Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-23
For the Journal.

For the Journal.
Independent Order of Good TempIars-
Their claims upon Religious Societies.
The Independent Order of Good Tenn
plars is new institution which had no ex-
istence in the State of Ohio until 1854
Since its introduction into the State it has
spread with great rapidity, and is still ad-
yancing rapidly. 1t now numbers 175
lodges, and about $4,000 members. With
this great and increasing power, with no
other object in view, than the promotion Of
temperance, the order is destined to do
much good; and in the promotion of the
great work of redeeming the inebriate, res
cuing the moderate drinker and preventing
the youth of country from becoming gen
Grafton of drunkards, the claims of this Or
der upon religious societies, should not be
thought matter of small moment by such
societies. But from one single fact, l can
not avoid the conclusion, that the churches of
Fremont have not that regard for the claims
of the order which the importance of its
work demands. The fact is, there seems to
be an apathy on the part of the churches.
True, there are individual members of most
of the churches who are members of the or
der, and who are efficient working members.
But why should not the churches as bodies,
show, at least, willingness to aid the Or
der in its work of beneyolence and charity.
Why do not the ministers and officers of
the churches come forward and connect
themselves with the order? and why do
the leading portion of the laity withhold
their influence!
cannot see but two reasons why this in
difference exists on the part of the churches.
The first is, the order admits 10 its men,
bership, persons at the age Of twelve years
and upwards, and as a consequence, many
of the youth of about the age referred to,
become its members, so that it is made up,
as some have expressed it, of qcomen and
children. The second reason is, that it,
like other societies of similar character,
(Which have been short-lived) must go down
that 1t cannot stand long. There may
be other and better reasons, but these are
the only ones that have ever heard given,
with one or two exceptions) from members
of the churches in Fremont. In considera-
ton of the above reasons, l will say in reia-
ton to the first, it is true the order does ad-
to its membership, both male and female,
as young as twelve years of age, and as a
consequence, large proportion of its mem
bers are of the younger class of community.
But is this a valid reason why the churches
should withhold their influence from the
order? Are not the youth of every COM
munity the ones that most need the sacred
influences of the churches to guide their
wayward feet? And is not intemperance
the most fatal of all sins to which that class
of society is exposed! Is it not fact that
if the present generation of children could
grow up to manhood, strictly temperate,
and take their places upon the stage of
life firm and devoted temperance men and
women, that drunkenness would be un-
known? Is it not with the youth, above all
others, the place to commence this great
reform? Do they not as a general thing,
form the character which tells upon their
destiny through life, between the ages Of
twelve and twenty-five years? And yet
you withhold your influence, which is so es-
sential to the correct moulding and develop
ing of that character, and thereby witness
another generation advancing in the way to
certain ruin. Does not every principle of
the religion which you profess, demand Of
you your immediate and constant devotion
to this cause? Does not your religion de-
clare that the drunkard, no more than the
murderer, shall inherit the kingdom of God 4?
Does not the experience of every drunkard
whom you see fall into a premature grave,
whose woes, sorrows, wounds, contentious,
and babblings arc over-whose red eye
sleeps-whose tortured body rests-whose
deformed visage is hid from human obser-
vation-whose soul, while the dust crumbles
back to dust, returns to God, who gave it.
to be rewarded according to the deeds done
in the body, demand of you a remedy
l cannot close my remarks upon this point,
withour saying to all religious societies, that
the order of Good Templars have a demand
upon you all, to aid them in extending thro'
the community, an all pervading sense of
the danger there is of falling into this sin.
Intemperance is disease as well as a
crime, and were any other disease as con-
tapious. of as marked svmntoms. and as