Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-06-02


offend, I will cat no flesh while the world
standeth.' II would be rather difficult TO
prove that cider fresh from the press is
intoxicating, at least in any quantity
which an ordinary stomach will contain /;
out it is not difficult TO prove that he who
never drinks new cider will never, either
through inclination or mistake, drink hard
cider, nor be led on from that to strong
beer, nor from strong beer TO whiskey,
and so on, to the rot-got which puts the
finishing stroke to the drunkard's career.
Nor will he who abstains from these mild
and comparatively innocent beverages
lay himself liable to the charge of incon-
sistency as temperance man, nor set an
example by which any one can justify in
the use of strong drinks. The Good
Templar's pledge may justly claim to be
the ne plus ultra of temperance pledges,
and they who abide by it to be temper.
ance men par excellence.
3. 1t keeps a stricter watch over the
members, and exercises a more rigid dis.
ciplne than any other temperance organ
ization.
1t was fatal defect in the old temper
ance organizations that they maintained
no discipline. How could they, when
their meetings were SO few and far be-
tween? A member might violate bis
pledge score of times before there was
an opportunity TO call him to account
If he belongs to that contemplate elias:
of temperance men, whom DR.. Jewet
characterizes as pigs at home and pup
pies abroad who leave their temperance
principles behind them whenever they
start on a journey, or go to the city; h'
might be a constant wine-drinker, anC
never, except by chance, be detected
But the Good Templars' regimen eff
fectuslly guards against such secret vic
Iations of the pledge, and prevents know
violations from becoming frequent befor,
| they are corrected.
AT ch weekly meeting the member
are called to account, and put upon thei
word of honor as to their fidelity. l
must be a man of more than average
hardness of heart and deadness of con-
science, who can, week after week, affirm
in the presence of his associates that he
has faithfully kept the pledge, if he has il
fact violated it. The knowledge that be
will be thus called to account, puts hin
upon his guard against temptation anC
strengthens him TO resist it. If he &C,
tually yields to temptation, however Sc
cretly, he is sure 10 be detected, unless he
PROTESTS iIirnsolf by q constantly repeated
lie. When his delinquency become:
known, it is not overlooked, nor is hi:
name quietly erased from the records, al
is the case in the old societies, but he i,
subjected to regular course Of dScipln,
which has as its prime object to bring hin
to repentance and amendment, and il
failure OF that to exclude him from the
body. The salutary fear of such a pro
cedure as this, exerts a constantly re-
straining influence, and the procedure it
self no. seldom effects a radical cure il
some cases where the mere signing the
pledge has proved Intellectual.
There are several other points tina
might be proftably discussed, particular
ly that of secrecy, which gives the Goo,
Templars an advantage in enforcing th
law, that is possessed by no other organi
cation; but this paper is already attain
ing an unreasonable length, and forbear
P. h. w.
Coventry, W., "a May, 1865.