Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-17

pass now, Sir, TO the question, Whether S
Il is right to circulate the old pledge ? 1t is S
said by many, that to circulate the new v
pledge will bring the old pledge into disre i
pute. -Isadmit it. 1t does go to make the $
old pledge disreputable and nugatory. Yet,
Elove the old pledge. believe have not S
pledge. And when DR.. Edwards, or some
other historian, shall write the epitaph of the
old pledge, have no fears that he will swell
its praises beyond what is due. But, Sir, il
is the old dispeasatioR of the Temperance
Reform, and is now manifestly ready to van
ish away. But the new pledge is the
bringing in Of better hope, and II makes the
corners thereto perfect.
When the temperance reform begun, the
recovery Of drunkards was thought impossi-
ble Il was thought that to attempt to re-
claim the drunkard, was buta vain effort, & |
| that il was almost no crime not TO care for |
him, and he was abandoned to fate as ter
rible as it was thought to be inevitable. Now, |
Sir, we have learned that he can be reform |
ed. But not by the old pledge. The old
pledge overlooks the drunkard. 1t positive
" iniures the drunkard, by implicitly admit
ting the use of liquors which are fatal TO
HIM. May we then, for the mere sake Of
our own consistency, continue to use this
old pledge? Consistency! hate that word
in its present application. We ought con-
stantly TO change and grow better. Shall we,
shut our eyes to this light and these develop
ments7 FIVE are asked at the judgment
seat, why we did notTeelaim these half mill
ion drunkards, it will be no answer that
when we first adopted the rules of the Tenn
perance Reform, we did not know that it
was practicable, and therefore we adopted
pledge, which did not reach his case, and
consistency forbade a change. Sir, we dare
: not say this we cannot meet the lnterroga-
, tory, "Why, when you knew this, did you
not modify your system, and adapt your
! pledge to the calls of distressed humanity
the calls of God?'
1t is sometimes objected that if we adopt
the tee-tOtul pledge, we shall drive off many
D subscribers to the old pledge, and they will
: return to the use Of strong drink. Sir, do
: not believe this. have two reasons; one
is that have never known such a case, and
It the other, that think too we'll Of the sub
), scribers Of the old pledge to believe this Of
p them. cannot believe that out Of disgust
Il to the new pledge, they will turn round and
punish themselves. l have known spoiled
: children who, when their unreasonable de-
r sires were refused, would seek to punish
lneu uOlueIS ny "OuuulLS NuSll O"u pei
5 sons. But have vet TO meet with a single
:, subscriber of the old pledge, who will say,
r "Unless you will allow me the use of fer
e mented drinks, l will 60 back to the use Of
e ardent spirits"
1t is said our youth will not take ground
d against ardent spirits. if we are such ultra
" lists as to 60 against all fermented drinks. So
$ it used to be said in the beginning, in regard
u to total abstinence from ardent Spirits" II
n you will only go against intemperance, you
( will have the whole community with vop.'
In the millennium, sir, it may subserve the
81 cause Of truth to shape your course in a man
u ner agreeable to the whole community. Blu,
J. not till then.
d have one answer to all these objections
G hold this truth, that when Ged in his prov,
s. idence has made it plain to US that the
1T drunkard cannot be reformed but by an aban-
'e Comment Of all intoxicating drinks, we are
5, bound to adopt that course, let what will be
d the evil consequences men may imagine
y from it. Gods providences are all consis
er tent and harmonious, though our short sigh
ID may not be able to detect the agreement
- And when God has made 1t plain that we
le must adopt certain course in order 10 re-
D. claim drunkards we cannot refuse withOu
a. lmpeaching his wisdom and goodness
or There are some who advocate abstinence
is from fermented drinks, and yet think it expe.
Is dent to have corresponding pledge. Thi:
rs Is a most important point, and ought to bt
a we'll considered. Letnot the sober man car
o. ry to the drunkard the tee-totdt pledge, IN
50 less he is willing to subscribe it himself
m Weakened as the drunkard's sef-respect is
v" he cannot brook so invidious distinction "a
a. a, this, to subscribe pledge which he is tolc
"a is adapted exclusively to drunkards, & which
| UnFU no Of h,
~ drunkarPs pledge.
Re Again, the drunkard needs the whole pow
- er of the pledge to sustain him against the
es powerful tendencies to a relapse with which
e, he is beset. And here permit me TO illus
n trate my ideas Of the power of the pledge, by
al reading few lines from a letter addressed
is sometime since to Mr. DelavaD, describing
as the reformation Of the drupkards of neigh
y. borhood. All are not adequately sensible O
Is the importance Of the pledge to a reformed
" drunkard.
Of Here Mr. S. read the following extrac
IS from his own letter to Mr.. Deiavan, datec
a. September 1nh, 1888, giving the interesting
er history OF the reformation in Peterboro'.J
- The pledge associates him with the re-
as spectacle, who have subscribed it; and he
IN feels himself houored by the association, &
I'd stimulated to weli~doing. This public prom.
ID Use constitutes, in his view, whatever it may
IL be IN fact, a far more solemn appeal to the
lie living God than do his private and, general
e, ly, vague and hesitating resolutions OF a
- mendment; and he is conscious that this
q, public promise fixes upon him the eyes Of
% hundreds of his fellow-beings, who will be
re- ready to applaud him for his fidelity to it, OF
OF to despise and abhor its violation. The tenn
m perance pledge in the hour of temptation. is
D. like the amulet worn Of old to preserve its
- wearer from evils. 1t may be lkened also tc
ID some adopted maxim, which, embodying the
ID just conclusion of long and wise train Of
N thought, often comes greatly to ones help in
d Ia L. in