopted : "Resolved, That we recognize the hand of God in the enactment and successful working of the Maine Liquor Law, and bless his name for the evi- dence we have that it is deeply seated in the hearts of the people. Resolved, That while wicked men oppose it, and spare no efforts for its overthrow, it is especially incum- bent upon Christians to sustain it by their prayers in the closet, their example in life, and their votes at the polls. Resolved, That the result of our recent State election is an overwhelming demonstration in favor of the Maine Law and a stern and startling rebuke to those designing polit- ical demagogues who would erase it from our statute book."
Penobscot Association, which met at Kenduskeag Sept. 5, 6 and 7, 1854, after an expression of thankfulness to God "for the enactment of a prohibitory law," "Resolved, That in the coming election we will give our votes only to such gubernatorial and legislative nominees who are well known as having given unmistakable assurance that the Maine Law shall have their unqualified support." This was unanimously adopted by a rising vote.
Opposition to the law, however, continued, and in Port- land, June 2, 1855, developed into a riot, in which one rioter was killed and three or four wounded. Misrepre- sentations as to the cause of this riot were used in all parts of the State in opposition to the prohibitory law, and these were very effective in the political campaign that followed. The result was the election of a Legisla- ture which, early in 1856, repealed the prohibitory law and enacted a license law in its place.
But the friends of temperance were not disheartened. At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Convention, which was held in Rockland June 17, 18 and 19, 1856, the follow- ing action was taken : "Resolved, That our interest in the subject of temperance among the people of this State con- tinues unabated ; and that we regard a prohibitory law as
X
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one great measure for the suppression of intemperance, and are ready to unite in all wise and efficient endeavors to secure the establishment of such a law in this common- wealth." The people of Maine were soon of this opinion. The Legislature, early in 1858, enacted a new prohibitory law by a vote in the Senate of twenty-four to one, and in the House of one hundred and four to twenty-seven. This law received the approval of the governor, and was sub- mitted to the approval of the people at a special election. The issue presented was "The Prohibitory Law of 1858" or "The License Law of 1856." This action was unneces- sary, as the law would have been operative whatever the vote of the people, but the law received an endorsement which brought confusion to its opponents. The vote was 28,855 in favor of prohibition and 5,912 in favor of license. So manifest was the approval of the principle of prohibi- tion by the people of Maine that organized opposition to the law now ceased. The battle had been fought and won, and in this battle the Baptists of the State, as we have seen, had arrayed themselves strongly on the side of prohibition.
But although the battle had been won, eternal vigilance was still necessary in order to meet the efforts of those who in various ways sought to make the law of no effect. It was at length thought by many of the prominent advo- cates of prohibition in Maine that an added step forward would be taken by removing prohibition from politics and giving it a place in the constitution of the State. An amendment was consequently prepared, and this received the endorsement of the Baptists of the State in their annual associational and anniversary meetings. One of the resolutions presented and adopted at the meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention, Oct. 4, 1882, commended heartily "the effort to secure a constitutional amendment, which shall utterly prohibit all traffic in intox- icating liquors." The resolution submitting the prohibi- tory amendment to the people of Maine was adopted by the Legislature Frb. 21, 1883, and the amendment was
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accepted by the voters of the State Sept. 8, 1884, the vote being three to one in its favor. At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention, held at Houl- ton Oct. 8, 1884, action was taken recognizing "with devout thanksgiving to God the temperance sentiment in our State indicated by the adoption of the constitutional amendment, making the prohibitory law a part of the organic law of the State."
It is still, however, found necessary to insist that the sworn officers of the State, whose duty it is to execute the laws, shall be faithful. It is an encouraging fact that in Maine as a whole there has been a more rigid enforce- ment of the prohibitory law in the past few years than at any previous time, certainly for a long while. Such an enforcement, as might be expected, is conducive to the peace and prosperity of our people. It is sometimes said that prohibition does not prohibit. Of course it prohibits, but the statement is made with the meaning that the law does not wholly prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors in Maine. No law against crime in our State wholly pre- vents crime. The prohibitory law is a restrictive meas- ure, and the great body of the people of Maine are of the opinion that it is the best restrictive measure that has as yet been enacted for the suppression of the liquor traffic. All temperance action in our Conventions and associations in recent years furnishes abundant evidence that in that conviction the Baptists of Maine still abide.
CHAPTER XX.
ANTI-SLAVERY AGITATION.
The condition of the slaves in the Southern States early received the attention of the Baptists of Maine. Organ- ized efforts at the North in behalf of the slave were first made by the American Colonization Society, formed at Princeton, N. J., in 1811. In our Maine churches there were those who gave to that organization their prayers and financial support. At the meeting of the Bowdoinham Association at Greene, Sept. 24 and 25, 1829, it was rec- ommended to the churches connected with the association that they "observe the Fourth of July in a religious man- ner, and that a collection be made to aid the object of the Colonization Society." This Society received a more formal endorsement at the meeting of the Maine Baptist Convention in Warren, Oct. 10 and 11, 1832. Rev. Mr. Pearl, agent of the Colonization Society, was present, and the business of one of the sessions was suspended in order . that he might address the Convention. After the address the Convention expressed its approval of the efforts of the Colonization Society "for the amelioration of the condition of the people of color now in the United States," and promised to co-operate with the agent of the Society in promoting this object.
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