CHAPTER V.

Close and Open Organizations Compared.

I shall be told, perhaps, that there is among us a class of organizations whose founders avoided the blunders of the past and into whose working plans provisions have been introduced which render them self-supporting; such as the "Sons of Temperance, "Rechabites," &c. I am well aware of this, and give their originators full credit for the good sense and wise forethought they manifested in relation to the particular and indispensable feature referred to; but most unfortunately, as I cannot but think, other features were given to these.organizations, to which large numbers of earnest, Christian men, and true friends of the cause seem to have insuperable objections. In states where even a large majority of the people are opposed to the liquor system, as in Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, and where, for reasons before stated, open organizations of a local character have become extinct, or nearly so, but a fraction of the Christian men and women of the state have connected themselves with the temperance "Orders," though they have existed there for more than ten years, and their claims have been constautly urged on the public attention. I think we should be doing great injustice to charge the thousands of Christian men who fail to connect themselves with the associations referred to, with hostility to the cause. Their dislike is to certain features of the organization, and not to the principle it embodies. It seems to me the dictate of wisdom to mould our forms to the wishes, aye, if you please, to the prejudices of the thousands who are ready to embrace with us the great vital principles of the reform, and to aid us actively in their dissemination. Forms may be varied indefinitely; principles are vital and not to be compromised. Some very good friends

of the cause, connected with the temperance "Orders," urge that open organizations "have had their day" and cannot be sustained, no matter what new provisions we incorporate into them. In this matter I differ altogether in opinion from many whom I yet hold in high estimation. It does not follow at all that because men grew lean on half rations, that the same result would have happened with a full commissary. It is bad logic to insist that certain undesirable results, fairly attributable to a certain definite cause, will continue to occur when that cause ceases to operate. Until, however, the fatal defect in open organizations which I have pointed out, shall be remedied, and a general move made by the Christian Ministry and the Christian public for their re-establishment with requisite improvements, I am thoroughly convinced that the temperance "Orders" will generally occupy the field. I am equally well convinced, that their modes of operation will never so educate the general population of a state, as to lead to the overthrow of the liquor system. Open organizations, even with the defect I have pointed out, which lessened their efficiency during their necessarily short lives, have completely revolutionized the public opinions, social customs and laws of more states than one. If I shall be told that close organizations hold open public meetings, to which all are invited, I answer, that so far as they do this, they approximate in fact and in influence to open organizations and give testimony to the absolute necessity of what is, after all, the true method of directly influencing the popular mind, free discussion in the presence of the masses. That great good has been done to vast numbers of men through the "temperance Orders," I am happy to bear testimony, and until more effective methods can be adopted, in which all the real friends of the cause can heartily unite, as they formerly did in open organizations, I shall bid the "Orders" God speed, and labor with and for them where my labor may be desired. If the good accomplished by them were strictly confined to their own members, which it evidently is not, close organizations are far better than no organized opposition to the great scourge of human society.

I ask those however, who insist that open organizations have had their day and cannot be sustained, to read the fol

lowing from a speech made at a Massachusetts Temperance Gonvention, March 8th, of the past year, by S. C. Knights of Cambridge, Mass., as faithful a worker in the cause as can anywhere be found.

46

'Something has been said here about organization. I know an organization that was started six years ago, in Cambridge, by five reformed men, and they have kept up their meetings weekly from that time to this. I have never seen the time, except when the war first broke out, when that organization had to give up its meetings. It has held them constantly for six long years, and I have a book at home which shows that twenty-three hundred men have there signed the total abstinence pledge. "Have they all kept it?" you ask. No, they have not-I wish they had; but what has surprised me is, that so many have kept it. I could call your attention to men, who six years ago, were lying in the gutter, separated from their families, who are now living happily with them, in houses owned by themselves. And that has been the result of our organization. It seems to me, that we need to have in every town the old-fashioned Washingtonian meetings, which used to be held long before I signed the pledge, where men could come with overhauls on, and green jackets, and be made welcome, and where we would see men come tottering up to the desk to sign the pledge, and then see how soon their miserable garb would fall from them, and how quick the tears of their wives and children would be dried up, and they would be gathered together round happy firesides. I can point to more than one hundred happy families in Cambridge to day, where the husband and father has signed the pledge, and they are all happy and re. joicing. Some of you like one organization, and some another, but let me appeal to you, in behalf of fallen men, to have some organization in the towns where you reside; to hold meetings once a week, or once a fortnight, or even once a month, and gather them in. Some like the "Sons of Temperance,” some the “Good Templars," and some public meetings; but I say, by all means have a public meeting."

