322 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 



During this last period of our History, there have sprung 

 up, into existence, three societies which have state societies 

 and state officers, with branches of them, in many, if not most 

 of the counties. From their influence and importance, our 

 duty in the station which we have assumed, does not permit us 

 to let them pass by us, without a few remarks. Not belonging 

 to any one of them, and having never supported or opposed 

 them, we feel no personal interest in them. We are perfectly 

 aware of the delicacy of the subjects, which we are about to 

 notice, but our duty, must be so far done, as to state, that we 

 have organized iu Ohio, first, an Ohio Temperance Society, 

 which meets annually, at the seat of Government. It has been 

 in operation several years, and, it had a paper devoted to its 

 views. It has changed already, to a considerable extent, a 

 custom of keeping spiritous liquors in every family, which 

 were formerly urged upon friends, when they called to pay 

 visits. It has, to a great degree, banished distilled spirits from 

 the table at dinner. This society has operated on the higher 

 classes of the community, and banished spirits from some, indeed 

 many steam boats, canal boats and public inns. Thus much 

 it has done. It has been conducted wisely, and has prospered. 

 It is no longer fashionable to drink spirits as it once was, and 

 lawyers and physicians rarely drink any thing, stronger than 

 water. In some towns, little has been effected by the society, 

 but, on the whole, a reformation is eft'ected. Many have refor- 

 med who once drank to excess, and thousands of the rising 

 generation, are saved from ruin by being educated not to taste 

 distilled liquors. The subject has been discussed in all law- 

 ful ways, but has found no opposition to its full, fair and free 

 discussion. 



Could the practice of distilling grain be altogether abolished, 

 a vast amount of money, time, and labor, would be saved, and 

 much human misery would be prevented. The money, time 

 and labor would be turned to some useful purposes. As soon 



