“DEAR SIR:—­Your letter is received, and I am glad to learn that your mind is directed to the subject of the curse and cure of drunkenness.  This is one of the largest of human fields to work in.  The ‘Washingtonian Home’ was commenced in a very humble way, in November, 1857.  An act of incorporation was obtained from the State, March 26th, 1859.

“The institution has, therefore, been in existence nearly twenty years.  My connection with it has been for eighteen years—­sixteen years as president.  During the period of its existence the whole number of patients has been five thousand three hundred and forty-eight.  Of this number, the superintendent, Dr. Day, estimates the cured at one-half.  Of the remainder, it is estimated that one-half, making one-quarter of the whole, are greatly improved.

“You say, ’I take the general ground, and urge it strongly upon the reader that, without spiritual help—­regeneration, in a, word—­there is, for the confirmed inebriate, but little hope, and no true safety.’

“In this I fully concur.  I believe in using all the agencies—­medical, social, moral and religious—­to bear upon the patient, and to encourage him to follow the ’straight and narrow way.’  With this view, a morning service is held each day; a Sunday evening service at six o’clock, and every Friday evening a meeting, where patients relate their experience, and encourage each other in gaining power over the enemy.  I have had much experience and abundant evidence that these meetings are of great value, for the reason that the patients are the principal speakers, and can do more to encourage each other than those outside of their own ranks.  These meetings are usually attended by about equal numbers of both sexes, and, with fine music, can be kept up with interest indefinitely.

“It would be, in my judgment, a matter of wide economy for the intelligent citizens of every city, with twenty thousand or more inhabitants, to establish a home, or asylum for inebriates.  Let those who favor sobriety in the community, take a part in it, and they will soon learn how to reach the class who needs assistance.  A large, old-fashioned house can be leased at small expense, and the means raised by contributions of money and other necessary articles to start.  The act of doing this will soon enable those engaged in the work to learn what the wants are, and how to meet them.  It is only obeying the command, ’Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’  This is the Master’s work, and those who hear this invitation, as well as those who accept it, will share in its blessings.

“Those who cultivate the spirit of ’love to God, and good-will to their fellow-men,’ will be surprised to see how much easier it is to do these things when they try, than when they only think about