Clark's own words, " they with one accord began to make excuses and brand our scheme as Utopian and visionary." Previous to this, however, he had taken the initiative in the work among his neighbors, for he says : " I returned to Moreau like a bow well bent that had not lost its elasticity, and resumed the labor there." The determination he exhibited was remarkable, and one cannot dwell upon the difficulties with which he contended

BIRTH AT MOreAU OF THE TEMPERANCE REFORMATION. 125

and meditate upon the unselfish, devoted and humanitarian spirit by which he was actuated without expressing admiration. The first successful step in the sublime drama of the temperance reformation took place in the same month of April, referred to a moment ago, when Dr. Clark made his memorable visit to his minister. Iquote from Armstrong : " After having projected a plan of a temperance organization, the doctor determined on a visit to his minister, the author of tliese memoirs, who was then the pastor of the flourif' ing Congregational church in the town of Moreau, The visit was made on a dark evening, no moon and cloudy. After riding on horseback about three miles, through deep mud of clay road, in the breaking-up of winter, the doctor knocked at his minister's door, and on entrance, before taking seat in the house, he earnestly uttered the following words: ' Mr. Armstrong, I have come to see you on important business.' Then, lifting up both hands, he continued : ' We shall all become a community of drunkards in this town unless something is done to arrest the progress of intemperance.' " The poet has sung in soul-stirring numbers of the midnight ride of Paul Revere. There are, indeed, certain resemblances between it and Dr. Clark's historic adventure.