Can any of the "orders" show a better record than that? This society has been in part supported by donations from the people of Cambridge who have witnessed its wonderful efficiency.

At this convention, another gentleman, Theodore Prentice, who, as he often sportively says, "graduated at the Washingtonian Home," (an asylum for inebriates) but is now a successful business man and President of "The Boston Total Abstinence Union " said:

"It is hard work for a few of us to carry on those meetings. The expense of carrying on our Sunday evening meetings amounts to only about $150 a year and I pay nearly half of that myself, because I cannot get people to come forward and aid us in carrying them on. That is the reason why open meetings are not held. Temperance men are not all willing to

put their hands into their pockets and pay the paltry sum that is required to meet the expenses. That is the trouble. This is why we have not more temperance meetings in the city of Boston."

Here we have the old story of financial starvation.

Edwin Thompson, agent of the Massachusetts State organization, said:

"Go back, then, to the old organization; keep the truth before the people, and God will bless your efforts. "I know, that in every part of this commonwealth where the people have taken up the old plan of organization, and insisted upon it, they have met with complete success.”

One word added in the right place, renders Bro. Thompson's speech exactly right. The word improved, after the word "organization." The masses of the people can never be persuaded to go back to old open organizations just as they were. They have not so studied the subject as to see clearly what were their defects, but they know there was something wrong, some radical defect-and in these pages. I will show them what it was. Before we can get them again into an earnest battle with the great enemy of our race, we must put serviceable arms in their hands, and they must know, that the ammunition chest contains something -a few rounds at least. Re-organize our temperance forces on a proper basis, let them be amply provided with proper munitions for this holy war-and if a large share of those who are now coining money out of the thoughtless follies, vices and ultimate ruin of the American people, are not put on a low diet, possibly mule-meat, a-la-Vicksburg, before the year 1870, it will be because they have abandoned their dirty and infamous business, and secure decent fare by an honest calling.

I have just admitted that thousands have been benefited by their connection with the "Sons of Temperance," "Good Templars" and other kindred societies. Just here, however, a question arises; was the admitted benefit derived from those features to which objections are made by thousands of good men, the secrecy, the regalia, the staffs of office, the peculiar and somewhat ambitious titles by which officials are designated, or from the pledge of abstinence, the encouragement afforded the pledged man, the paternal kindness shown him, and the frequent meetings at which

the perils of drinking and the blessings of a life of temperance are subjects of earnest remark? If from the former, then our brethren are clearly right in insisting on the preservation of the features objected to, regardless of the number and character of the objectors.—If from the latter, as I believe, then all these essential features may be and have been grouped in open organizations, and when there shall be added a sensible provision to secure such societies pecuniary support like that adopted by the Temperance "Orders" or the English societies, it will leave us nothing to desire in the way of forms of organization--for all who favor the essential elements, the principle and pledge of total abstinence, and who shall be determined to wage a perpetual warfare on the entire system of alcoholic stimulation can and will unite Good brother teetotaller now working with the "Sons of Temperance" or the "Good Templars," have you reasonable ground for belief that you can ever unite in close organizations one half the real friends of the cause who sincerely love it, and would join our ranks in open organiza. tions? Where there is sufficient population both forms may perhaps exist in the same community and work harmoniously for the same end.

I have thus freely and candidly expressed my opinions in relation to Forms of Organization. Earnest friends of the reform, connected with close organizations, (I believe them to be very many) who long and labor for its triumph more than for special forms or modes of action, will understand me and appreciate my motives for this frank expression of my opinions, at this critical stage of the enterprise.

STATE ORGANIZATIONS.

If this work do not fail of its intended effect, many friends. of the cause will be asking the question, how shall we proceed to re-organize the reformatory elements of this state so as to secure to our organization the greatest possible efficiency and a life coexistent at least with the system which