Now, whatever our creeds may be, whether we think alike
in other things or not, there can be no two opinions about this matter
with honest and reasoning men. The temperance movement is doing good,
and we have before us a plain proof of it. Now, I am not here to-night
merely to talk. I should not have come if that were all. I have come
to act. I have professed to be a reasoning man, and to belong to a
party that prides itself upon being governed by reason, and yet I have
allowed myself to come more or less under the dominion of that strong
drink which just turns a reasoning man into something far lower than an
irrational brute. `Well, then,' some of you might say, `can't you exert
your own will and give it up without coming to a temperance meeting to
talk about it?' Yes, I could; but that would be just merely doing good
to myself. Now, I can't help being aware that your chairman, the vicar
of this parish, and his right-hand man, Thomas Bradly, are not content
with being total abstainers for their own benefit, but are doing their
best, spite of ridicule, opposition, and persecution, to get others to
become abstainers also. They can have nothing to gain by this except
the happiness of making others happy. I see this plainly; and my reason
(_they_ would call it conscience, I suppose) tells me that, if I am a
really honest and unprejudiced man, I ought to follow their example. I
am here to-night to do it. I have other reasons besides for taking this
course, but I do not think it necessary to mention them on the present
occasion. I know what it will cost me to take this step, but I have
well weighed the consequences and am prepared to accept them. Mr
Chairman, I will sign the pledge to-night in your book, and join your
society, if you will allow me." Having spoken thus, William Foster
quietly resumed his seat.

The effect of this speech on the meeting was most overwhelming. Every
word had been heard all over the hall, for Foster had a clear and
powerful voice, and had spoken calmly and deliberately, as one who
weighed every word and sentence carefully; and the silence while he
addressed his audience had been almost oppressive. Was it possible that
Foster could be in earnest? There was no mistake about it--every man
was at once convinced of this from the vicar down to the most sottish of
the anti-temperance gathering. Such a man as Foster would never have
come forward in this way had he not had powerful and