National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-03
A Reasonable Request.
TO THE CHURCHES IN VERMONT.

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The cause of temperance is insep.
arabiy connected with the cause Of
Christ. The State Temperance so.
ciety is laboring in this department
of Christian enterprise as an auxili.
afy Of the church. The Rum Pow.
or stands defiantly in our way, bold.
ly confronting MS i'll our march to-
wards the worlds salvation. 1t is
one OF the chief obstacles in the way
Of Onr success. To overcome this
gigantic foe, it is necessary to en-.
tighten the public mind in regard to
the peliis and duties of all. Agita-
ton must be continucd aud increas.
ed. We have nothing to fear from
it. The arguments are all on our
side. The public sentiment and
feeling should be daily reused on
the subject. The common use and
sale Of Intoxicating drinks, which
| produce so much iitemperance, mis-.
cry and crime, should be made to
appear shameful in every civilized
community.
To carry on this work, we need
funds, with which we may fill the
State with temperance tracts lee.
lures, arguments and appeals, and
to enable us to keep at least one
suitable person constantly employed
in carrying out the purposes of the
Society. We cannot always find
men who will devote their time and
energies to this work with less than
half u reasonable compeDsatlon.-
Besides, we cannot procure the pub.
lications we need for gratuitous dis.
tribution, nor carry on our great
work in any of its departments with
out funds. The Massachusetts TEN.
perance alliance last year raised
! S20,U00 for their work. We have
during each of the three past years,
asked the friends of our cause in
Vermont for Sj9C0, and have re.
ceiyed an average OF about $500 per
year.
Our Opponents-especially those
interested in the rum traf1ic-cau
afford to lavish their ill-gotten gains
to check the temperance reform, or
to prevent the enactment or execu.
ton of wholesome laws, that they
may carry on their ruinous work,
and increase their profits, without
restraint. Our mo ives for liberali.
ty are different, but more worthy.
The executive committee have be.
come satisfied that, as this work Of
benevolence, rather than of selfish.
ness, we II inst look to our churches
more than we have done for aid
We therefore respectfully ask all
our churches in the state which are
willing to render material a Il in this
service, to place this among the
special objects of their benevolent
contributions, aud request that dur.
ing the present month, or ut tho
earliest favorable opportunity, all
our ministers preach specifically on
the subject, or to some extent pre-.
sent to their congregations the claims
OF this cause upon the sympathies,
the lahors and the liberality OF TEN.
J pcrancc men, and solicit generous
contributions to be placed ut the
disposal of the managers OF the
State Temperance Society for the
/ purposes above named.
We also appeal to all friends Of
our cause who have means, to re.
gard this object as eininently worthy
OF part OF their benevolent offer
ings. The enemies Of the temper.
ancc reform are awake, and would
rejoice to have us just now abandon
our enterprise, and surrender to
them the field. Let it not be done.
1t would be II serious reproach to
the temperance men of Vermont, If
we should fail to have at least one
standard bearer in all the State. to
stand forth in defence of our cause,
and with tracts, arguments, appeals
and the aid of volunteers or assist.
ant laborcrs, to check the progress
OF the Rum Power which is so rest.
less to destroy. Our churches alone
can prevent this; and to them we
appeal for speedy action. as well as
TO every true friend of human wei.
fare in the State. All contributions
for this object may be forwarded
either to w. w. Atwater, Secretary
aud General Agent of tho Temper.
ance Society at Nergennes, or to
Geo. W. Scott, Esq, Treasurer,
Montpelier.
BY order Of the Executive Com.
mittec,
&. NJ. WILLARD. Chairman.