Set of Three Early Sons of Temperance Publications (ca. 1850–1855)
Set of Three Early Sons of Temperance Publications (ca. 1850–1855)
Including: “The Sons of Temperance Offering” (1851); “Constitution and By-Laws for Subordinate Divisions”; and “Prize Essay on the Principles and Operations of the Order of the Sons of Temperance” by Leroy M. Lee, D.D.
Overview
This remarkable trio of mid-19th-century publications documents the rise and influence of the Sons of Temperance, one of America’s most important fraternal temperance societies. Together, these works illuminate the moral vision, social structure, and literary culture of a movement that helped lay the foundation for later abstinence and prohibition campaigns.
Founded in 1842 in New York City, the Sons of Temperance combined the reforming zeal of the temperance crusade with the organizational rigor of a benevolent fraternity. By the 1850s, the Order had established thousands of divisions across the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, promoting total abstinence from alcohol, mutual aid for members, and the moral uplift of society.
Each of these rare items offers a different lens on the movement — its spiritual and literary message, its governing framework, and its philosophical underpinnings — forming a cohesive mini-archive of antebellum American reform.
1. The Sons of Temperance Offering (1851)
Illustrated Temperance Gift Book — Published for the Order of the Sons of Temperance
An ornate “gift annual” combining essays, poetry, and steel-engraved moral illustrations, issued at the high tide of the temperance movement.
Highlights include “The Car of Intemperance; or, The Student’s Dream” by Anna Wilmot, “The Mother’s Lament,” and “The Drunkard’s Dream.” With fine engravings and decorative typography, this Offering exemplifies the sentimental and moral literature that brought reform ideals into middle-class homes.
Condition: Fair to Good. Original pictorial wrapper present with wear, chipping, and staining; contents toned and foxed but complete. A fragile yet appealing survivor of 1851 temperance publishing.
2. Constitution and By-Laws for Subordinate Divisions (ca. 1850s–60s)
Elder & Harkness, Printers, Indianapolis
A working manual for local “Subordinate Divisions” of the Order, detailing the constitution, by-laws, and procedural rules. It includes the full pledge of total abstinence, membership requirements, officer duties, disciplinary measures, and the ceremonial Rules of Order that governed meetings.
This practical handbook reflects the Sons’ distinctive blend of moral reform and fraternal organization — using structure and ritual to sustain abstinence and mutual support.
Condition: Fair to Poor. Missing front wrapper; rear wrapper heavily worn. Text block fragile with staining, foxing, and edge losses (notably p. 15). Despite wear, the pamphlet remains a valuable window into the Order’s inner workings.
3. Prize Essay on the Principles and Operations of the Order of the Sons of Temperance (1851)
By Leroy M. Lee, D.D., Grand Worthy Patriarch of Virginia — Richmond, H. K. Ellyson, Printer
A contemporary ideological statement of the Sons’ aims, written by a leading Southern temperance advocate. Lee explores the failures of moderation, the influence of the Washingtonian movement, and the enduring strength of the Sons of Temperance as a disciplined, benevolent society. His essay provides a rare Southern perspective on the national temperance crusade and reveals how the movement’s philosophy blended spirituality, morality, and mutual aid.
Condition: Fair. Staining and water damage, particularly along upper margins; heavy toning and foxing; losses at page edges but text legible. Pencil notations to title page and margins.
Historical Significance
Together, these works capture the breadth of the Sons of Temperance’s mission:
The Offering presents the emotional and moral literature used to inspire the public.
The Constitution and By-Laws embodies the organizational discipline that gave the Order its durability.
The Prize Essay articulates the theological and philosophical rationale behind total abstinence.
This set represents a microcosm of 19th-century American reform, documenting how faith, fraternalism, and print culture intertwined to combat the social and spiritual ravages of alcohol.
Condition Summary
All three items show expected age and wear — toning, staining, foxing, and fragility typical of mid-19th-century pamphlets and wrappers — but remain complete and legible unless otherwise noted. Each piece is housed individually for protection.
Collector’s Note
An outstanding trio for historians, collectors, or institutions documenting the roots of American sobriety movements and their moral literature. These works bridge the gap between early temperance reform and later 20th-century recovery culture, offering an unfiltered look at how organized abstinence began — both as spiritual conviction and social structure.
A rare opportunity to acquire three distinct and complementary artifacts from the formative era of the Sons of Temperance and the American temperance movement.
