Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-26

1870 '@'t t9NisuCu mltCll LuAL In
every case they were made for effect and
were utterly false; and that these asso.
Citations are not only uncompromising,
but OF permanent organization and that
though efforts may be slackened for the
time being, they will be always ready
fo' action when they flnd occasion re.
qtres.
In speaking of the different temper-
aIce organizations of the State, refer
with pleasure to the order of Good
Tmplars, who are doing their full share
inonr noble work of saving men. They
have now about 90 lodges in the State,
has of which have been formed during
tn past year. These are all holding
weekly meetings In which the average
attendance OF mostly young gentlemen
ami ladies, is probably from so to rs
AMI know OF none 10 which they are
no receiving new members almost every
week. Among those who are gathered
int these societies are many OF the
chdce young men of our villages, not
a fw OF whom have been received from
the open mouths of the dark pit In
which they were being engulphed, and
wh, under the influence of better asso.
ciaions, are being strengthened in their
purposes for better life.
Or State society labors under serious
embarrassment In theIwant OF funds. At
the beginning OF the year the treasury
was empty, and but little over $500
hav, been raised during The year to
NEE the demands Of the society in the
enjoyment of their Agent and for all
othG Purposes for which funds are re.
quird. have no doubt that If those
NOR, important labors of the Agent had
beenneglected and entirely devoted to
the more pleasant task Of lecturing and
raising contributions q sum would have
been received much more than sufficient
to pay the salary allowed him by the
committee. But the work to be done
appeared to be OF paramount considera.
ton; and with less than half pay In the
service, the satisfaction ia the thought
that these labors have not been in vain,s
gilmore value than any peCuniary reward.
But II we would prosecute our work, we
must have Cunds-to keep suitable men
in the field. and to fill the State with
temperance arguments and appeals in
the form Of lectures, documents, and
tracts
The newspapers Of the State, with not
more than three or four dishonorable
exceptions, are giving their Influence in
favor OF the temperance reform, and |
am not aware that more than two or
three are willing to descend so low, or
so far to shock the moral sense OF our
intelligent State, as to advocate the
legislation Of that mos. shameful and
demoralizing traffic 10 intoxicating bev-
eTages, But in addition to the advan-
tages we have from our newspapers, IS
pecially from the religious and two or
three OF the secular papers, which are
bold and positive in their position and
influence in our favor, we greatly need
the free circulation Of temperance doc
uments to arouse and keep the public
mind aroused on this important work !;
and never were they needed more than
now.
1t has been charged upon US that we
have departed from first principles OF
moral suasion, and that we rely wholly
on legal measures and are attempting
to bind mems consciences by civil en-
actments, and drive them to morality by
| force of law. This charge is untrue,
| except so far as we endeavor 10 protect
society from temptation to intemperance
! and from those evils which are the le-
| climate fruits of the rum traffic. But
we sre labOring earnestly and with all
the means in our control to persuade
! drunkards to reform, and to show mod
crate drinkers the perils and responsible.
! tiles OF their course. We appeal, in pri-
| vate ensreaty and public address, TO the
cOnscienCes, to the hopes and fears OF
| men. We place before them the finan-
| cial, the physical, the moral and social,
the temporal and enduring calamities
following the use OF intoxicating drinks,
| aud seek to arouse them to reform by
| appeals to their fears, and by every en-
CoHraging thought from the lowest con-
siderstions of selfish interest to the
higher motives Of gospel proposals of
present help and glorious immortality
And if our OppOsers will tell US of any
other more efficient m3tives to be inCor-
pOrated into our system of moral sua-
! sion; We will gladly embrace them. But
| while we are endeavoring faithfully to
| apply every moral power, and in doing
SO, are bringing not few to the solemn
vows Of total abstinence, and laboriug
to train them Tor q higher and better
| life, we do not like to have our work
destroyed by grOveing and avaricious
| rumse!ers, who, from the love OF unholy
| gain, would bring down to their deepest
hell those whom we succeed In raising
so near to Heaven. Hence, it is q part
Of the design of our organization to
maintain and enforce most wholesome
law for suppressing and wiping out
those noxious pests in our communities,
those spots Of gangrene on the fair
face Of civilized society,-those most
4 prolific sources of iutemperance, misery
4 and Crime,--the low drinking dens, the
frequented tipping houses, and the more
i genteel, but not less corrupting, bars OF
4 our first-class hotels.
In conclusion, congratulate this So
| ciety and friends Of eur cause upon the
l assurance which my own observation
enables me to give them, that the public
moral sentiment Of Vermont upon the
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