St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-05-12

produces. How many once happy
families are broken up and their peace
fusrsr destroyed by this cause Look
at the orphaned children clothed il
rags, and crying for bread, made or
phans and beggars by the wicked
traffic Is not the scene enough tc
melt heart Of stone Witness how
the youth-young men--the hope and
promise of the country, are enticed in
to liquor shops and gambling dcns,
there to spend their earnings and
waste their precious hours in learning
evil and only evil And yet, even
here in our own beautiful village OF
st. Charles, drinking shops, called
Saloons" are daily and hourly pat.
ronized by men who claim to be gen.
tlemen, and would feign hold up their
heads and be considered worthy and
honorable members of society! 1t is
the encouragement which such men
give to these resorts of gambling and
dissipation that sustains them, and
continues them in our midst. Let the
patrons of these saloons " be marked
and shunned-let every admirer of
temperance and good behavior, wheth.
er man or woman, refuse to associate
with such persons, and teach them
that they cannot visit and patronize
the haunts Of the dissolute and vile
and at the same time enjoy social in
tercourse with the moral and upright
and great step will be taken in
the right direction.
Messrs. Editors, l was highly graft
fled to read, in the Intcligenccr of
April 2Sth, your notice of the organi-
zation, in st. Charles, of the society
known as "Good Templars.' l be-
lieve that this society is destined to
work powerful reform in our own
community and l place the more val
tie upon it because, unlike many other
similar organizations, it admits wo.
men to its councils. Your correspond
eut IS" affects to throw distrust upon
institutions of this kind, and would
represent that they are the hotbeds Of
scandal Such an insinuation, if not
hyposritical, is proof positive that the
writer was never within that temple
Of sobriety and order, lodge-room Of
the Good Templars. In this institu-
ton woman has a rare and excellent
opportunity to exert her influence for
the benefit, not only of those with
whom she is Immediately connected,
but of community at large. Here are
permitted to meet, husband and wife,
brother and sister, parent and child,
and mingle their counsels and endeav-
ors with those of their associates, for
the amelioration and general welfare
of society. No indecorous or improp-
er conduct of any kind is allowed, but
the exercises of the lodge room are
admirably calculated for the mental
and moral Improvement of all pres
ent.
We are created social beings, and
naturally seek the society of one
another. 1t is this feeling in the hu-
man breast that causes SO many, OF
lax morals, to resort to places of drink
ing and gaming. Now instead of this,
let me say to the young man, and to
every man whether old or young, if
you would shun vice, enjoy the respect
and esteem of the virtuous and good,
and at the same time be in position
to exert a wholesome influence upon
your associates, connect yourself with
some association of moral and in
telectual character, even if it be some
"secret organization" 1t will give
an agreeable occupation to your lcis
ure hours, and fill your mind with
ennobling thoughts and more enlarged
views of the aims and ends of life.
A. l.. Il.