senting the difficulty of reclaiming men from habitual inebriation, is to discourage the attempt. The possibility of such a reformation has been proved, and is therefore undeniable. But to the successful issue of an arduous enterprise, it is necessary that its nature should be fully known. The efforts employed may thus correspond with the resistance to be overcome. As Christians, but especially as members of this society, we are bound to use all lawful measures for weakening and subduing those habits of intemperance, which are already formed. Judicious exertions of this kind, if long continued, can hardly fail of producing some salutary effect. But to cherish virtue is easier than to subdue vice. We may do much more in preventing bad habits, than in restoring good ones. Our object is rather to operate on the sound parts of society, than on those which are sickly and decaying. And the difficulty, the almost insuperable difficulty of reforming men habitually intemperate, is surely the best reason on earth, why we should, if possible, prevent them from becoming so.

To give particular directions on this subject, will not be attempted. Some general remarks may not, perhaps, be thought foreign to the occasion.

Any peculiar fondness for inebriating liquor, or for the society of those who use it freely, especially when exhibited by the young, ought to create alarm. Smaller aberrations from the rules of rigid temperance are viewed by some parents, as excusable on the score of youth;-by others, as indications of spirit and sensibility. Extravagant severity may, doubtless, produce the same unhappy result, as the opposite extreme, and therefore, ought not to be commended. But parental indulgence is never more obviously misplaced, than in the cases now supposed. The parent may be perfectly right, in attributing that moderate delinquency, which he has observed in his son, to youth, or to an excess of social feelings. In estimating the moral quality of the action, these circumstances are entitled to consideration. But, viewed in respect to a future habit, they should do nothing

toward allaying parental fears. The same cause, which has produced intemperance once, may do it again. It is the constitution of our nature, that an action should be repeated with greater facility and less reluctance, than it was first performed; and that this facility, or diminished reluctance should be proportionate to the frequency of the repetition. But intemperance is not changed either as to its nature or effects, because it may have originated in youth or have been induced by excess in some of the better passions. If a young man possesses generosity, frankness, and social feelings, the greater pity, that these should contribute even indirectly to his present dishonor, and his final perdition.

Our estimate of habits and actions is, in no small degree, dependent on the manner, in which they are mentioned by persons, in whose judgment and character we place confidence. There are those, whose opinions on human conduct are forming under our influence. The remark is emphatical in regard to our children and immediate connexions. But it can be said of few men, and surely not of those who compose this society, that the effect of their opinions and conversation is confined to their own families. Instances of intoxication or intemperate drinking should not be mentioned with levity, or in such a manner, as to indicate little or no disapprobation of the crime. It is related by Tacitus in praise of the ancient Germans, that, among them, it was never customary to treat vice with raillery.*

If satire can ever be advantageously employed for the suppression of vice, it must exhibit the solemn indignation of Juvenal, and not the relaxing urbanity of Horace. It must never leave us in doubt, whether to smile at the sinner, or participate his crimes. Nothing can render it consistent for us to act, as members of this society, but a conviction, that intemperance is a heinous offence, both against the public and against God. Our manner of speaking, and all our united exertions on this subject, should correspond with such a conviction.

But, of all the ways, in which the great object of our society

* Nemo illic vitia ridet. Tac. de Mor. Germ.

may be promoted, none is so certainly and extensively effectual, as the propagation of moral sentiments and feelings. To expect extermination of particular vices, where there is no firm, rational, and impressive belief in a divine moral government and a just retribution, is to anticipate a rich harvest from fields not enclosed. Annoying animals, if expelled to-day, will return to-morrow. If the growth is secured from one species, it may be devoured by another. The summer passes in fruitless labor, and the autumn witnesses disappointed hopes. Deep rooted moral principle is to the character, what pales and hedges are to cultivated grounds. It stands a faithful guardian both by night and day, and is equally effectual against every intruder. Men whose general deportment indicates a yielding morality, are under great disadvantage for suppressing particular vices. If we are chargeable with indifference to virtue, or to those measures and efforts, which tend to advance it, we demolish the most substantial barrier not only against intemperance, but against vices still more enormous. Every person, on the other hand, contributes indirectly, but with certain effect, to the great object, for which we have associated, who cultivates personal sobriety and the principles of religion, and who honors "those institutions, which have been established for improving the morals of the people, and training our youth to knowledge and virtue."

