The Land of Beginning Again
For each of us who have traveled the road
Of sorrow, misfortune and sin,
There’s a wonderful place of courage and hope
Called the Land of Beginning Again!
There our mistakes, like lessons well learned,
May help us to set a new pace;
The thousand and one little faults that we have
Will depart in this wonderful place.
There hope, like a cloak that wraps us around,
Makes stronger our purpose to win,
And love, truth and faith are easily found
In this Land of Beginning Again.
Our own selfish thoughts we leave far behind
And give to each person his due:
Our promise we keep, and we do not forget
The things we infended to do!
No grudge in our heart, no malice, no strife,
No words that are ever unkind:
But a smile, and a laugh, and a loving hand-clasp
In the land of Beginning we find.
The heartaches and griefs that discourage us so,
When we try our poor lives to amend, Will pass away like a cloud from the sky
In this Land of Beginning Again!
– ALICE CHASE CHINN
The Voice of Temperance Scrapbook – 9 Winters of Prayers & Poems from Prohibition is a weekly journey through one of history’s most unique relics of faith and reform. This scrapbook, preserved across nine winters, blends heartfelt poetry with fervent prayers from the Prohibition era—a time when voices of temperance sought to guide communities toward sobriety, strength, and moral conviction. Each entry offers not only a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural mindset of the early 20th century, but also a window into how ordinary people used words to grapple with change, hope, and resilience.
Every week, we will highlight one poem and one prayer from the collection, pairing them with a touch of historical context and reflection. Whether you come for the rhythm of the verse, the quiet power of the prayers, or the curiosity of uncovering forgotten pages of the past, this series will celebrate the endurance of the written word and the human spirit through nine long winters of conviction and devotion.
In 1936 for nine winters “The Voice of Temperance” was broadcast over radio stations. Thousands of poems, newspaper clippings, excerpts of temperance addresses, and personal experiences we mailed to the author Sam Morris. Radio listeners copied or clipped most of them from books, magazines, or newspapers without giving their source or author. We had no thought of putting them into a book and so merely pasted them into a handy reference book. But so many requests had come for copies that we have collected those most often requested into this Scrap Book for wider distribution.
Naturally under the circumstances indicated above, it has been impossible to check up and secure the individual permission to publish each one; we have no desire to infringe upon copyright privileges or personal ownerships. We have indicated authorship where it was known and should there be any infringement upon copyright or personal ownership we shall be only too glad to correct the infringement in future editions.
With this brief explanation we send forth this unique Scrap Book with the prayer that its contents may contribute to the moral and spiritual betterment of human society.
Sincerely,
SAM MORRIS
“The Voice of Temperance”
