Diabolism in the Liquor Traffic: A Plea in Verse for Prohibition (1881)
Published by Sleight & Howard, Richmond, Virginia
Description:
A striking relic of the American temperance and prohibition movement, this 1881 pamphlet titled Diabolism in the Liquor Traffic delivers a passionate poetic argument against the destructive influence of alcohol. Written in verse and printed by Sleight & Howard of Richmond, Virginia, it captures the moral and political fervor that shaped late-nineteenth-century reform literature.
The poem presents a vivid moral narrative—depicting alcohol as the tool of “Satan against the Family”—and calls upon readers to recognize temperance not merely as social reform but as spiritual warfare. Its bold moral tone reflects the Victorian conviction that personal conduct and national character were deeply intertwined.
Although not a Masonic publication, this work represents the kind of ethical and civic discourse many Freemasons of the era engaged in. Freemasonry has long encouraged its members to be informed, responsible citizens who uphold the moral welfare of the society in which they live. Works such as this were part of the broader intellectual environment in which many American Masons examined questions of morality, citizenship, and reform.
Details:
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Title: Diabolism in the Liquor Traffic: A Plea in Verse for Prohibition
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Publisher: Sleight & Howard, 901 Broad Street, Richmond, VA
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Date: 1881
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Format: Softcover pamphlet
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Pages: 16 (approx.)
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Binding: Original gray printed wrappers with decorative border
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Condition: Very good for age; tight binding, clean pages with light toning and minor edge wear
Significance:
An evocative artifact of America’s prohibition movement and a fine example of 19th-century moral verse. For collectors of temperance history, Southern printing, or Masonic-era social thought, this booklet offers a fascinating glimpse into how moral and civic duty were expressed through literature at the time.
