Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-01
THE SECRET.
BY 7auRLow W. EEow-


In 1S-Ee were iayitcil to address
the friends OF tenpcfance in yils..
lage OF Western --. A Lodge
of Good Templars had just been III.
stituted, and had redeemed Some os
the most abandoned druHl1ards in the
place. Legions of devils had been
cast out, and noble men given bacloi
to their families.
The gentleman presiding over the
meeting in the church, was noble
of a msn; tall, finely bnilt,
polished in manner, and with an. eye
and yeiee.iRwhicA the light AID tone
OF full grest heart were unmistaka-s
bly, blendid.k he was tignified and
commanding yet gentle and unaf-.
feeted as 2 child. loved the NAM
before 1 lad placed his hand IN
mine. q
Others were. impressed with the
bearing Of the President of the day
why SO much could not understand.
he being citizen with whom they
were famili2r-but a feeling Of euietL
beaming Joy seemed to perYade tht
vast audience in attendance There
were three ladies' in the an5ieHc,
who more especially appeared 10 ls
Dor under some ancontrolable emo
ticf & = ssssizs cis.ss.feassss.
their tears hardly seemed those of
sorrow. l noticed that the chairman
at times could hardly suppress his
own feelings, for the lip was pale
and quivering, and his voice was
trenulous with the 1eOd Of tears be-
meath. l saw here and there tears
dripping upon other cheeks. 1t
was mystery, for the exercises
had not commenced, and 1 had seen
nothing to account for the tears
And yet was deeply affected myself
before / was aware of it.
At the close of my address, ap-
pealsd to the people in behalf Of the
Lodge, and asked then if it had not
wrought great good III their midst?
Had it not redeemed some citizen |
who was once The soul ofhonor? Had
it not restored some son to awidowcd
mother? Had it not made some hap !
py, and filled some aching heart with I
bliss too deep for utterance?
at has, and the widows bless /
ing be upon 1t, and the blessing of
the God of the widow and the faith
erlassl
AS if one heart pulsed in that au
dienre, deep and thrilling amen
burst from the lips of many. The
eldest of the ladies before noticed,
stood on her feet and wept in the
fullness Of her joy. The chairman
hid his face in his hands, and his
broad chest heaved as only that of
strong man can do, in such an hour.
In the evening, the Lodge met, and
l was pleased to find the chairman
Of the day, the Worthy Chief, filling
the position with that rare tact which
few can boast. Twenty-three were
initiated by special dispensatisn, and 1
the glorious old alter glowed with /
the kindling of g more glorious light I
Hands silently clasped hands; tears
answered tesrs; and through all, the
calm smile of great joy shone and
warmed every heart.
After the business or tha evening
was completed, the Chaplain askea
that the Lodge reopen under the
head of the Order, and the doors be
thrown open to the people who were
throngiRg the streets before the build
ing. "TAis is not as much for the
people," said he, "as for parties i'm
mediately blessed by eur efforts here,
as to bring together in holiest ties,
those whom rum has put ssunder.-
Angels in bliss are drawing aside
the curtains this hour to witness a
scene at this alter which will cause
Joy on Earth and in Heaven"
The doors were thrown open, and
like pent-up hosd, the people swept
in and filed all the vacant space save
that which had been reserved in front
of the altar. First in the crowd were
the three ladies 1 had noticed in the
church: Silence secured, the Chap |
lain advanced into the open space
and said:
"This is one Of the happiest mo-
ments of nay life, for 1 am about TO
perform duty which an angel might
well be proud to perform.
"Nowhere in life, is the effect of
rum so cruel and desolsting as it is
at home. These spots which COED
God designed should be Edens, are
transformed into hells, where homes
are crushed out, lives turned into
gall, and ths holiest ties which ever
linked human hearts, broken in AGO.
ny and tears. The husband forgets |
the gentle heart which gave its prics |
less trust when he was vorfbv - 4