Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-22
THE PROGRESS OF TEMPERANCE.

1t will be pleasing to the public there no douo. 10
hear of the happy progress which temperance mas
made among the Irish Catholics of this town, They
had las, July formed themselves into Association,
and taken the pledge expressed in the following card
which is given them:
"BURLING TON BRANCH OF THE MONTREAL
CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE ASSOC
CATION.
j. Callaghan, and made the .fotlo'etng pledge
"I do solemly promise to avoid ntemperance, and
"shoud it be necessary in order to attain tins object
10 abstain totally from all intoxicating liquors, do
"hereby pledge myself 10 abstain from every one of
Them I also promise by my advice and example to
"induce others TO do the same"
They take the pledge Oh Sunday with Blended knees
before the altar nprc ofthc whole congregation
The revolution in morals and condition, which 1t has
already produced among them in the short space OF
six months is truly astonishing Almost all the lrish'
men and women, in the town are enrolled ana take
spiritual pride in fulfilling their VOW there Is hardly
one instance of a relapse. On the contrary they all
declare that they never took step IN the whoe
course of their life that gave them half the delight or
that brought half the comfort and happiness INTO Their
families that this does The contrast between their
former and present condition is really most fortunate
Then were their houses scenes of brutal drunkenness
and profane swearing, now they present cam quiet
ness and comfort-then were the wife and children on
half allowance and poor dress, huddled together in Il
howell with scarcely provision enough for one week,
now the same families are well fed well clothed, in
the snug cottage with plenty of provision, beef pork,
flour, and ircwood already laid in for the whole
winter. Then the men were crazy over the bottle
every Saturday and Sunday, and were sick in bed
Monday and Tuesday-now they are SOBER stout and
strong, and able to wor. cut the whole week. Sever
ii. 1o, nod, ,f
used to keep from the worship of God, now appear
plump anu rosy and deceny dressed every Sunday
at divine worship. had like to forget it, the grog-
shop that was then crowded with tiplers and card
players, is now totally abandoned and the grocer
is alone, mcdating on the hard times, and brooding
hard feelings against temperance men; and perhaps
he meets but little compassion amongst those whom
his poison like glasses had kept in misery.
Indeed something mysterious is visible in the whole
movement; some extraordinary graccs from heaven
sscm to accompany it, Wcmus ascrte to heavens
influence the fact that whole population passes all
at once from vice TO virtue, not showing YET
the least inclination to relapse, they who were
90 addicted and far gone in intompcrancc that they
shou, have the poisonous gass to their lips at the
first dawn Of day and very often before night, declare
that since the moment they took the pledge the tho
ofrum never occurs to them, and that they canno
bear the smell or sight of it, of the 81 shop. !:
not the finger of God slbe in all this q? he prodi
gal son would fan have filed his belly with the husk
the swine I'd eat, but returning himself he aros,
and went to his Father, and said to him Father,
have snned against heaven, and before thee. Anc
when he yet great way of his Father saw hin
and moved with compassion and running tt
him fell upon his II anG kissed him, and 1T
ordered the FIRST robe to be put him. and ring b.
put on his han1 and shoes upon his feet and killet
the fatted calf to make merry. So when the the sin
ners move themselves to return to God they receiv
additional light and help from heaven enable then
to proceeds the virtue that formerly appeared bite
and disngreeahle, now appears to them sweet an'
pleasant. May our temperance men perseyere to tn
end. The man who after putting his hand to tn
plough looks back is not worthy Of the kingdom Q
God -.