The Fairhaven Temperance Society

While changing their clothes after the baptism, Joseph Bates suggested to the officiating minister that they work together in organizing a temperance society. Though he failed to secure this desired co-operation, he was not thereby discouraged. Writing out a pledge ready for signature, he went from house to house among friends and acquaintances, and soon had twelve or thirteen names subscribed, including those of the minister and two deacons of the Congregational church and several sea captains. Thus he organized a temperance society.SHM 55.2

Captain Bates, as we have seen, had discarded not only ardent spirits, but also wine. The members of his temperance society, however, would not consent to include wine, beer, and cider among the beverages that were to be banned by them. These “were so freely used as a beverage that the majority” were unwilling to include them in the list. They did agree, however, to use no ardent spirits, specified as “rum, gin, brandy, and whisky.” Ibid., 212.SHM 55.3

It is evident that Joseph Bates and his associates thought that they were the first to organize a temperance society of this kind in the United States. “If any temperance societies had ever been organized previous to the one at Fairhaven, we were unacquainted with the fact,” wrote Captain Bates in his memoirs. The records, however, show that the organization of the American Temperance Society in Boston, Massachusetts, had been effected one year earlier.^{1In 1807 a group of dissenters in England, under the leadership of William Cowherd, adopted as part of their church practice the nonuse of flesh as food and abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. Some of this company migrated to America in 1817 and settled in Philadelphia. Their pastor, William Metcalf, wrote a tract, “The Duty of Abstinence From All Intoxicating Drinks,” for which a valid claim seems to be made that it was the first of its kind to be published in the United States. This society never claimed more than a few members—less than one hundred at the most—yet they seem to have been the earliest to adopt the principles of teetotalism. See History of the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church for the First Century of Its Existence, 38. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1922.}SHM 55.4

Credit is due the Fairhaven society, however, for priority in one advanced step. They seem to have been pioneers in putting the ban on fermented as well as distilled liquors several years before the national organization, the American Temperance Society, took this advanced step. Soon after the Fairhaven organization was effected, one of the members was reported to be intoxicated, and he was charged with having violated his oath. He maintained that he drank nothing but cider, which was permissible according to the agreement they had made, and he refused to discontinue its use. His wife bore witness that he was worse when under the influence of cider than when intoxicated with brandy. This incident led to an amendment of the constitution of the society, banning “all intoxicating drinks” as well as “ardent spirits.” Ibid., 212, 213.SHM 56.1

In the midst of his temperance activities Joseph Bates was called to make another voyage with the brig “Empress.” Soon after leaving New Bedford, Massachusetts, he called all hands together and announced to them the rules that were to govern their lives while en route. Strange, indeed, did some of them seem to the hardy sailors. They were to address one another by their first names and in a respectful manner. No swearing was to be permitted. Sunday was to be rigidly observed and with no shore leaves on that day when in port. Captain Bates had brought but a small quantity of liquor on board for emergency use in case of sickness, and the crew were informed of this, with a strict injunction that they were not to bring any on board. They were also asked to assemble regularly for morning and evening prayers.SHM 56.2