Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-03
state Temperance Society-Synopsis
of the Agents Report.

mains uuuOht. lu btNtIal pluceb tNIu
in Vermont, the Rum Power still holds
a controlling influence, and proceeds on
its ruinous work, almost unchallenged
and unrebuked by those who have the
power to crush II in day. The rich
and the poor still drink and are drunken,
The young stlll follow the dangerous ex-
amples of older drinking men, aud tread
in footsteps marked with wrechedness
and crime, and stained with blood, AS
If unwarned by the fate OF the wrecked
and ruined myriads that have passed on
before them. In some of these places
intoxicating drinks are still sold in viola
ton of laws human and divine, if not
openly yet with but thin vail between
the abominable traffic and the public
view. And what is equally to be lament
ed, an apathy, like an enchanted slum-
Der, steals upon the better classes, who
without excuse allow these things to
be.
But the picture Is not all dark. We
have cause for devout thanksgiving to
the Most High, who is evidently arising
to plead his own cause. Many inroads
have been made during the year, upon
the territory where the demon Of in
temperance had seemed to hold al
most undisputed control and | know of
no time when there have been more
thorough aid successful efforts, then
those now being made In various
places in the State to overcome this
gigantic foe.
MRBTINGs-oRGANIzAT
The principal object of the agency,
during the past year, has been to awaken
correct public sentiment, and arouse
the feeling of the people to proper &C
ton, by means of temperance meetings,
and to secure concert of action by organ
izations. Special efforts were made to
secure large attendance at these meet
lngs, during the winter months, and in
several places q special interest was
given them by the assistance Of various
speakers. Most of the towns have been
visited except in the counties of Essex
and Grand Isle, and Caledonia and Or
leans counties, in which the Good Tenn
plars are doing effective service. In
most of the towns in the other counties
of the State, Temperance Meetings have
been held and in addition to addresses at
these meetings, the people have been adj
dressed on the subject in conventions,
in Sabbath schools, and in Sabbath Con-
gregations and wherever it was practi-
cable at the time of holding these meet
ings, societies have been organized.
At the time of our last annual meet
ing, there were III the State about half
a dozen societies of Sons of Temperance
in operation, and perhaps a dozen
lodges of Good Templars-mostly con-
fined to Orleans and Caledonia counties
Aside from these, and and few tenn
perance leagues for suppressing the
traffic, there were probably not ten TEN.
perance societies in the State with any
thing more than a nominal existence, or
which had held so much an annuaT
meeting for several years. At the begin
Ming OF the present year, form of con-
stltution was prepared, with disCiplin.
airy government for the protection of the
members, and the restoration of any who
may fall under temptation. 1t also pro-
vides for vigilance committee, whose
duty tits to secure the enforcement of the
liquor law in the tOwu-and each mem
Der is pledgtng to total abstinence,-alsO
to use-his influence against the unlawful
traffic, and render suitable support and aid
to the committee, and all others engaged
in its suppression. Over 100 of these
town protective temperance societies
have been organized as auxiliaries to
our State Society-and it is estimated
that the number of members with an
average of 200) is at the present time
not less than 10000. The Good TEN.
plars have now about Is lodges-and
are constantly increasing in numbers
and influence, and doing an excellent
work in the State. The Sons of Tenn
perance, though their active societies are
less in number, are in some places very
efficient. There are also three societies
OF Rechabites in Bennington County.
which are having salutary influence,
and are doing good work in their To-
calities. They are in Bennington, North
Bennington, and East Arlington.
OBSTACLES.
Among the obstacles to the temper-
ance reform in this State refer not so
directly to the appetites of the intemper
ate, as to the avarice of rumsellers and
the sympathy, or inexcusable timidity
or apathy of those in whose vicinity the
traffic is carried On-and who become
more and more corrupted by its influ
ence the longer it is allowed. | also re-
fer to the bad examples of men of COM
manding influence, who are known as
moderate drinkers and to the greed of
gain, which absorbs and diverts atten-
ton from public reforms in our large
villages. This indifference interpreted
and claimed by the Rum Power to be in
In its favor and so it is. The curse of
Meroz was for simple neglect of duty to
support the government to which it
owed allegiance-not for fighting against
1t. The mere indifference of men of
wealth and influence has dieheartening
effect on the weaker ones, who work
for reform. But when the enemy uses
this indifference in an argument to show
that the weight of public sentiment is
In favor Of the rum traffic, however
subtle the reasoning, the conclusion is
false. The public sentiment of Yer
mont is opposed to this tratfic-and
only needs to be aroused to action.
Another obstacle to the progress of
our cause is the frequent bad manage
ment OF our town agencies. This is not
fault of the law, but it is allowed often
In consequence of ignorance of its pro-