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 PA R C HI A L 
 
 TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS : 
 
 Dints on tjjctr Jfornintion nnb Pnnagenicnt, 
 
 REY. THOMAS ROOKE, M.A., 
 
 CHAPLAIN TO THE EARL OF DONOUGnMORE, AND CLERICAL TRAVE11IN& 
 SECRETARY TO THE SOCIETY. 
 
 A Paper read hefore tlie Conference of the Church of England and Ireland 
 Temperance Meformation Societi/, Hay 4th, 1866. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., 9, PATERNOSTER ROW; 
 
 And Sold at the Society's Offices, 6, Adam Street, Adelphi, Strand. 
 
 Price One Penny.
 
 THE FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT 
 
 PAROCHIAL TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 I PRESUME that tlie aspect iu which our attention is to be called to this 
 subject to-day is the practical rather than the theoretic— the detg^ils 
 rather than the principles ; but yet a glance at these latter may not be out 
 of place ; and I the more willingly refer to this because it gives me an 
 opportunity of placing in distinct view the peculiarity of the working of 
 our Church of England and Ireland Temperance Reformation 
 Society. 
 
 It is a rule laid down by the Committee for the giaidance of the Travelling 
 Seci'etary — a rule with which his compliance is most consonant with his 
 own feeHngs : — That, as the representative of the Society, he shall not 
 hold or address any Meeting in any Parish without the consent of the 
 Incumbent of such Parish. 
 
 And this at once must commend itself, not only to the Churchman's 
 sense of order, but to the common sense of all. For what is our Society's 
 mission ? It is to recommend and assist in the formation of Temperance 
 Associations in connection with the Central Society in each parish of our 
 land. It is the attemj)t to suggest a special jjf(roc7w'flZ organization for the 
 purpose of combating that special form of temptation and sin which is 
 admitted on all hands to be that which, in most parishes, with the surest 
 effect, opposes the reception of the Gosijel of Christ by individuals; seduces 
 from the path of uprightness tlie unwary young men and women of our 
 Church ; leads to the constant and continued breach of their baptismal 
 vows; keeps them from attendance at the means of grace, specially from 
 the renewal of their baptismal vows at the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper, and brings down many and many a once hopeful one to the 
 ruin, temporal and eternal, of a drunkard's grave. 
 
 If we are thus seeking to supplement with a special organization the 
 pastor's work, it is sufficiently evident we have no right to force ourselves 
 or our proposed organization upon one who has a right to choose his own 
 mode of dealing with the flock entrusted to his charge. 
 
 We may, by various means, endeavour to recommend our plans, but we 
 surely have no right to intrude upon the sphere of another man's labours ; 
 and by otir strict adherence to the parochial constitution of our Chui-ch, 
 we may win ground where otherwise we should only naturally provoke 
 opposition. 
 
 There is one point on which, perhaps, some present may be disposed to 
 disagree with me, namely, that I think in each parish the clergyman
 
 PAllOCllIAL TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS. 3 
 
 sliould take the lead in tliis movement, and in liis parocliial society, even 
 though he be not himself an Abstainer. 
 
 As clergyman of the parish he is bound, if I may say so, ex-ofl&cio, to be 
 at the head of every work for the spiritual improvement of his people of 
 which his conscience approves. In the jpresent case he may thoroughly 
 approve the Temperance organization and working, but may not recognise 
 the necessity for his own abstinence, or may (if it be so) be unable (or be 
 supposed unable), from the state of his health, to abstain. 
 
 In this case many clergymen stand aloof, and, I am sorry to say, many 
 abstainers among our laity seem to think they ought. 
 
 I confess I think they ought not. If the parochial weekly or monthly 
 meetings (such as I would recommend) were only Total Abstinence meet- 
 ings, if they were only for the purpose of enrolling fresh names in our 
 registry, if they were only for the discussion of Temperance questions as 
 such, then perhaps the non-abstaining pastor might be out of place. But 
 ^we have higher aims in our parochial meetings. We want to teach in 
 ^ many cases the very first principles of religion to those who have 
 J -wandered far from that Father and that Saviour to whom in infancy they 
 ^-^were brought. We want to lay hold of those who are gathered in from 
 Q~_the highways and hedges by the Temperance Yisitors, and to bring them 
 to Jesus. We want to win the souls of those whom we have never found 
 <?in church. We want to rescue from Satan's grasp those whom he has 
 J taken captive, and whom he has led away into all the degradation and sin 
 5 of the far-ofi" land of the prodigal's sojourn. 
 
