The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-21
state Temperance Convention.

The 4lst annual meeting of the Yer.
uont State Temperance Society, was held
at Norwich, Dec. 18th and 10th, 1866.
DR.. l.. Sheldon of Rutland, was elected
chairman pro ten. Prayer was offered by
Rev. N. Bishop of Windsor. Rev. Nj.
Spencer of Franklin, DR.. i. Tucker of
Hartford and j. G. Stimson of Norwich,
were appointed committee on business.
Reports were made of the progress of the
cause in different counties, by delegates
present.
The following resolutions were discuss.
ed and adopted:
Whereas, Total abstinence from the use
Of alcoholic drinks whether fermented or
distilled, is the basis ofall true temper.
ance action. Therefore.
Resolted, That all associations organized
for the purpose Of aiding and protecting
those who are pledged or are willing to
pledge themselves to total abstinence
from the use Of alcoholic drinks, should
be encouraged and Sustained.
ResOl,ed, That although the use of I'm.
fermented cider as a beverage nav be
harmless in itself, yet it is the opinion Of
this convention that it is of dangerous
tendency. as it is liable to lead to the use
of fermented cider, and the formation Of
an appetite for other alcoholic drinks.
ResOl,Yd, That DR.. E. f. Phelps Of
Windsor, who has published some excel.
lent articles on the danger of moderate
drinking, be requested to resume the
series, to be published.
ResOl,ed, That one of the first duties Of
the friends of temperance is to Undue the
minds of the young with the Importance
OF total abstinence from all intoxicating
drinks.
ResorIet, That it is the duty ofall min.
listers Of the gospel to preach plainly
against the sinfulness and danger Of
drinking alcoholic beverages, and the great
evil of the common liquor traffic, and to
urge the people to suppress such traffic.
Reso;red, That we express our high de.
gree Of satisfaction in reference to the
position assumed by our State Legislature
in years past, in adopting and retaining
strong laws against the traffic in intoxi.
eating drinks-and in aid of our cause
and especially in view of the Just law:
passed on this subject at the last session
! The question of separate political &C.
ton was called up. which is now agitat.
ing the country, and it was the opinion Of
the convention, that while our State Leg.
islature occupies the same favorable
ground as in past years, it is not expedi.
ent to organize district political temper.
ance party in the State; but the following
was adopted aud recommended 40 u .uit
Of action, especially for towns and ooun.
tles:-
ReO}rd, That We regard it as the i'm.
portant duty Of temperance men to at.
tend political caucuses and conventions
called in the usual manner and to seek
to secure the nomination Of candidates
favorable TO our cause; and when they
fail to secure succ nominations in these
conventions, We recommend that indepen
dent caucuser, or conventions Of the friend
Of our cause, be called to nominate mel
for whom they can honestly and conscien
tiously vote.
On Thursday evening addresses wer,
delivered by Rev. W. W. Atwater o
Brandon, Rev. d. A. Mack of Royaltol
and Others. The report ofthe Executiv,
Committee was read and adopted. Tn,
meeting was enlivened with eYcellen
temperance music.
The following officers were elected fol
the ensuing year:
Decentralization. John b. Page o
Rutland.
! Vice-Presidents- Tx Gov Paul billing
ham of Waterbury, +. Keyes of New
bury, Jacob Estey Of Brattleboro, @. W
Grandey Of Vergennes.
Cor. and Rec, Secretary-W. W. At
/, water Of Brandon
Treasurer-Jas Barrett Of Rutland
Auditor-N Weeks Of Rutland.
Executive COMMUNICATION. c. NJ
Willard Of Castleton. II. d. Kitchel, D
d. of Middlebury, DR.. l.. Sheldon, Dr.
c. Woodsouse and W. A. Burnett O
Rutland, j. s. Cilley Of Brandon, ant
Mial Davis of Burlington.
The place for the next annual meeting
was left to be fixed by the Executive
Committee.