Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-05-08
TIE SECRET.

TIE SECRET.
In lS- We were invited to address the
friends Of temperance in the village of
Western - A Lodge of Good Templars
had iust been instituted, and had redeemed
sOme Of the most abandoned drunkards in
the place. l4egions Of devils had been cast
cut and noble men given back 70 their fam
lies. The gentleman presiding over the
meeting IN the church, was noble specimen
oi / man; TALL finely built, polished in man
ler, and with an eye and voice in which the
light of full, great heart were unuIistaka-
by blended. He was digniiied and com
handing, yet gentle and unaffected as a
child. / loved the man Iefore had ever
placed his hand III mine.
Others were impressed with the bearing
q The president OF the day-why 50 much
could not understand he being a citizen
with whom they were familiar-but a feel
ing of quiet beaming JOY seemed to pervade
the vast audience In attendance. There
Sere three ladies In the audience who more
specially appeared to labor under some un-
controilable emotion. They weft ike chill
drgn, but their tears hardly seemed those OF
sorrow. | noticed that the chairman at
times could hardly suppress his own feelings,
for his lips were pale and quiverlng. and his
voice was tremulous with the flood OF tear,
beneath | saw here and there tears drip
ping upon other cheeks. 1t was a mystery,
Tor the exerciceS had not commenced, and |
had seen nothing to account for the tears.
And yet was aware of 1t.
At the close Of mv address, | appealed to
the people in behalf Of the Lodge, and ask
ed them if it had not wrought gett good in
lhei midst? Had il not redeemed some
b, he nf
Had it not restored some erring son to a
widowed mother? Had it not made some
happy. and filled some aching heart with
bliss too deep for utterance?
1t has and the widow blessing be up
on II, and the BLESSINGS of the God of the
widow and the tatheress.
As if one heart pulsed in that audience,
deep and thrilling amen burst from ever
lip, the eldest of the ladies, before noticed
was standing on her feet and weeping in the
tuline>s of JOY. The chairman hid his face
N 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 was
pie sed to find the chairman of the day the
Worthy Chief, filling the position with that
isre tact which few can boast Twenty
three were iniated by special dispensatlon,
and the glorious old altar glowed with the
knil n, ot; a more glorious light. Hands
silently clasped hands tears answered tears;
ard through all, the calm smile of great
JOY >hone out and warmed every heart.
After the business of the evening was
completed, the chaplain asked that the lodge
reopen under the head Of the good of the
order and theidoors be thrown open to the
people who were thronging the streets in
front Of the building. This is not so much
Tor the people, y said he, ''as Tor parties i'm
medlately blessed by our effort here aud TO
bring together in holiest tics those whom
rum has put asunder. Angels in bliss are
drawing aside the curtains at this hour TO
witness scene at this altar which will cause
JOY on earth and in Heaven.
The doors were thrown open, and like
pen,up food, the people swept in and filed
up the vacant space save that which bad
been reserved in front of the altar. First
IN that crowd were the three ladies | had
noticed IN the church. Silence secured, the
cdaplln advanced into the open space and
said:
Nowhere in life is the effect of rum so
cruel and desolating as it is az home. The
spots which good God designed should be
hdenS, are transformed into hells. where
hopes are crushed ont, lives turned to gall,
and the holiest ties which ever linked human
hearts. broken in agony and tears. The
husband fercets the gentle heart which gave
It's priceless trust when he was worthy ot It,
ana treads it undet foot by the broken shrine
But here is a pool where the angel comes
10 the troubled waters, and however long
the years of iniirmity, the stricken ones can
De healed. Here there is bread enough and
to spare. and many hungry prodigals have
returned. We have seen them atar off: and
mere has been singing and rejoicing here
i9'!r the lost has been found, the dead made
alive again.
We have witnessed these things in oul
midst. We have seen two whom we al
love, Join hands at the marriage altar in tht
light 0! a glorious life promise, and Tho
ne9d Of the wine cup rend the sacred tie
ana drive the wife out to weep, and the err
ing husband far down the beaconless way o
afunEenness. We have seen one who !. ioye'
Us only woman canlove, compelled to Obtain