Gentlemen, permit me to remind you, how much the success of every enterprise depends on the perseverance of those who are engaged in it. Whatever confidence arises from the consciousness of being engaged in a good cause, we have an undeniable right to enjoy. It is the cause not merely of Christian instructors, but of philosophers, of legislators, of all honorable, and virtuous men, whatever may have been their age or country. It is a cause patronized by Deity himself, the final triumph of which is not more doubtful, than his existence and moral perfections. It becomes us indeed, to examine the motives by which we are actuated in every attempt to raise the standard of public morals; but all who endeavor this, with feelings worthy

of the object, will be acknowledged, to use the words of inspiration, as fellow workers together with God, and will share in the honors of that day, when peace in the universe shall be established; when the long conflict shall be decided between reason, order, and piety on the one side, and passion, selfishness, and moral uproar on the other.

But, in such a cause, it may be asked, why we do not witness more present success. I fear, Gentlemen, that this question is too easily answered. Our success is perhaps now in higher proportion to our endeavors, than these are to the object in view. When exertions to suppress intemperance shall have been made for many years, with ardor, tempered by deliberation and sound judgment, and with something of that stubborn perseverance, with which men are wont to pursue their private advantage, it will be in season, should there be occasion for it, to complain of our ill success. The fact unhappily is, that when we first engage in any object of public utility, there is a preternatural excitement produced, which is followed by correspondent languor. And we are in danger of spending the remainder of our days in refreshing our exhausted spirits, and in complaining that nothing great or good can be effected in such a world as ours.

I am far from believing, however, that the general good, which has resulted from societies for suppressing intemperance, is inconsiderable. Many established drunkards may not, indeed, have been reclaimed to sobriety. But, that the unnecessary, and therefore, injurious consumption of ardent spirits, among persons who were never intemperate, has been essentially diminished, is a fact, of which we can have no doubt. The importance of this fact is seldom duly appreciated. In consequence of it, many expenses have been prevented among those, who could ill encounter them; and habits have been seasonably interrupted, which would have issued in customary inebriation. It may be a more splendid feat to recover a post, than maintain it; but surely the latter is not less. conducive to a happy termination of the war.

The object of our union is to discountenance and suppress, not only the use of ardent spirits, but likewise its kindred vices, profaneness and gaming.

There is no measure so effectual, it has been observed, for exterminating particular vices, as to strengthen moral feelings and principles. Whatever tends to subvert these principles and deaden these feelings, we are bound, therefore, uniformly and perseveringly to oppose. In the whole dark catalogue of human vices, there is none, which tends to this, with more fatal effect, than the customary use of profane language. The enormity of this crime, considered in a religious point of view, might better be discussed on a more solemn occasion. We now speak of it only as it affects civil society and social order. Instead of detaining you, by showing, which might easily be done, how this crime tends to debase the whole moral character, by breaking that golden chain let down from heaven to earth, to connect man with the Author of his being, I would respectfully appeal to every person present ;-I appeal to those especially, who sustain the honorable relation of parents or guardians to the rising generation. Are you willing, that your sons and your daughters should form their characters under the influence, and in imitation, of those, who avow their disregard to revelation, by speaking contemptuously of its rewards and punishments? Are you willing to contemplate them, as future members of the community, impatient of order, hostile to restraint, and to all Christian establishments,-to every thing indeed, which sober, rational, and virtuous men have deemed precious and venerable ;-all, that is secure, or stable, or lovely in the social state, and all, that is august, or blissful, and holy beyond the grave?

On the contrary, if this earth can be the scene of any delightful visions, they are those presented to the mind of that parent, who, in looking forward to a period, subsequent to his own death, sees his descendants, whether in retired or prominent stations, the friends of domestic virtue, of liberty, of law, and religion; loving their families and their country, and cher