The Healthy Options Library archive holds a large variety of Australian temperance literature. The oldest item in it dates from early in the Australian temperance movement. It is a copy of the Australian Temperance Magazine Volume II, dated from 1838-1839. It binds each monthly edition of the magazine from July 1838 to June 1839 together. The magazine’s contents are a mixture of Australian temperance activities including articles and notes from the New South Wales Temperance Society meetings, updates from other temperance societies around the world and correspondence, as well as poems and stories.
The magazine’s publishing body, the New South Wales Temperance Society, was among the first temperance society to be founded in Australia. In ‘Temperance in Australia: the memorial volume of the International Temperance Convention’, J.W. Meaden mentions that Australian temperance societies were formed in 1832, but they do not seem to have been highly organised. The details of the New South Wales Temperance Society’s founding meeting on November 19, 1834 can be read in this Sydney Herald article. The need for the society was agreed upon as it was felt alcohol had negatively impacted people within the colony, and that alcohol was unhealthy.
As well as its importance in depicting the early Australian temperance movement, the magazine has additional value. Like the archive’s copy of ‘An Apostle in Australia’, the magazine is an association copy. Its front free end paper is inscribed by seemingly two different people, and their words hint at an overseas journey and possible personal connection between the English and Australian temperance movements.
The inscription within the Australian Temperance Magazine.
The first part reads “Geo* E Forman Esq with the editor’s kind regards 5 April 1839”. Unfortunately, nothing could be found on Mr Forman. The second inscription reads “One hundred years later – 21st of June 1939. This book is being returned to Australia with the best wishes of William E Moss. A disciple of Joseph Livesey and for over 50 years Teetotal Missionary in Blackburn England.”
Thankfully, there is more information available about Mr Moss. He can be quickly identified as William Edward Moss (1863 – 1951) from the details he provides about himself such as his work and location in Blackburn. His entry in ‘Temperance Standard Bearers of the Nineteenth Century: A Bibliographical and Statistical Temperance Dictionary’ by Peter T. Winskill describes him as a collector of temperance literature, “collecting, prizing and using all that he can secure of the early standard writings of the pioneers and advocates for the cause”. From this, it could be guessed that the Australian Temperance Magazine may have come to be in his personal collection.
Image courtesy of Blackburn Library.
Mr Moss worked as a missionary at the Lees Temperance Hall with Mrs. Lewis, a well-known and respected figure in the English temperance movement. As well as collecting temperance literature, he was an author in this genre. Among his work is a biography of famous temperance worker Joseph Livesey titled ‘Joseph Livesey, Friend of the People’ and another book ‘Mrs Lewis, the Drunkard’s Friend’. He may have been in the habit of giving away books, as the Stanford University catalogue notes his lengthy presentation inscription in a copy of ‘Mrs Lewis, the Drunkard’s Friend’.
Mr Moss did not limit himself to writing books. The Blackburn Library contains his personal correspondence in its temperance collection, and shows he and Mrs Lewis were both prolific letter writers. The places he wrote to include Wellington, New Zealand, so it is possible he may have written to people within Australia. If any readers have further information on Geo* E Forman, Mr Moss or his correspondence in regards to Australia, please let us know!
The Australian Temperance Magazine is stored at Healthy Options Australia Library, Unit 30, 15/3 Jackman St, Southport. For more details contact the Healthy Options Library on 07 3620 8871 or email library@hoa.org.au.
* unable to decipher writing.
by Chloe Pickard
Drug ARM Archives 