Temperance in Tewkesbury. (Aren't you sad you missed it ?)

From the Tewkesbury Yearly Magazine 1838. January 31.

At a public meeting, at the Town.Hall, an Auxiliary Temperance Society for Tewkesbury and its neighbourhood was established. the members of this society are required to conform to certain rules, and sign the following declaration:--- "We agree to abstain from distilled spirits, except for medicinal purposes, and to discountenance the causes and practice of intemperance."

From the Tewkesbury Yearly Magazine 1838.

        
Two lectures on "Tea-totalism were delivered here by Mingaye Syder, esq. professor of medicine from London," and a society subsequently established on genuine "Total Abstinence Principles." This appears to have been designed as an "improvement" upon the Temperance Society founded in 1834---- the motto of the new institution being "Moderation is the half-way house to Intoxication." A number of other advocates,----among whom were Thomas barlow the Birmingham mechanic, and T.A. smith the London working coach-maker, ---- gave lectures at the Queen's Arms, the British Schoolroom, and the Friends' Meeting House in the course of the year; and in the report of the "Cheltenham Temperance Club" read at a meeting on the 28th of Jan. 1839, it is said, ---"We are greatly encouraged when we look around us, and see our nurslings rising up to maturity: the society at Tewkesbury, a short time ago, was under our fostering care, but we are happy to say it has made such progress as to set us an example----one hundred and fifty having signed the pledge since Christmas, and many reclaimed drunkards of the worst character, are rejoicing with their wives and families over the benefits resulting from tea-totalism !"

From the Tewkesbury Yearly Magazine 1839.

       Mr. Mingaye Syder delivered two lectures, at the Theatre, "on the priciples and practice of true temperance, as identified with the question of total abstinence from all intoxicating fluids." A number of other meetings of "tea-totallers" were also held in this borough in the course of the year:-1. On the 1st of April, a public tea party, under the patronage of the "Tewkesbury Auxilliary to the new Foreign Temperance Society," assembled in the Queen's Arms.---2. On the 17th of April, Mr. Grubb, the temperance champion," addressed the tea-totallers in the Friend's meeting-house for nearly three hours: he asserted that intemperance was the cause of almost every evil, that working-men were much better without stimulating liquors, and that cold water and good food were sufficient for those who were constantly in the most laborious duties.---3. On the 24th of April, the Rev. John Burder, M.A. of Stroud, and the Rev. Benjamin Parsons of Ebley, delivered addresses at the Friends' meeting-house in favour of the total abstinence principle." ---4. On the evening of the 20th of May, being Whit-Monday, the members of the tea-total society and their friends drank tea in the Theatre; and Mr.Swan and Mr. Barlow, two itinerant temperance advocates, afterwards addressed the meeting.---Notwithstanding these and other "demonstrations," the cause of tea-totalism in Tewkesbury appears yet to have been unattended with any perceptible beneficial results.

From the Tewkesbury Yearly Magazine, March 16, 1841

A large house, near the centre of Church Street, late the residence of M r.J.Allis, was opened as the "Victoria Temperance Hotel," by a public breakfast and a tea party in the evening. Mr.Bowley, of Gloucester, presided at the breakfast table, and spoke for an hour and a half; and the Rev.Jesse Hewett, Edwin Lees Esq. Mr.gregory, and others addresses the meeting at considerable length. At the tea party, which was somewhat numerous, Mr.Edward Brydges presided, and the company was enlivened by several speeches and a band of music.--There were several public meetings of the "Tewkesbury Total Abstinence Society" in the course of the year, viz. On the 8th of february at the Town-Hall, when Mr.Greig delivered a lecture, and Richard Figg, a railway-man, addressed the meeting.---On the 30th March, when Mr.Charles Cockran, a native of "the sister island," advocated the cause of "true temperance," and boasted that he and his friend Father Matthew, in waging war against the arch-enemy of mankind, Alcohol, had "achieved a greater victory than all the naval and military commanders who had ever lived."----On the 6th of April, there was a tea party at the Temperance Hotel, and Mr.John Cluer, a Cumberland weaver, delivered a lecture at the Friends' Meeting House,---there was another tea party on Whit-Monday; and Mr.Cluer, at different times, delivered two more lectures, and Mr.Ashe, Mr.Ralph Holker, and Mr. Frederick Grosjean, one each.---On the 27th of July, "the celebrated Mr.E.Hudson, of Dunstable, formerly of the Royal Navy," while delivering a lecture at the Friends' Meeting House, on "total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks," was interrupted by the equally celebrated Mr.John Cluer, a rival lecturer; who first, as Shakespeare says, "made mouths at him," and then charged him with defaming his character. Instead therefore of prosecuting a "war against the allied powers of King Alcohol," as was promised in the advertisement, Messrs. Hudson and Cluer entered into a stormy "war of words," abusing each other in regular Billingsgate style, and with clenched fists and uplifted arms for a long while threatened to resort to blows, while the audience alternately cheered on each of the enraged heroes.

From the Tewkesbury Yearly Magazine 1846, a report of the death of John Hill.

In the General Hospital, Birmingham, John Hill, who formerly kept the Temperance Hotel in this borough. A few years ago, this individual delivered lectures here and in the neighbouring towns and cities in favour of teetotalism, but unfortunately he mingled politics and religion with the temperance cause. His politics became tainted with Chartism, his religion wavering and questionable, teetotalism gained but little advantage by his services, and ultimately his lecturing career ceased, and his Temperance Hotel closed. He afterwards resided in Birmingham, where, instead of advocating "temperance, soberness, and chastity," he became a votary and ardent admirer of Bacchus.

 

 

A.Hewett

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