 "® And who is the one appointed in each parish to do all this ? To whom 
 
 -+-are these souls we yearn after entrusted? To the clergyman of each 
 
 V parish. And therefore who, as he, can give the needed instruction ? 
 
 O^VTio, as he, has the right to avail himself of an organization which 
 
 - gathers ai-ound him those whom he has never seen in church or at their 
 
 ^homes ; and even though he sees no necessity for giving up himself the use 
 
 ^of what he regards as lawful, surely his place is still as the teacher of 
 
 ^ those truths which beforetime were only as pearls cast before swine? 
 
 Surely in this, as in many other things, the clergyman may recommend 
 
 others to do what circumstances prevent him doing himself. 
 
 C Of course I do not mean for a moment to say that it is not very much 
 
 ^better when the clergyman is himself an Abstainer, that it is far more 
 
 cj effective when he can say "Come" instead of only "Go." But I do say 
 
 fthat our lay abstaining brethren in each parish should gladly and thank- 
 fiilly avail themselves of their pastors' teaching and guidance at their 
 ^weekly or other meetings, even though they be not Abstainers; and I 
 «5 would respectfully add that the clergyman would, if he once fairly tried it, 
 t^find in this parochial society, with its meetings and its staff, a means of 
 ~ usefulness among the working classes, an opj)ortunity of instructing them, 
 and of binding them in still closer bonds to the Church, that he can have 
 no conception of until he does try the experiment — " We speak that Ave do 
 know, and testify that we have seen." 
 
 Now, perhaps, we are ready to examine the details of our proposed 
 "organization, 
 
 1. Each parish shoiild have its own Association, of which the Incum-
 
 4 OX THE rORMATIOX AND MANAGEMENT OE 
 
 bent, or some one nominated by liim, sliould be President. I say, " or 
 some one nominated by bim," to meet tbe case of some. Tbe clergyman 
 bimself, as a non-abstainer, may feel an awkwardness in becoming Presi- 
 dent, wbile reserving to bimself, of coui'se, tbe entire control of tbe 
 religious teacbing at tbe various meetings. In some cases it wiU be found 
 tbat tbe Curate is an abstainer, in wbiob case be, of coui-se, would be tbe 
 most eligible President. 
 
 2. Besides tbe President, tbe officers of tbe Parocbial Association sbould 
 be — Yice-Pi'esidents, Treasurer, Secretary, Committee, Visitors. 
 
 Tbe duties of tbe Vice-Presidents and Treasurer are easily understood. 
 
 As to tbe Secretary, be sbould attend to all usual details, and give 
 special attention to tbe accurate entiy of all names in tbe Declaration 
 Book, and report all new names entered to tbe Visitors, unless tbere be a 
 special Registrar appointed to keep tbe Declaration (Pledge) Book. 
 
 Tbe Committee sbould consist of regular members, subscribing not less 
 tban one penny per week to tbe funds, and sbould number from five to 
 nine, to be cbosen at eacb Annual General Meeting by tbe general body of 
 subscribing members. Tbe Committee sbould, under tbe direction of tbe 
 President, bave tbe management of aU tbe affairs of tbe Society, and 
 sbould meet as often as may be found necessary from local circumstances. 
 Tbe Ti-easurer and Secretary, and also tbe Visitors, sbould be elected by 
 tbe Committee, subject to tbe approval of tbe President. 
 
 Tbe Visitors form a most important — in one respect I may say tbe most 
 important — part of tbe organization. Tbeir duties are to visit eacb member 
 on tbe list supplied tbem by tbe Secretary or Registrar ; to collect subscrip- 
 tions of members ; to watcb over eacb, to speak tbe word of encouragement 
 and belp to any wbo may be wavering or exposed to temptation; to report 
 any wbo may bave lapsed, and to endeavour, as opportunity sball be given 
 tbem, to bring otbers into tbe Society, and win tbe drunkard from tbe 
 haunts of bis vice to attend tbe meetings of tbe Society, and to become a 
 member of it. Tbey sbould also distribute tracts, and, if possible, regularly 
 supply some approved Temperance publication to eacb of tbe subscribing 
 members. 
 
 Tbese officers will tbus be seen to be tbe very bonds wbicb keej) tbe 
 Society together, and tbey sbould be themselves men of earnestness and 
 of sufficient standing as always having been sober men, or abstainers, to 
 prevent any occurrence of the self-sufficiency of a novice, or tbeir being 
 despised by those to whom they may be sent. Above all, they ought to be 
 regular communicants. 
 
