HISTORICAL SKETCH. XV11 



happy to present a Board of Officers so united in 

 purpose, so efficient in action, so reliable, and so 

 well looking, considering the f wear and tear ' of this 

 decade of hard service. The president of this soci- 

 ety is George Trask ; the vice-president, secretary, 

 treasurer and auditor is George Trask. The honor- 

 ary body, corporate and incorporate, is the same 

 unwearied individual — the Anti-Tobacco Apostle. 



"The object of this society is to break up a 

 death-like, prevalent stupidity in relation to the 

 evils of tobacco, and by ' light and love' create a 

 public conscience, which we trust in God will lead 

 to the removal of so great a curse. This society 

 encounters many obstacles. Among these is the 

 incorrigibility of the habit it assails. A man can 

 give up his pastimes, his bottle, his pastor, and 

 his politics with less ado than his quid or his pipe. 

 If any devotee of the weed disputes this, let him 

 try it. This cause encounters scorn and derision. 

 It has been laughed at in the church and out of it 

 from Maine to Georgia, from Plymouth Rock to 

 California. We have needed temples of brass, we 

 have needed faith in God like Abraham's to brave 

 this tide of sarcasm. Thank God, we have had it ! 



" The position of many women is unfavorable to 

 this cause. They think it in bad taste to rebuke 

 husbands and sons for indulgence in this fashion- 

 able pleasure. But they do not think it in bad 

 taste to live day and night in apartments fumigat- 

 ed with this impurity ; they are used to it. They 



