The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-11-23
gga g@sAgH GEYM@
ESDAY, NOVEMBE %, 1871.
rEMpERANcE-THE NEW MOVEMENT.

TEMPERA NCE-THE NEW MOVEMENT.
Glad tidings of the onward march OF this cause
come to US from all parts Of our country. The
present is truly era in the temperance cause,
and beautiful and striking page in the history Of
OF mans moral redemption, both surprising and
une xpectcd. And what is it? Ii is this--hun-
dreds thousands if not tens OF thousands Of
fellow men, who for forty, thirty, twenty and
years had made the inebria,ng cup their god, have
renounced il forever and enlisted in the front pha-
lanx ofthe temperance host-Yea, more, have be-
come the bodest champions and advocates Of the
temperance cause These things are now witness.
ed from Name TO Georgia and from the Atlantic
to the Mississippi. And who that loves his race
that does not look upon the scene with admiration
and JOY and who is there to regret that many
human beings, of their own free will and accord,
taking the high stand in the scale of human
happiness they once occupied 20,
New men, from another class Of society than
those who have formerly been the advocates Of
temperance, now the leaders and chief laborers
in fthe cause men, too, who, bat as yesterday,
were joining in the merry laugh over their cups
staggering through the sreets--and cursing, per-
haps, in bitterness Of spirit, the honest friends
OF ,he cause they have now JOY ffily embraced.
In almost every city aud large inland town
and in smaller towns too, in some States-haye
sprung up Societies composed chiefly of reformed
inebrates, numbering from fifty 10 and two
thousand. These societies sending forth their
orators-retormed drunkards-to take by The hand
those who are as they themselves were but recent
ly, and inviting them TO join their regeneraied anG
thick ening ranks
In Merrimack County, ~ II n county meeting
has been holden and arrangements made for lee
lures in each town in the county. The lectures to
be by reformed drunkards, czents of the county
The work has been commenced in good earnest
aud some two or three men are spending all their
lime IN The cause. Many, we notice, are coming
out from the ranks ofthe incorporate and now
rejoicing over their deverance from the bondage
of incorporate habits.
We allude to the arrang cement in Merimack Co
as one worthy of imitation, and hope 10 it fol
lowed by every county in Vermont.
In Burlington, Montpelier and other places in
this State, meetings have been holden and address
es made, the result of which has been the reorma,
ton OF many, some of whom have become ectur.
ers, efficient and more efectual than the most ell.
oqucnt lecturers that have engaged in the work in
former years. Many of the ntemperat. possess
talents of the first ORDER and their habits of life
have brought them in contact with all classes of
people, so that they well under stand human ma
ture and especially the feelings and iae habits of
thought OF their unfortunate associates, and when
such become the advocates oftemperance The NOR !
al power exer,ed by them is Immense and rresis. |
table.
Into the hands Of such men is the destiny of tho
temperance cause committed. Its sincere but miss
taken friends, sought to promote it by the aid of
sunptuary laws, and ialled because il is not the /
nature of man to be forced by such MEANS and al
most universally has this faIlacous idea been aban.
doncd. But an unseen il not mysterious infiu.
ence moved upon the hearts Of a few brntally in>
temperate individuals in Baltimore SO as 10 lead
them to forsake their cups and TO become the pub
lie advocates OF temperance; and from that centre
all around has gone forth influence affecting and
reforming thousands, carrying gladness into many
before wretched habita,ions, and healing to many
wounded and sorrowiHg hearts,
And when shall sich things be witnessed in our
section OF Vermont? Wo appeal TO you as your
friend-you, who drink too freely OF the bowl
you, who have kind and aaectonaio parents--you,
who have lovely and trusting chldren-aye YOU.
our erring brothers, who have tender and orbear.
ing wives--we ask you 10 ponder in your hearts
your condition, your tender relations with those
who should be dear to you as your own lives and
Will you not now initiate the praise worthy example
OF those IN Baltimore late your mpanons in your
present habits l