THE TEMPERANCE LOVE-FEAST.

BY T. B.. SMITHIES.

EARTH PEACE Cool

I was staying in Manchester on the Sabbath (25th March 1848), when my friend Wm. Dickson requested me to accompany him to a Temperance Love Feast in City Road, Hulme.

Being desirous of judging as to the propriety of holding such meetings on the Sabbath, I gladly complied with the request.

On our arrival, we found the school-room filled with a welldressed congregation, composed principally of the working-classes, engaged in singing a hymn.

After a few moments of silent devotion, the Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to hear testimonies of the blessings resulting from the adoption of total abstinence; and that although it would be pleasing to listen to cases of moral reformation, yet it would be still more so, to hear that the temperance pledge had been the instrumental means of leading to the conversion of the soul.

He stated, as his own experience, that, although the child of religious parents, he had been fearfully led astray by intoxicating liquor; but that since his adoption of teetotalism, he had united with the Wesleyan Society, and had become a local preacher. He invited those who had received the greatest good from teetotalism to be the first to speak.

I wrote down a portion of each address that followed, which I now give in the order of the meeting, and in the unvarnished language of the speakers.

1. AN ATHLETIC MAN, six feet high, rose first. He said, "Mr. Chairman, this cause has done we'ell for me. If onnybody asks what has teetotalism done for me, I says, 'come to my house and see; I'll show you!' I used to be a sad drunkard, and had a

miserable home; but now I've a comfortable one, and nicely furnished, too. I remember when 't policemen many-a-time poked me up along't street into 't lock up, but them chaps never has had 'od 'o me, since I sign 't pledge. It used to be that I couldn't keep a shilling in my pocket; but since I signed I have got two or three houses of my own; and now I can employ a man at seventeen shillings a-week. I'm a rough spun 'un, sir, but I'm a debtor to the temperance cause."

2. A STRONG-BUILT WORKING MAN. “I've had nothing to do with policemen and locks'-ups for these six years. The six years since I signed have been the happiest of my life. For twenty-three years before that, I lived in a dark cellar; but now I'm in a comfortable house. I bless God for it."

3. A FEMALE. "I have been a teetotaler for five years. Both my father and mother were once drunkards, but now what a happy change has come over us through this temperance society. This morning, at our house, we were all seated round the fire, singing hymns. Ah, friends, how different to what it used to be with us

once.

4. ONE OF THE COMMITTEE. "I was formerly a sad drunkard, and on one occasion, when this society was holding a Sunday temperance meeting in the open air, I endeavoured to disturb the meeting. The words that I heard, however, so fastened upon my mind, that I could not shake them off. They ultimately led me to sign the pledge, and I then became a worker in this good cause, by endeavouring to reclaim others.'

5. A WELL-CLAD MAN. "It is not quite four years since I adopted teetotalism. I shall never forget how wretched a life I was living when the temperance star first shone upon my dark path. There was not a more miserable man in Manchester than me. God made teetotalism a means of leading me to religion. I signed the pledge when I was drunk-I was ragged-I had an empty pocket -a guilty conscience-and a tempting devil. My bringing up had been bad. I, however, no sooner signed the pledge, than I gave up swearing and lying, and, by the blessing and guidance of God, set about getting religion."

During the narration of this incident, the overshadowing influence of the Divine Spirit was felt. Tears of joy and thankfulness trickled down the cheeks of nearly every person in the room.

6. A MAN. "I have had much opposition to contend with since I became an abstainer, especially from moderate drinkers. The temperance people picked me up when I was a poor wanderer through the drinking customs. By the blessing of God I have persevered, and now most of my relations are members."

The distribution of bread and water now took place; after which, a verse was sung, and the collection made.

7. A FEMALE. "Females ought not to be ashamed to speak of the temperance cause. Every one ought to do all that they can to help it forward; it has done so much good. It has made me a comfortable home in place of a miserable one. I bless God for it." 8. A FEMALE. "I'm glad to say that I'm a teetotaler. My

home was once a miserable home, but now it is a happy one. I may say truly that I've had two husbands in one man. He was once a cruel, drunken husband, but now, bless God, he is a kind and sober husband."

9. A FEMALE. "Friends! I have pleasure in rising, for no one here has more cause for thankfulness to the temperance cause than I have. I have had many a broken heart, but now I've a happy family around me. My husband was a drunkard for thirteen years. Many a time have I set up till two o'clock in the morning, bathed in tears, waiting for him coming home. I have never had to do this since he took the pledge."

