Total Abstinence League.

The first meeting of the year of the Harvard Total Abstinence League took place last evening in Sever 11. The meeting was called to order by the president, D. C. Torrey, '90, who stated the objects of the league and expressed the hope that all members of the university who were in sympathy with the work of the league even though not total abstainers themselves, would join it. He then introduced Rev. Francis G. Peabody, D. D., who said that the question which was before them was the principal social issue of the times whether in religion, in politics, or in general life. He reviewed the great changes which have taken place in regard to this great problem during the last decade, and also the great transition of point of view which has come to the people during that time. He showed that the cause had made great gains in two directions, first in an increase of rational methods. Formerly the cause of temperance was in the hands of unreasonable and irrational men, who by their immoderate methods, turned away observing men. They taught that without total abstinence was the greatest peril but if we approach the subject more carefully we shall see that a man may take a glass of liquor without absolute ruin; but, on the other hand, we shall see that there is a growing consensus of opinion pointing to absolute temperance, and that to succeed in life a man must follow in this opinion. In the speaker's college days men considered it necessary to take stimulants in order to become strong; but the athletes of to-day understand that in order to make the most of themselves they must practice total abstinence. In fact it is the growing opinion that if a man would fortify himself against the strains of human life he must leave alcohol alone. The speaker cited the case of the business man and declared that a healthy young man in natural life, who desires to make the most of himself, will increase his chances, if not make his fortune, by practicing total abstinence. Second, he showed that the cause was fostered by the growing unity which is becoming apparent, of all the forces in any way in sympathy with the movement. He cited the city of Cambridge as an example of what unity can do, where two years ago there were one hundred and twenty-two saloons and today perhaps nineteen. Finally he said that if anything was to be accomplished there could not be a congregation of good or bad who had determined to help the bad but that the University was an individual which could not be divided and the degradation or uplifting of a part of its members could not help but degrade or uplift the whole and that every one by his own life was bound to do his best to overcome the downward tide.