 They should report either to the president (or to a superintendent of 
 visitors) at a special meeting, say once a month, and pay in all subscriptions 
 tbey may have received to the treasurer. This meeting might be on the 
 same evening as the committee meet, but at a different hour. 
 
 I cannot belp again insisting upon the impoi*tance of these visitors. They 
 become the arms, and bands, and eyes of the clergyman, in helping his 
 oversight of and work with those who ai-e being reclaimed. They announce 
 the meetings. Tbey remind members of communicant classes and special 
 services, and if faithfully performed tbeir work is blessed to tbeir own moi-e 
 complete steadfastness of life and conduct ; and tbe clergyman binds them
 
 PAROCHIAL TJilMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS. 5 
 
 more aud more to the Church, because they are thus led to perceive 
 how miich there is that they can do in urging on the spread of true 
 religion. 
 
 This body also will generally be found to be willing fellow-helpers, not 
 only in this their special work, but a staff on which in many other move- 
 ments for good in his parish the clergyman may surely rely. 
 
 We next come to the c^uestion of Meetings. 
 
 The f]-equency of these must of course vary in each parish according to 
 circumstances, population, and requirements. 
 
 The suggestion I would make for what I should designate an average 
 parish is, that there be three kinds of meetings — Annual, Quarterly, and 
 Weekly. 
 
 I would not have (in ordinary cases) the annual and quartei'ly on extra 
 days, but having fixed on one day for the Temperance weekly meeting, the 
 annual and quarterly meetings when they come round should be held on 
 that evening ; in fact, once in three months the weekly meeting would be- 
 come a quarterly one, and once a year it would be the annual meeting. 
 
 This would economise the time and labour of the clergyman. 
 
 In the matter of details I shall commence with the Weekly Meeting. 
 
 The chair should always be occupied by the Incumbent, or one of the 
 Curates. 
 
 The meeting might be ©iJened with singing a hymn, temperance melody, 
 or such like. 
 
 From fifteen to twenty minutes might be occupied by the Chairman, 
 or some one appointed by him, reading a tale continuously from night to 
 night, or some extracts illustrative of the advantages of the Temperance 
 Movement. 
 
 This might be followed by short addresses of ten miniites' each by 
 Abstaining Members approved of by the Chairman, (a list of names of those 
 able and willing to speak might be made ; and the names of speakers — not 
 more than two — for each night read out at the previous Weekly Meeting.) 
 
 This will be found very useful in many ways. 
 
 1. It will give a special interest in the Weekly Meetings to the members 
 who speak. 
 
 2. It will bring the friends of each in succession to the Meetings. 
 
 3. Giving an opportunity as it does for each of them to utter his own 
 sentiments and to plead the cause in his own way, it will afford the 
 clergyman an occasion of correcting any mistaken ideas as to the proper 
 place and office of the Abstinence Movement, and putting the declaration 
 of abstinence on its proper basis as a means, not an end. 
 
 At the end of these addresses I would suggest the singing of a "psalm 
 or hymn " proper, as the modulation (to use the word) from the Temper- 
 ance to the more strictly religious part of the meeting. After the hymn 
 the clergyman should read a portion of Scripture, and expound it not only 
 with reference to the Temperance movement, but with reference to the 
 great doctrines of God's Gospel to mankind, calculated to awake and arouse 
 the indifferent, to lead the inquirers on to fuller knowledge, and to 
 strengthen those that do stand.
 
 6 ON THE rOllMATIOX AND MANAGEMENT OF 
 
 This is to be followed by prayer (the General Confession, Lord's Pi-ayer, 
 Prayer of the Prayer Union, or extempore, at the Clergyman's discretion,) 
 and closed with the Benediction. 
 
 After which the names of new Members should be taken down, and their 
 cards of membership issued. 
 
 [N.B. — Perhaps where it can be managed it would be well if the new 
 
 members signed their names before the close of the meeting, that they might 
 
 receive some special word of encouragement in the clergyman's exposition of 
 
 Scripture.] 
 
 The Quarterly Meeting should be preceded by a Tea Meeting of members 
 
 and their friends. To this, of course, admission must be by payment; but 
 
 after tea the meeting should be open to all who may wish to come ; and it 
 
 would be well always to have some special speaker for this meeting, and to 
 
 have some music and singing, when practicable — the Chairman always 
 
 concluding with an address and with prayer. 
 
