The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1843-12-27
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE YER
MONT TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

The Central Committee of the Vermont
Temperance Society hereby remind the Off
GERS and the members of the Society and the
friends Of Temperance, generally, throughout
the state, that the annual meeting stands adj
Journed TO the I'd edncsdly-the 10Th day
of January next-at Rutland. The society
will he called to order at 10 O'Clock, a. Nj,
and the proceedings will occupy, it is expect
ed, both Wednesday and Thursday. FRIENDS
of temperance, from other States, who de-
sire to attend, are, respectfully invited to ap-
pear and hand in their names.
In the name Of that great body whose or
gans we are, and with the urgency which is
called for by the moral exigencies of our COM
mOnwealth, the central committee request
all Temperance Societies 10 appear at this
melting, By their Delegates. There is reason
to fear that the Temperance cause, in large
sections Of the state, is losing ground-that
the use Of Intoxicating drink is increasing
the reformed persons are becoming again en-
shared in habits of intOxicatiOn-tliat pledg-
ed men are falling from their stcadiastDess,
and that rumsellers, even without license,
are maintaining their traffic with increased
hardihOOd and audacity.
The Central committee have failcG-al-
though not for want of attention and EFFORT
to obtain State Agent. The obstacle is
that the Committee are entirely without Pc
cuniary means, and can offer only presnmp-
tive eyidence-and that not of the strongest
kind-that the country or town Societies
will readily sustain a State agency and its
necessary coordinate expenses. We spe-
officially suggest, therefore, and call the atitn-
ton of the Presidents of the town Societies
(sincc theirs is peculiarly the responsibility
to the suggestion; that every delegate Gene
prepared to answer, by authority, the CUES
ton what your Society or. town viii do to
support general system Of temperance ope-
ration.
FellOw-citZens, circumstances call on YOU
to determine-and at this annual meeting the
question, it would seem must be settled
whether or not Vermont shall take decided
and sclf-sustaining stand, with respect to gen.
eral and united Temperance operation
whether our State organization, strong and
complete as it is, shall exist to make itself
practically .fh, or only man Of straw that
does not fright the cruel dram-dealer from
his prey. Let US count the cost before we
decide. Every month of supineness and in
activity occasions TO community losses fiscal,
social and moral, losses immense, incalcu-
liable, irredeemable; while an entire year Of
the most active and beneficial labor would
cost-ten cents to each pledged iHdiriduai in
the STATE.
One thing more. 1t was made, at the last
annual meeting, the duty of the Central Com
mittee to forward to the different societies,
blanks for statistical returns,-such as the
number, in each town, of dramsellers, of tenn
perance men, &c. sc. These blanks the
Committee have forwarded to the Presidents
of the Society. The forms sent will contain
all necessary further information. Attention
to this matter is of great and instant impor-
lance.
By order of the Committee,
ALEX G.. TWINING,
Chairman.
Middlebury, Dec. 9th, 1913.