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[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 757; handwritten inscription in black ink, u.c: Chapter I // 1852]

-908- // 1852.
[-757-]

Lecture delivered at the Oregon Engine house No. 3, 2nd Ward, Mil-
waukee Sunday evening Jan. 11, 1852, by I A. Lapham.

Ladies and Gentlemen--

A desire to comply with the reasonable
request of the president of this "Oregon Temperance League," to
do my duty as a neighbor, as a friend, to you and to the important
cause in which you have engaged; and a desire, at least, to at-
tempt [underlined] all the good I can rather than any consciousness of ability
to instruct, interest or even to amuse you, are the motives that
have decided me to appear before you on this occasion.
Should any of you receive additional courage or inducement to
persevere in the true path of virtue and honor, the true way to
peace and happiness, both here and hereafter, by anything I can
say or do on this, or any other occasion, it shall certainly be
cheerfully and promptly said and done.

[note: there is a typed letter, verso, showing through the following two paragraphs]
Unaccustomed as I am, however to public speaking, you
must not expect that what I have to say shall be in the most grace-
ful style of creatory; or even with a pleasing and agreeable manner
of delivery. I shall only claim credit for honesty [honesty] of purpose and
sincerity in all my statements.

After what has been presented to you from this desk on
former occasions, I need not attempt to show the deleterious ef-
fects of alcoholic drinks upon the physical organization and con-
stitution of the human body; the dreadful effects upon the moral
and religious nature of the soul; [nor] the disastrous effects upon
business affairs, the property or estate of individuals. These