Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-28
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1886.
Report ofthe Executive Temperance
Committee.

The year that is now closing has not
passed without interest TO the friends
OF Temperance. At its beginning we
felt that we were living in trial-perlod
of the cause. For long season there
had been on the subject great apathy
among the people. The friends Of the
reform had lost courage. They had
seen one after another of their measures
prove Intellectual to stay the incoming
tide OF woe. They had seen new gen.
Grafton arising, not curhed by the NOR
al restraints against the use of the in
toxicating cup which existed quarter
ola century before. The enemy had
almost driven the Temperance force
from the field.
During the year there have been hope
full indications. The friends of the
cause in Massachusetts, are prosecuting
the work with energy and vigilance,
The press throughout most ofthe North
ern States has devoted more space and
strength TO the discussion of themes
connected with the reform, than for
many preceding years. The Saratoga
Convention, which has resulted in the
formation Of National Temperance
Society, with the prospect Of a large
fund, and publishing house, on well
established basis, is source of no little
announcement. We see in these events
tokens OF IL revival in this worthy cause.
Our own State has not done herself
justice. She is not marching, as she
ought 20 be, in the van of this forward
movement. What has been done through
the agency Of your Society, it becomes
the duty of your Committee to report.
Your instructions at the last Annual
Meeting were, that we should "procure
the publication Of articles on particular
points connected with the Temperance
work in the various newspapers in the
State as often as once month during
the year. That we should "employ an
agent a portion, or the whole ofthe year,
as might be found practicable, with
view especially of securing thorough
organization of local societies in the
several towns and counties of the State.
The first of these instructions has been
successfully carried out, so far as re-
CARDS most ofthe journals in the State.
The friends of the cause have reason to
feel under obligation to the proprietors,
editors, and contributors of these news
papers both for the quantity and quail
ity o. the matter devoted to the discus
sion Of Temperance themes. We cannot
douhr hat considerable public interest
has heen awakened through this agency. |
TIE other principal duty laid upon
us, it was found more difficult 10 &C
comp.ish. The Committee held meet. |
ing soon after the Convention last |
In +hau falE that barn |
would be two difficulties in the way of
compliance with your instructions,
First. Would any man" accept the |
agency on the small salary proposed,
who was in possession of all the quail
tiles that you demand Of one serving
you in this capicity
Second. How could the salary be
raised 2
Some of our number felt that twelve
hundred dollars, the agent to bear his
own expenses, was as much as should |
be paid. Others refused to employ an
agent on any terms unless the respon-
sibiiity of raising the money should rest
entirely with the agent himself
These terms were not favorable to
securing the best man of the State in
IuIS WOIh. Inc udlllGS vi lOul vi lNC
Were mentioned and approved. The
Chairman was instructed to apply to
them. They all rejected the proposal
1t remained now to watch the progress
OF events, and learn if there might be
found / man suitable for the Office. For
months none was found. 1t is obvious
that the service must be, in many re-
spects an unpleasant one while the
inducements to enter upon it were very
small. While thus delayed, the Com
mittee felt that something ought to be
done before the winter months had
worn away. a A very successful Mass
Meeting was held at White River Vii
lage There was gathered an audience
of more than five hundred, though the
travelling and weather were quite unfa-
vorable. The influence Of the meeting
was undoubtedly for good. Efforts were
made 10 secure such gatherings else
where, but without much success
Something was done to galvanize the
old, and too nearly dead organizations
of the counties.
In Orange County, at small cost, a
more successful meeting was secured
than for several years. It is believed
that from this several towns gained
sufficient impulse to organize successful
Societies.
It was found that to pursue this
course extensively was to incur greater
expense of time and money than could
be prudently donated by few individ-
uals. Had there been fund which the
Committee could have employed in this
kind of service, they feel confident that
much good might have been accom-
plished-perhaps as much as by single
agent lecturing from town to town
through the whole year, and at much
more economical rate Of expenditure.
Not content that the year should pass
without doing all possible to comply |
with the expressed wish Of the Conven-
ton, regarding an agent, search was
made at the meeting of the Vermont M.
E. Conference, at Bradford, in April. |
It had been felt that we must rely upon |
a clergyman for the work, because men |
in the other professions, in the enjoy
ment of such success as the requisite |
qualifications for our work were likely |
to secure, could not be expected to In
terrupt business for any inducement we
could offer. q ~z. #... .r-..l