 The Annual Meeting should be the Quarterly Meeting on a more extensive 
 scale, with more speakers, and, of course, transacting the necessary busi- 
 ness of reading the Report, statement of Accounts, and electing the Com- 
 mittee for the ensuing year. 
 
 With respect to the affiliation of the various Parochial Societies with the 
 Parent Society in London, I would suggest that the terms of affiliation be 
 as few and simple as possible. I would suggest the following : — 
 
 I. That each Parochial Society adopt the principles set forth by the 
 Parent Society as to the objects in view, and the means proposed for carry- 
 ing out these objects, viz. : — 
 
 Objects. — The restoration of individual Drunkards. 
 
 The removal of the present inordinate temptations to Drunkenness, 
 and the reformation of the National character in the matter of 
 Intemperance. 
 
 Means. — 1. The doctrine and practice of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
 
 2. Total Abstinence from Intoxicating Drinks as Beverages, and 
 mutual association of Abstainers — 
 
 (rt) For tliose who have become intemperate ; 
 
 (i) For those who, in view of the existing temptations, wish to use all 
 
 lawful means to avoid becoming so ; 
 (c) For tliose who, not recognising the necessity for themselves, are yet 
 willing, for Christ's sake, to give the benefit of example and 
 co-operation, " that they may take part in rescuing the lost." 
 — as tending to remove a series of physical and social hindi'ances 
 which, in the circumstances of the present national "distress," 
 have proved a large and generally insurmountable baiTier to the 
 entrance of the Gospel. 
 
 3. Public Meetings, Sermons. Lectures, Periodical Publications, 
 and Tracts ; and, above all, the formation of Parochial Associa- 
 tions and Branches of a Union for Private Prayer, under the 
 sanction of the Parochial Clergy. 
 
 4. The promotion and furtherance, in conjunction with non- 
 Abstainers, of all plans likely to diminish the amount of attrac-
 
 PAROCHIAL TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS. 7 
 
 tions held out by the present system of public and beer-bouses, 
 music and dancing saloons, casinos, etc. 
 5. The Collection of Funds to enable the Committee to prosecute 
 their labours to a successful issue. 
 
 II. That each Parochial Association pay an annual subscription to the 
 Parent Society on the following scale, viz, — 
 
 (rt) Five shillings, entitling the Association to a copy of the Society's 
 
 Magazine each month. 
 (6) One Guinea.— Entitling the Association to an Annual Visit from 
 the Travelling Secretary or other deputation from the Parent Society, 
 free of all expense to the Parochial Association. 
 
 [c) Two Guineas.— Entitling the Association to Two Deputations 
 
 from Parent Society as above. 
 
 In all cases the Five Shilling Subscription should also be paid ; and it 
 
 ought to entitle the Parochial Association to Cards of Membership, Books 
 
 for Signature of Members, Cards of Prayer Union, Tracts, etc., at reduced 
 
 prices. 
 
 III. That the Parochial Association be under the Presidency, or have at 
 least the sanction, of the Incumbent of the Parish. 
 
 Prayer Union. — Another point to which I feel it of much importance to 
 refer is the linking the members together in " The Prayer Union " of our 
 Society. Those who become members of " The Prayer Union " agree to 
 pray for God's blessing on this movement, either in their families, or in 
 private, on some part of each Sunday. Members' Cards, containing prayers 
 compiled by the Vicar of Windior, can be had at the Society's office. Nor 
 need this association of the Lord's remembrancers in this matter be confined 
 only to those who are Abstainers. All who sympathize with us in our 
 desii'es to combat the deadly evils of intemperance can at least join their 
 prayers with ours, that the plague may be stayed. 
 
 And is there not a cause for at least the trial of this proposed machinery ? 
 
 It was stated by the Rev. Mr. McCatil, in his paper on " The Duty of 
 the Church toward the Home Population," read before the Chui'ch 
 Congress in Norwich, that " wherre the Church is powerless for want of 
 resources, Satan is working effectually to widen the alienation of these 
 shepherdless multitudes. It is stated (he continues) that in England there 
 are 95,000 public-houses, and 45,000 beer-shops, their occupiers bearing a 
 proportion to the parochial clergy of seven to one !" 
 
 Since this is so, are not our pastors bound to examine with calmness, and 
 fi'eedom from prejudice, any organization that may be proposed to help the 
 struggle against these fearful odds ? And yet, alas ! alas ! our suggestions 
 are frowned upon as thoiigh they were heterodox, or smiled at as thoiigh 
 they wei'e fond conceits. 
 
