John jun. Smyth

John jun. Smyth
File:Smyth, John jun..jpg
Residence	Milltown, Banbridge
Society Membership membership ASL ordinary fellow left 1864.11.01 resigned elected_ASL 1864.05.17

Notes

Notes From Elsewhere

[Banbridge Leader]: John Smyth of Milltown House at Lenaderg was very proactive in the Temperance Movement and was a trustee of the Temperance Hall. It is believed he, along with a John Simms of Parkmount, were responsible for the building of the hall.
In the same year the hall was opened, John Smyth was one of several speakers at the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Temperance Association where he served as President. Showing his great conviction for the principles of the Temperance Association, John gave a long and strong address on what he believed to be the greatest evil of all - “intemperance.”
Two years after the hall was built an address by the members of Protection Lodge No 85, of the Independent Order of Good Templars paid tribute to John Smyth.
In it they said: “It is well known that you have from early life taken a deep and active interest in the welfare of the people of Milltown and the surrounding locality.
“As a strict Total Abstainer, you have set a noble example, while by your voice and your pen you have laboured to promote the sobriety, comfort and happiness of all around.”
John replied: “It has no doubt been one of the dearest wishes of my heart, to do all I could to promote the happiness and material welfare of those about me. I soon, however, found the drinking habits of society the great obstacle to this end, and hence my chief efforts were directed to their suppression”.