The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-12-28
THE CHARACTER OF OUR VILLAGE.

out oil doors in n helpless condition, exposed TO
the pelting storms of winter" r
These mild words of self roproach are taken
from the Clarion of the sth,inst, That delecta-
be sheet seems intent upon giving from week to
week view os Grand Haven not very lattcring
to its residents or these interested in its pros
perity. 81 $50
Are they true !? is the question. If So is this
the way to remedy the evils submittcd1 Or,
arc they squibs, merely the love of the horrible,
and the innocent amusement Of the Editor when
short of items for local news, and when "tae
Ionia Bar" or tho Bar of other localities have
no words from his eager pen.
Is tho 0naTa Clarion authorized by facts in
thus tending to give dark shade to the charac-
ter of our villages? Is Grand Haven really such
horrible place Or has this opinion obtained
ground only since the establishment of the o.
ta,oa Clarion in this village? If Grand Haven
has such bad name abroad for intemperanco
and immortality, it must be for cause, and to
whom are we indebted for tho undesirable noto-
riety?
If the facts as named in the extract from the
Clarion at the head of this article do really ex-
list in our village, at this time, arc they tho re-
suit Of continued course and liberation of inn
morality by the inhabitants, from its earliest set
Element or the result of the teachings, rcproofs
and counselings of the Clarion? When did
this state Of things have beginning? Before
or since the Clarion became the self constituted
mirror of our lives?
1t is well to know tho cause Of evil, that we
may guard against its effects; and to this end
let us indulge in rctrospecton. Wo'll give you
in brief an outline Of our history temperance
wise. 1t may be rambling one, but it will be
truhfd We may give facts that will show
Grand Haven TO be ,cithom parallel IN he
State Of Michigan, in days gone by; and If she
is not a model in temperance now, what are the
reasons for the change? Or will we conclude
that the bad name so industriously labored
| for, is merely an item in the brain of the editor
Of the Clarion. Perhaps we may be proftcd by
past experience. The course to be pursued tc
reach reformation in the moralities Of life has
engaged the thoughts of mon to a great extent
and what better method can we take than &c
adopt line, upon which success has crowned
the effort, and avoid the course that has provee
fruitless Each locality in our State and country
has its varied history, and at home We can bes
apply the experience gained by past Efforts
Whether we net upon it nationally now is yet t.
he shown. With this introduction let us refer t.
the influences for veal or woo that have giver
shape to eur history, that he who reads may
draw his own conclusion.
The first settlement in Ottawa County, by
white family, was at Grand Haven, in 1894
The heads of that family were pious people, ant
are now living among us. From that day t
this their lives and conversation have been idcn
tilted with the cause Of temperance. That wa
a good beginning. Toward the close of 'S5, anC
during the opening months of,S6, an occasiona
sight was given of man under the influence o
intoxicating drinks. The shipping from th
Lakes, and the adventurous spirit of speculation
in western lands, dropped among us, new ant
then, an habitual and eager receptacle for whis
ky. Thus demand was created for an artic
which in mons Of its forms could then be pur
chased within our precincts.
The demand for an article rW surely procm'
a supply. That point had been reached in on
village. The vigilance of our offended commu
nifty served only to suppress the outward exhi
btion of the liquid but with marvellous Ger
tanty the appetite of tue drinkcr directed hi
steps to its qualification, as though it were tn
unerring magnet to its pole; while those frc
from that magnetic influence, like simple shaft
of steel, doubtingly pointed to this, and that
and every locality, in dubious uncertainty. Flo
many long months its effects were only seen, an
these effects only at intervals, but the cause wa
"non est This fruitless search led to the for
nation Of the first organized temperance socict
MS distinctive feature in our history, relyin
upon its potency above that of all other. eth
Calithunpian Band" was the name Ct this vigi
lance committee; and their mode of inculcatin
sobriety was by blacking with paint, or othc
murky daub the faces of all found in u state
drowsy intoxication-ma them the object
of the SCOTS and jeers ofmerriment and ridicul,
Lnmentablc example! Blind leaders of tn
blind AS well attempt to save a.soul from th
miserics Of the finally lost, by making his cor
viction of sin and sorrowing return to a cor
sciousness Of his accountability to God subjet
of merriment, as TO mock at the erring inebriat
ut the very moment he is returning TO know
edge of the depth of his degradation. Is
best to follow such nm oxample2
During this time, and for years after, (eightoo
long years, all told,) a meek and quiet spirit, p
ous,self-donying woman was engaged in truinin
the yonth Of our village in the way of righteous
ness and the way of truth. Each rcturnin
I Sabbath witnessed the gathering Of all the chi
dren in, tho Sabbath school, and in the wear
days of the week that interviewed she toilcd !
the day school, The meek and lowly Redeem,
. was heldto them as "the One altogether lovely
There are many now in this village 10 rise nm
9 call her blessed. Some arc buried In the yllac
! graveyard, others,in distant places. WHEREBY,
her scholars are they will testify 10 her tcacl
ings and faithful, earnest, praycrfu cntreaty an
: cxamnlc a. Whaisocver Va do do "A ,,;,i, /.