The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-12
For the Peoples Press.
THE TEMPER ANCE CAUSE IN
BRISTOL.

BRISTOL.
: Mr.. EDITos,-ltis gratifying to the benevo
lent and philaDthropic to witness the rapid pro
gress which the principles of temperance are
making through our state and republic. Though
far removed from the hustle and turmoil of
great metropolis, and from its good influences
also, yet we think that not the least of the won.
ders wrought in our land, by voluntary aI,sti-
nence from intoxicating drinks, has been wit
messed in this place. Very little had been done
here in behalf of temperance for several years,
TIL the IA h of January last, when, according to
previous notice, one f the reformed came and
addressed Il respectable audience, and so names
were obtained to tee-tutal pledge, and the ell
co1raeing fact was afterwards ascertained. that
number of others began from that evening to
abstain from their accustomed beverage. At
an adjourned meeting the next week. a const-
tuition was adopted, and The number of men,
beers then reported was 80. The society thus
formed has held meetings in the several school
districts throughout the town. On the 10th of
FEB. the number of members was upwards Of
2UO, OF whom several had recently reformed
At that time 1t was manifest that there were
strong objections to the long constitution of the
suciety, and to the course which had been a.
dopted. of admitting The names of famales and
little children to the pledge With such excus-
es, some refused 10 Join the society and others
cause seeing division and dissatisfaction threat
en- to weaken their efforts, hardly knew what
course would be most judicious and safe. At
that crisis, several gentlemen who had never
lent their influence to the promotion of temper
! ance, while in conversation the subject
agreed with one of the reformed, who had
! Joined the society, that if he would draw up Il
short tee-iotal pledge. they would sign it and
present it to Others for signature. A new short
tee-tofal pledge was drawn up the next morn
! ing, Feb. II. Moderate drinkers, hard drink
ers and inebriates pressed around to sign this
pledge, as kind of life-boat offered for their
safety, and that day, thirty men signed it-aIi
! of whom had been in the frequent use of the
/ now interdicted drinks. In four DAYS, the
names on this pledge numbered 70; i'll seven
days, about 100; and in eleven da, $, l3O-near-
! w or quite all of whom had used intoxicating
drinks within few months, and some signed
the pledge while under their influence; but it is
| believed by those hest acquainted, that the
! pledge has not been violated. Many had Sc
we're struggles with themselves before they
could put their names TO the pledge. One
came three times to the store where the pledge
then was, read it over and the names attached
| tt it, walked the room, seeming 10 be in deep
agitation and agony of mind before he could
! sign his name, AMI when, at length, he had
! mastered sufficient fortitude and had written
his name, he said, with much meaning, there,
/ feel much beEer.' Another having signed,
! said sNo,c lam a free man. Before signing
the pledge, another said, IT'S like a funeral
like buryng my best friend; but ii must be done
Another learning that one of the reformed hal
! been ut his house with the pledge while he was
absent, came up TO the village the next morn
ing, in high resentment, and talked in no very
| pleasant mood to him who was at his house,
and to others respecting the pledge and those
who had signed it, After spending the day in
night, and when no one was noticing, put his
name upon tile pledge, and Immediately started
for home. About week after the new pledge
was formed, Mr.. Vradenburg, keeper of one of
the hotels in the village, coming voluntarily for
ward signed the pledge, and Immediately re-
moved all intoxicating liquors from his bar,
and now keeps a good temperance house.
The results of this movement are most hap
Nv. 1t is believed that there are but six men
residing i'll this village of about 500 inhabitants)
who have not signed the pledge, and that only
three of them drink any Thing that can intoxi-
cate, The same spirit and influence has gone
through the town, and but few persevere IN re-
fusing to sign The pledge.
The plan has been adopted of having three
soceties-ior the men, tor the ladies, ami foI
the children, respectively. The whole number
in town that have signed the pledges, Is about
600. The number of men upwards of l6 years
of age, is 800; of boys in the juvenile society
there are 80; total males. observation-disclosures II
town, 1910.
Some tell us that we are going too fast and
too far that we are drivin. this matter too
hard. We only reply, that we feel 1t our duty
. and privilege to present the pledge To every
man, and kindly ask him to sign it. If he slgr
it, we think it well, and still we treat him kind
lv if he refuse, and then if OH a second though
he returns and asks for the pledge, that he ma,
l. put his name to il, Ills not IN hearts TO re
5 fuse him. There has been but very little urg
ing here TO induce men to sign the pledge
, Many of the most inveterate drinkers hav,
made up their minds, and come forward unsol
icited and asked the privilege of signing thu
pledge The work is of God, and to him lie
US ascribe the glory.
I To review our work, encourage the hearts o
b.. Others and rejoice over glorious result, w
had on the 9TH ult. temperance testirai Tn
! friends of the cause assembled at o'ciorl
pm. in the Baptist Meeting House, and
Needham, Esq. was called to the chair. Tn
I assembly was then addressed by P. c. Tucker
: Esq. of Vergennes, who spoke for an hour ant
three quarters, holding the audience in delight
: ed attention. The nature and effects OF alcohol
as drawn b, his pen, and also the duty of alb
staining from all that can intnxicate, will no
soon he forgotten by those who heard him o
: that occasion. From the meeting house, tn
i society adjourned to Vraudenburg's Temper
q ance House, where a good temperance Dime
f was served up to about 100 volunteers in tn
I service of Gen. Abstinence. Before leaving tn
+, table, we listened to remarks from Mr.. Tucker
!, DR.. d. Warner, and other gentlemen, touchin
a personal influence and responsibility, and tn
duty of pers ona effort in this gond cause. Tn
ii day was fine, and the greatest harmony an
g good feeling pervaded the whole assembly
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