 Meantime souls, precious souls, are perishing. 
 
 Deliraiit reges : plectuutur Aohivi. 
 
 To conclude: in this work there is room for all to help, in all ranks. 
 There is much prejudice against us, but that is no sign we are wrong ; and 
 to the matter of our discussion this morning I would apply the words of 
 Mr. Claughton's Paper on the siibject, and on the occasion, last referred to,
 
 8 PAROCHIAL TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIOINS. 
 
 " There is a duty botli of men and women to lielp according to tlie mani- 
 festation of tlie Spirit given them to profit withal in their several localities ; 
 to teach the ignorant ; to reform the vicious, especially the prematurely 
 vicious ; to encourage by precept and example every Christian virtue ; to visit 
 the fatherless and widows in their affliction ; to strengthen the hands of their 
 ministers in all things. And never perhaps at any period of the history of 
 our Church was there so strong a disposition to help in this manner as has 
 manifested itself during the revival of religion for the last quarter of a 
 century. As though to confront Satan in his strongholds, reformatories, 
 penitentiaries, (houses of mercy indeed,) guilds and brotherhoods have been 
 established in many places, often, notwithstanding much discouragement, 
 having this sole end in view, to relieve the ministers of God's Word under 
 the pressure daily becoming more fearful of spiritual destitution in a 
 thickly peopled land. Nor can we doubt that the blessing of God has 
 rested upon these institutions." Such are the words of the Yicar of 
 Kidderminster (now Bishop of Rochester) concerning the means used. 
 Fain would I hope that when he next speaks or writes on such a topic, he 
 may be led to include Parochial Temperance Associations and Asylums for 
 the Inebriate in this goodly list, and that then he may speak of these last 
 two as he has concerning the former—^" The prejudices once so strong 
 ao-ainst them have gradually faded away as the reality of the work became 
 apparent, and the Bishops of our Church have sanctioned and approved 
 them as spiritual operations called forth by the requirements of the time." 
 
 *^* Clerqijmen willinc/ to have Sermons or Meetings, or desiring further informa- 
 tion as to ihe plans and operations of the Church of England and Ireland Temperance 
 Rfformation Societg, are requested to communicate u-Uh the Rev. Thomas Rooee, 
 Secretary, at the Offices of the Association, 6, Adam Street, Adelphi, Strand, W.C. 
 
 THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS, 
 
 Sold at the Society's Offices, 6, Adam Street, Adelphi, Strand, and Ig 
 S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster Row, London. 
 
 The Church of England Tern- \ Report of the Society's Proceed- 
 
 ])erance Mai^^aziiie. Vols, for 1864, \ ings for years 1864, 1865, 1866, 2cl. 
 1865, 1866,^ and 1867. Bound and each; 1867, 3d. 
 
 lettered, 4s. each. ^ Books foT Signature of Abstain- 
 
 The Temperance Reformation : I ers. Headed and Ruled. 6d. each. 
 
 A Series of Papers by Rev. H. J. Elli- | Members' Cards. Ornamental. 
 
 SON, M.A., Prebendary of Lichfield. Is. . ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ g^ p^^ ^^^ 
 
 Anniversary Sermon : Members' Cards, with Prayer. 
 
 Preached in Windsor Parish Church, ^j ^^^^, ^^ 3^ g^^ . ^^^ 
 
 bv Rev. Thomas RooKE, M.A. 6d. , - ^ i r n ^ 
 
 „ "^ ■ , TT n L r rr i Prayer Union Lards for Mem- 
 
 Special Hymn Book for Tern- ^J^ ^^ ^_^^^ J 
 
 perance Societies. Compiled and Ar- ! rr • r • r -k ,r 
 
 ranged by the Rev. S. J. Stone, B.A. \ Prayer Unton LlSt Of Mem- 
 32 pp. large type, with cover. Id. ; 8 pp. j hers. 2d. each. 
 
 crown Svo, fd. Tinted paper (ft 
 Letters), 32 pp.. Id. 
 
 The Church of England Tern- 
 
 perance Tracts. Is. per Packet. 
 
 Clerical Testimonies in Favour 
 
 of Total Abstinence. Reprinted from 
 ' Church of England Temperance Maga- 
 zine.' 2s. 6d. (Tweedie, Strand, W.C.) 
 
 LONDON : KNIGHT, PRINTER, ST. BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
 
 
 
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