Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-12-10
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FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, ls4l.
TEMPERANCE

ABSTRACT Of The quarterly report Of the Secretary of
the burlington Total abstinence Society, published
agreeable to a rote Of the Society, Dec 4, ISL.
In relation to the temperance in this town, !
would remark, that for several years past a number
OF persons and IN some instances whole families,
have strictly abstalned from the whcn in HEALTHY
OF all intoxicating drinks, but public action was
had in favor of the total abstinence principle until the
year 1899. total abstinence pledge was then intro
dnced INTO the temperance society, which was then
in existence upon the Ole plan of excluding only dis
titled liquors. but adopted by only part of its
members 1t has, however, been evident for the last
few years. that the has not been upon the ad-
vance hut rather upon the re,rogade, until within
year past Within about that time new impulse
has been given TO this noble enterprise in many parts
of our country. An entire position have
been gained The great object now is, not only to
abolish the sale of intoxicating drinks to secure the
young from their baneful influence, and 10 guard all
that temperate, but also to reform the nebriae
to raise from the lowest degradation those who have
cen laid low by the Demon, Alcohol and to gather
from the haunts of dissipation large class of noble
minded, kind henrted men; to restore them to domes-
tic happiness and to the delights of social life and in
many instances, to send them forth heralds in the
cause being themselves reclaimed, that they may re-
has within the year past reached here This Society
was organized on the 3lst day of August last At the
first meeting more than one hundred names were oil
tanned to the pledge; yet most of then, wn-. .iose
who had signed the old pledge or mad adhered to the
total abstinence principle without any pledge The
first meeting or two could not be considered particu-
larly encouraging The interest in the subject how
over began to increase and it was evident that
the objects of the Society had taken deep hold upon
portion at least, of the community here. This SEEM
ed not to be an outward show of zeal but a settled
and abiding conviction of the necessity of firm and
judIcous action. THERE'S upon the pledge of this
Society about four hundred names in all. OF these,
two hundred and fifty are male members, and one
hundred and fifty females. About forty of the male
members from that elias. who have heretofore been
in the constant habit of the incorporate use OF strong
drinks; and quite a number of them have used it 10
very great excess for great number of years Those
who have adopted the pledge have with very few
exceptions) faithfully adhered to it,
The next thing to be noticed, is some of the means
that have been used to accomplish what has been
done. And among them the committees of the diff
erent school districts have done much TO secure sigh
ers to the pledge. One gentleman, of these
committees in the Glass Factory district has called
upon every person in his district and has procured
soventysix signers. feel confident much more will
be done in this branch of labor during the next three
months And here, lei me remark, that although a
large proportion of our influential and intelligent CHI
not embraced in this association yet it COM
prehends many of that class. Several who have had
much experience in active life in the different profess
sons and some of them holding important public sta
tons, have been efficient in carrying forward the
work But another class of persons have done per-
haps, thar any other to promote the objects of
this society refer to those who have recently left
the ranks of the incorporate. They, knowing well |
the misery that intemperance brings upon its vota-
ries, have up to the work with an ardor and |
funess of soul which has operated like an electric
shock upon this community. We have seen these |
persons in years past and have communed with
them in the various interests and business Of our
town,-we have experienced their kindness and their
generosity yet we were compelled 10 mourn over
the desoaton that intemperance had brought upon
them. Who, then, will not re DICE that they are thus
reclaimed and who will not welcome them back 10
their domestic happiness, and to the delightful rea
tons of friends and neighborsl and who that ever
prayed will not most ervently pray for Their stead
fastne, and perseverance? take the liberty to re-
fer to one of this class who for great number of
years has been a leading individual in one of the me
chanca professions in this place, whose business and
influence has been extensive his heart was kind
and his spiri, generous yet he, he with all the
nobleness of the man, had journcycd so far in the
downward road that shc desoating nghtfall of the
inebrate had almost overlaken him but he has 1--WE
happy to say reiraced his steps while there was
light enough left to guide him back and has ever since
the organization of this Society oeen one OF Its most
and active members.
might refer to other important aids in favor of the
cause. Great credit is due to our female friends for
their influence, in excluding strong drinks from their
social entertainments Nor is it in This particular re-
a,on alone that their influence is pcrceNabo, but il
is and felt in various other departments of soci.
life. can, then, with proprIcty, congratulate this
association and all the friends Of tcmp. anco that our