Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-06-02
From The Caledonian.
Advantages of the Good Temp
lars Organization.

lheoretlcally, IL OeiouSs W INC ChulCu W
reclaim the Incorporate and preserve the
temperate from falling; but practically,
the church cannot do it. Religion will
make the drunkard a sober man, and will
prevent the sober man from becoming
drunkard but, in point of fact, not every
drunkard, not every sober man, can be
brought sufficiently under religious infu-
ences to render certain those desirable re.
suits. Hence the necessity of organizes
tions outside of the church, having it as
their object to promote, not, like the
church, every virtue, but the one particu-
lar virtue, of Temperance. Some of these
organizations are better adapted to secure
their end than others are and it is my
purpose in this paper to point out few
particulars in which the Good Templars
organization is preferable to the old fash
Toned temperance society.
/. 1t maintains an interest in the cause
of temperance by frequent meetings.
On the subject of temperance, as on all
other good subjects, there is need of line
upon line, precept upon precept. The
more frequently attention is turned to it,
the more completely the mind is filled
with facts, thoughts and arguments relat-
ing to it, the deeper will be the interest
and more powerful the effects experience
ed. Let the gospel be preached in any
community only once in three, six or
twelve months, and it could by no posi-
bility Especial Divine agency left out OF
accounD do much for the Outstanding
OF the community. 1t is where the Cos
pei is preached steadily, Sabbath after
Sabbath, that its benign influences are
powerfully felt, and it is there alone
Let the subject of temperance be agitated
once in six months or a year, and com
pletely ignored all the rest of the year,
and not a solitary drunkard will be con-
WINGED Of bis folly and wickedness, hardly
will one man be prevented from that
moderate use of stimulants which is the
beginning Of the drunkard's downward
course. 1t is when the duty of temper
ance and the dangers Of intemperance
are kept continually before the public
mind, that the deadly evil is held in check,
and the cardinal virtue promoted.
Now it is serious defect in all societies
of the old fashion, that their meetings are
too infrequent. doubt if there are half
dozen temperance societies in the state
of Vermont that NEE: as often as once a
quarter. Nine>tenths OF them meet only
once year, (if they meet at all,) elect
officers, listen to an elaborate address, and
dispense, glad that they have done their
duty, and got the job off their hands for
another year. They might meet oftener
if they would. There is nothing to pre-.
vent, neither is there anything in their
constitution to require. But the Good
Templars meet weekly. 1t is one of the
regulations of the order, and it is not neg
lected except under extraordinary cir
cumstanees. Temperance is talked, and
sung, and read the weak are strengthen.
ed, the apathetic are reused, the doubtful
are confirmed; and before the various
good impressions that are made have time
to become obliterated, another meeting
occurs, at which they are deepened and
rendered more permanent. Temperance,
instead Of being the subject of thought
annually or semi>annually, is constantly
before the mind and has an abiding ef>
feet upon it.
A weekly meeting OF Good Templars
can be maintained. 1t is very doubtful
whether a weekly meeting of temper,
ance society could be kept up year after
year. There is an indefinable charm
about Good Templars' meeting, which
draws TO il, not for few times, but con-
tinually, the young and the impressible,
who have chief need to be guarded against
temptation and strengthened in good prin-
ciples. l have known young men to 60
three or four miles, on a cold winter,
evening, to attend such a meeting, who,
before they Joined the Good Templars
could not have been persuaded TO go a
single mile to attend an ordinary temper,
ancce meeting. An interest attaches TO
the exercises and the ceremonies. and
makes them a perpetual attraction.
2. The pledge of the Good Templars
is stricter and more comprehensive than
that Of any other organization.
They are the tee-toallest of all tee to-
tallers. They lay the axe OF total absti.
hence at the very root of the tree of self.
indulgence. Not content with abjuring
distilled spirits, strong beer, hard cider,
and all the wines of commerce, they do