MADISON TEMPERANCE SOCIETY

Madison Indiana Republican - June 18, 1828, pg. 2

Madison, June 11, 1828
    Pursuant to previous notice, a number of the citizens of Madison and Vicinity, met at the Public school room in said town,
  And on motion,     Gen. Milton Stapp was called to the chair, and Daniel Comstock was appointed secretary.
    On motion of the Rev. Edwin Ray, the following preamble and constitution was adopted; to wit. &c.

    Whereas the improper use of intoxicating liquors has been found by experience to be the source of evils of incalculable magnatitude, both as to the temporal (meaning of temporal is temporary not eternal) and eternal interests of individuals, families, and communities-and whereas, the prevalence of this vice has such a fatal efficacy in hindering the success of all the common means which have been appointed for the moral and religious improvement of men,- and whereas the various measurers which the friends of morality have adopted, though not altogether unsuccessful, have been found quite insufficient to give any effectual and permanent check to this desolating evil: and whereas we believe some more vigorous means are evidently required,- some system of instruction & action which will make a steady and powerful impression on the present and following generations, and will in this way untimately effect a change of public sentiment and practice in regard to the use of intoxicating liquors, and thus put an end to that wide spreading intemperance, which has already caused such desolations in every part of our country, and which threatens destruction to the best interests of this growing and mighty Republic, - Therefore the friends of domestic and social happiness, now present, wishing to do all in their power to promote the welfare of their fellow citizens, resolve to form a society and agree to be governed by the following constitution-namely:

    Art. 1st. The society shall be called The Temperance Society of Madison and Vicinity.
    Art. 2d. The object of this society shall be, the suppression of intemperance, by employing all lawful means in their power.
    Art. 3d. Any person by subscribing to this constitution shall become a member.
    Art. 4th. The officers of this society shall consist of a President, Vice president, secretary and a committee of correspondence-all of whom are to remain in office till others are chosen.-     Art. 5th. It shall be the duty of the president to preside in all meetings of the society and committee, and in his absence the Vice President. The secretary shall keep a record of the societies proceedings.
    It shall be the duty of the corresponding committee, to labor by all suitable means to promote the object of this society; to call the attention of persons of all ages to the magnitude of the evil which this society aims to prevent, and to the immeasurable good which it aims to secure by obtaining and circulating pamphlets which have been published, or by preparing and publishing essays of their own, on the evils of Intemperance.- This committee shal consist of fifteen including the president, Vice president and secretary.-

    Milton Stapp, James H. Johnson, Edwin Ray, J. M. Dickey, John Woodburn, Peter Hemphill, C. W. Basnett, John King, James McKee, J. J. Vail, Victor King, Silas Richie, W. Hodges, C. P. J. Ariom. W. Lyle, Abrm. Dickson, Daniel Comstock, W. J. McClure, Thomas Chinoweth, J. G. Marshall, Jos. McGee, Samuel Hanna, James White, John H. Bowen, Wm. M. Taylor, John McIntire, John F. Crow, Tilly H. Brown, William G. Wharton, W. Smith, Samuel Smock, Stephen Andrews, A. Sullivan, Sam. T. Crawford, Amzi Douglas, John Lodge, A. E. Arion, John Ritchie, John Jewell, Jeremiah Sullivan, G. W. Leonard, J. B. Westgate, David Wilson, George Shannon jr., James Ross, Solomon Rislan, John W. McKee, Alex G. Thompson, Robert Branham, Thomas Hudson, R. C. Talbott, John Pugh, John Gorsuch, Jacob G. Doyle, John Shering, I. T. Canby, Beumont Parks.
    The above are the names of the members of this society.
    On motion
    Resolved that the Regular meeting of this society shall be quarter yearly.
    On motion,
    The society proceeded to the appointment of its officers. Whereupon Milton Stapp was appointed President, Jeremiah Sullivan Vice President, Daniel Comstock Secretary, and the following gentlemen who together with the president, vice president and secretary, form a committee of correspondence. To-wit: James H. Johnson, Edwin Ray, John F. Crow, C. P. J. Arion, John Woodburn, Charles W. Basnett, Samuel Smock, John H. Bowen, John King, William G. Whorton, Willis Hodges, and George W. Leonard.-
    On motion,
The following Resolution was adopted.
    Resolved. That we consider the practice of candidates for office, treating (Treating occurs when an election candidate or their agents offer material incentives for people to vote for them or to abstain from voting. One of those incentives was alcohol.) on election days and at other times is exceedingly pernicious in its tendency and ought to be discontenanced by all the friends of morality and good order, and that we will not support for office any person taking that course.
    On motion,
    Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Indiana Republican.
    On motion
      This Society was adjourned until this day four weeks at one o'clock P.M.
Attest,
    MILTON STAPP, President.   D. Comstock, Clk.

The Corresponding Committee of the MADISON TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, will meet at the office of Jeremiah Sullivan, on Friday the 20th June, 1828, at 4 o'clock P.M. By order of the President. D. COMSTOCK, Sec'y.