Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-02-04
Temperance.

Sons OF TEMPBRAEoE.-This body met at
Union Hail. Wednesday, G.. W. p. Thorn
as Wilson OF Stoughton, presiding. One
hundred and fifty Divisions We're repre-
sented by about 200 members.
The report of G.. W. p. was such as to
encourage and please all friends of tenn
perance throughout the Commonwealth.
The report of the G.. 5. was very sat
isfactory. The number of new Diyis-
ions was stated to be 2; whole number
of Divisions. l5l members admitted,
9l2; whole number of members, 1884
ladies admitted, IA; whole number of
lady visitors, 1927 number of members
in the army. 1888 amount received for
fees and dues, S45l7; amount paid out
for expenses, S3l76; for benefits, $1,000;
amount of money on hand and invested,
$4,000.
We clipped from the Boston Journal the
above notice Of the January Quarterly
meeting of the Massachusetts, Grand Di-
vision, intending to use it as a text for
a few remarks. ..
We wish now to make note of the
fact that there is an evident moving of
the waters in this state. From Brattle-
boro in the extreme South to Burlington
and ST. Albans in the North, in Benning-
ton, Windsor, st. Johnsbury, Irasbr,rg,
and many other places, as we le:.m from
our State exchanges, the people are hold
ing temperance meetings.. circulating
the pledge, forming leagues, and enforc-
ing the pronibitory law. No one, we
think who has at heart the best good
OF his State and his neighborhood, can
fail to rejoice at these movements Go
on, brothers, and be increased in virtue.
Be wise and prudent, fearless, and per
severing Many of YOU are veterans in
the cause of temperance. Through
evil report and good report, you have
adhered to the tetotal pledge and you
have done what you could to keep alive
the flickering flame. With regard to
the order of the Sons of Temperance in
this State, we have to remark for the
encouragement of it's friends, that it is
not dead yet. Though we cannot COM
pare with Massachusetts in numbers or
resources, yet we have few healthy di-
visions in the State that have kept alive
and vigorous through the long years of
apathy.
There is not one of these that cannot
boast its half dozen or more of reclaim
ed.drunkards who have been kept along
in sober course of life for years Most
of these divisions have succeeded in pre-
venting the open traffic in intoxicating
liquors in their neighborhoods.
But we do not propose to discuss this
subject. We wish simply to ask those
who have been members of divisions
now extinct, whether the time is not
propitious for recognizing. Are there
not eight or ten good and true friends of
temperance in Poultney, Castleton
West Rutland, Essex, Northfield, Wor-
cester. Randolph, Weston, cavendish,
North Springfield, Pittsfeld and other
places, where divisions once existed, that
are willing to undertake the labor and
risk of reviying them again What is
the state of society in your neighbor-
hood now, compared WIZ what 1t was
when the division was in Successful
operation We know what the condi-
ton is IN some instances, and it is such
as to make all lovers of good order sigh
for the former times. We have written
more than we intended. The Grand
Worthy Patriarch, w. A. Burnett, ESQ.,.
resides in this town, and we have no
doubt will be ready to give the requi-
site information and assistance to any
who may wish to organize division.