Temperance - Centenary

Hundred Years of Temperance Work

Early Clashes With “Disciples of the Barrel”

This is the centenary week of the Rushden Temperance Society. The times do not countenance celebrations, but in many a veteran’s heart the anniversary will be acknowledged with gratitude. To the old timer Temperance means more than a principle or movement – it is a singular vital and intimate part of Rushden’s history.

Life is different nowadays – crowded with a variety of duties and distractions – but in the days of Rushden’s first forward march the channels for social energy were fewer. It is strikingly certain that in the last century the cause of sobriety was a major cause in the town and drew to its banner most of the men whose strength of character was the driving force of progress.

Rushden Temperance Society was formed on December 9, 1840. On that date the Rev. J. Jenkinson, of Kettering, preached a sermon at the Old Baptist Chapel and afterwards gave an address. He had been opposed to the Temperance movement, but by this time he must have been an eloquent convert, for after the meeting it was decided to form the society.

The original pledge book, faded and untidy, is still in existence, and the first name is that of the Rev. Jonathan Whittemore, famous as the founder of the “Christian World” and “Baptist Messenger” who was minister of the chapel at the time. Mrs. Whittemore also registered that day, and other early recruits included Mr. John Cave, Mrs. Burton, Mr. J. Kidgell (evidently the first secretary), Mr. Charles Bayes, Mr. Maurice Skinner, Mr. William Claridge and Mr. William Colson.

Ardent Workers

Mr. Ebenezer Knight

Mr. Ebenezer Knight, who joined the society in 1848 after overcoming an aversion to the movement, became one of the most earnest advocates. There was also John Sargent, senior, a quiet but effective worker.

In 1857 the Rev. R. E. Bradfield came to Rushden – a man of vision and ability who exerted a great influence upon the life and thought of the town. His Temperance sermons and lectures were a conspicuous feature of his ministry. Another chapter in the records is illumined by the work of Mr. John Claridge, secretary from 1874 to 1906, who wrote an interesting account of the society at the time of its jubilee. Mr. George Bayes held the secretary-ship from 1906 to 1912 and Mr. J. T. Bettles from 1912 to 1938.

Mr. Bettles was not only a good secretary but a bold standard-bearer whose annual reports were colourful and challenging. Since his death Mr. F. S. Knight – who has supplied the material for this review – has acted as both secretary and treasurer.

Unfortunately the minute books for the first 20 years of the society are missing. It is on record, however, that in 1861 Mr. John Sargent, senior, was president, Mr. W. Colson secretary and Mr. John Cave treasurer. Mr. Ebenezer Knight was secretary from 1865 to 1870. Mr. John Sargent, junior, continued the work until Mr. Claridge’s appointment.

Since 1861 the presidents have been Mr. John Sargent, senior, Rev. R. E. Bradfield, Mr. John Cave, Mr. Ebenezer Knight, Rev. W. A. Davis, Rev. W. J. Tomkins, Rev. M. E. Parkin, Rev. W. F. Harris, Rev. J. H. Lynn, Rev. R. Hearns, Rev. C. J. Keeler, Rev. J. A. Sutherland, Rev. Travers Stoney, Rev. T. W. Gill and Rev. E. A. Green.

Other significant names in the story are Ben Vorley, J. T. Colson, William Clark, C. G. Cunnington, James Jaques, George Denton, W. C. Capon, Joseph Knight, T. C. Clarke and G. W. Button.

Coming back to that first meeting, it appears that the only previous propaganda in the village was the distribution of tracts by John Sharpe, an agent of the South Midlands Temperance Association. The meeting gave rise not only to the Temperance Society but a Rechabite tent also. It made quite a sensation, and during the next month pledges were taken in batches of as many as twenty.

“Lively times” are recorded, but the opposition stopped a long way short of the violence which occurred in other parts of the county.

“At Rushden,” wrote a visiting speaker in 1843, “I had tea with the reformed and devoted men. Stern and determined, they were prepared for the highest exercise of self denial. There the Baptist minister and the leaders in the congregation act together as an aggressive body so formidable to drunkenness and the drinking customs that their meetings are but the preliminary steps to the sanctuary and the worship of God.”

The same worthy came again in 1844 and noted that the stewards and congregation of the Wesleyan Chapel “gathered rather suspiciously to hear what could be said against little drops and moderate drinkers.” About that time, according to another propagandist, the society was 126 strong; “Four of these were reclaimed characters, 32 were somewhat doubtful, but 94 were known to be thoroughly conscientious in the cause.”

One of the Rushden meetings produced “a little vapouring from the disciples of the barrel,” but the best of feeling attended the singing of “There’s nothing like teetotal.”

Although in the early years “the religious public especially” had lapses into apathy there came a time when the Old Baptist members decided to use unfermented wine at the Lord’s table, and in 1847 140 out of Rushden’s total population of 1,306 attended the Whitsuntide festival of the Rechabites.

Temperance Memorials

September 26, 1871, says the “Temperance Record,” was the time of the Feast, when there is generally much drinking. The people on this occasion had something better to attend to. This was the laying of foundation stones for the Temperance Hall. In 1882 the Coffee Tavern and Public Hall were opened, and a few years earlier the abstainers had formed a drum and fife band which in 1875, under Mr. William Skinner’s leadership gave place to the Temperance Band. The drinking fountain near the Green is another reminder of the earlier campaigning methods.

Rushden’s first Band of Hope was formed at the Baptist Meeting in 1855, and in the following year Mr. Ebenezer Knight convened a meeting at Finedon for the establishment of the Northamptonshire Temperance and Band of Hope Union.

It may come as a shock to some punctilious teetotallers of to-day to know that the society once fostered a pledge to abstain from chewing and smoking tobacco and taking snuff.

Officers of the society to-day are :- President, Rev. E. A. Green; chairman, Mr. George Hall; secretary and treasurer, Mr. F. S. Knight; collector, Mr. W. A. Berrill.

Temperance Society