10. A MALE. "I was once a poor drunkard. I am now a pledged abstainer. I cannot tell you how much better I am, both in body and in pocket. I am now trying to do all the good I can, and to walk uprightly before God."

11. A FEMALE. "When I think of the sorrows I endured through drink, and the comforts which teetotalism has in so short a time brought to my home, my heart is full. My husband was a poor drunkard”. -(The speaker here became so overpowered as to be unable to proceed further.)

12. A FEMALE. "I cannot express the pleasure I feel that ever I became a teetotaler. My husband used to drink; but now he prays. Teetotalism and religion mixed do well."

13. A FEMALE. "When I hear my friend, whose husband was once a drunkard and a Socialist, but who has become a sober and praying man, I cannot sit still without adding my testimony to this good cause. I tried religion with moderate drinking for ten years, and now I have tried religion with teetotalism for thirteen years, and I can truly say that I have found the latter much the best."

14. A MALE. "I can bear my testimony that I'm better without drink than with it. This morning, about three o'clock, we were awakened at our house by the watchman's rattle. I got up to see what was the matter, and just as I laid down again, the cock crowed; I said to my wife, that it reminded me of old times. I once used to be generally coming home when the cock was crowing at that hour, but I have never heard it since I signed the pledge until this morning."

15. A MALE.

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"I desire to bless God that ever he inclined my heart to adopt the temperance pledge. It has enabled me, under the Divine blessing, to labour amongst poor drunkards with a degree of success which could not possibly have resulted had I remained a moderate drinker. I have had the pleasure of seeing many exchange the public-house for the sanctuary, and grasp the Bible in lieu of the bottle.' If religious men generally would adopt the total abstinence principle, I believe that our churches and chapels would soon be too small. The intemperance of Britain is one of the greatest barriers to the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom, and in the proportion that the temperance cause prevails, so will revivals of religion abound. At a recent experience meeting which I attended, out of fifteen reclaimed ones who spoke, fourteen of them had united themselves with christian churches since their adoption of the pledge."

16. A MALE. "I was injured by drinking, but have been blessed ever since I adopted the total abstinence principle, which I now regard as part of religion, although, of course, teetotalism alone will not save a man. Men are dying drunk daily around us— women are dying drunk daily. Oh, look into your Bibles, and see what is the drunkard's doom; we seem called upon by the most solemn considerations to urge forward the temperance reformation. I am now a Wesleyan local preacher."

17. A MALE. "I well remember seeing the last speaker, some years ago, reeling drunk in the streets of Manchester. I was never more struck in my life. I thought, well! he has had a religious training from deeply pious parents, and yet the drinking customs have undone all their labours. Like the children of too many religious parents, he first acquired the LIKING for the drink by tasting it at his father's table. Let us earnestly labour amongst the YOUNG. Let us train up our children in the practice of abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, and if they should ever fall victims to the vice of intemperance, they will be unable at the bar of God to say, 'It was in my father's house where I learned to love the drink that has proved my ruin.""

The Chairman now said, "I regret that time compels me to close, as others are disposed to bear their testimonies to the blessings resulting from the temperance cause. I hope that the time will speedily come when every Christian will prayerfully examine this subject; and I have no doubt but that the Divine influence which has so richly rested upon this assembly, will guide them to a right decision.

In the meantime, let us guard against an UNCHARITABLE spirit towards those who yet stand aloof. Nothing will perhaps convince them sooner than inducing them to visit the abodes of the poor drunkards with us, particularly on the Sunday morning. Let us not forget, that we need constant watchfulness and dependence upon God, and that without a saving interest in the atoning blood of Christ, we cannot attain to the glories of heaven.'

A hymn of praise terminated one of the most affecting meetings I ever attended. The brevity, simplicity, heartfelt thankfulness, and piety which characterised the various testimonies constrained me to say, "Master, it is good to be here."

It also furnished one of the most powerful proofs I had ever met with, that the progress of the temperance cause and the spread of vital Godliness are closely identified; and that we cannot promote the former, without necessarily advancing the latter.

In the hope that similar meetings will soon be common throughout the land, I have transcribed the foregoing from my note-book, and commend it to the perusal of my Christian friends.

Societies may receive 24 Sixpenny Packets of Tracts and Hand Bills, in any part of London, by a post-office order for 10s. 6d., or 50 packets for 21s., 1 being sent to Richard Dykes Alexander, Ipswich. All country Booksellers may obtain Tracts through Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London.

Stereotyped and Printed by J. M. Burton, Ipswich.