Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-29
The Temperance Rally ana ficii'
Mt CastletOn.

friends of temperance in Rutland County,
oorociaIlv those who participated IN the
Grand demonstration at Castleton on that
occasior At an early hour toams'
f.oi,btad with the inhabitants of towns
from all portions of the County began 10
pour in to the village, and the numbers
thus brought were largely augmented by
the arrival of trains from different sec
tions, until at 1890, the hour set for the
commencement of the exercises the mum
Der of strangers in town, who had came
for the purpose of attending the picnic
mustha reached over 1000, who, coupled
with the people of Castleton, who seemed
to be out in force, gave the streets as
crowded an appearance as is often seen
There, and the procession, headed by the
Brandon Brass Band, which by the way,
discoursed excellent music during the day,
as it moved up the main street, from the
depot to the Town Hall Park, with ban
ners and flags flying, and the occupants OF
the ranks dressed in holiday attire.
created favorable impression on behold
ers other than the avowed friends of tenn.
perance
Delegations were present from fourteen
different lodges of Good Templars, while
from Rutland fair delegation went over
to represent our Ladies' Temperance
Association. The number of vehicles
oongregated and their appearance in pro-
cession, served to remind one of old fash
toned June trainings, such as we had
before the days of Railroads and when
this was the only means of conveyance.
From Hubbardton alone, we were in
formed, sixty teams went, most of whom
were in line at the station as the Rutland
train approached, and the occupants of
which greeted its arrival by the profuse
waving of handkerchiefs and hats, which
was in a similar manner responded to by
the passengers in the cars. From Ira,
Middletown, Fairhaven, Poultney, CLAIR
eudou, Chittenden, Tinmouth, Wells, Ben
son and other towns occupants came large
ly by the same mode Of conveyance, and
rarely have we of late years seen 80 large
a procession in.this respect.
the services in the Seminary Park, to
which q large number of the visitors at
one time moved but the threatening as
pect Of the weather-the watery appear
4 auce Of the ky and lowering clouds--be-
tokened rain. and it was deemed advise
bic to adjourn to the Congregational
81 church, whittier sufficient numbers re-
paired to fill the edifce, floor and galleries.
to overaowing. At the church the meet
ing was called to order by B. w. Burt,
the Acting Marshnl who called to the
chair us President of the Day, Hon. John
B. Page of Rutland. Gov. Page, upon as
Stunning the responsibility of President,
made few brief remarks as to the nature
and object of the meeting, which were
followed, according to the stipulated pro-
gramme, by music by the Band. Next in
order was the benediction, and fervent
and devout invocation of the Divine
Spirit upon the deliberations of the
meeting it was, pronounced by Rev. DR..
Walker Of Wallingford. After the bene-
dction the following ode, written es-
peoially for the occasion by E. L. Barber
of Benson, was sung to the tune of "Coro-
nation" by The audience:
Come, freemen OF Vermont, who dwell
Where freedom has her reign,
From mountain top from shaded dell,
From valley and from plain.
Come join in our temperance host and sing,
With voice both loud and strong,
Till mountain echo, back shall fling
A good old temperance song.
We love the freedom Of our hills
We love the cooling spring,
We love the laughter of the rills
That through our valleys ring.
We only hate what doth enslave
The body and the SOUL
We hate what fills the drunkard's grave,
We hate the druukard's bowl.
And as our fathers fought, so we
Will fight so firm and brave,
Until our country shall be free
From all that doth enslaye.
We nail our colors to the mast,
Our temperance flag shall be,
Where e'er it floats above the blast,
The banner of the free.
We only pity slaves of rum,
And hope that We may see,
All such to truth aud temperance won,
BY faith and charity.
The organization was then completed
by the election of the following addition
al officers:
Wee Presidents Rev. Aldaoe Walker,
D. D., of WalIingford Hon. M. c. Rice
Of Benson; Rev. @. A. Thomas of Bran
don,
Slaetmy.-James K. Mclean of Rut-
land.
The following letters were read by the
chairman from Hons. Henry Wilson,
George f. Edmunds and Chas. w. Will
lard
NATICK, Sept. 7, 1870.
LORENZO SHELDON, EsQ,-Dear Sir
Your note of yesterday is received, invit-
ing me to attend a temperance meeting
on the gath inst. | regret TO say that it |
will not be in my power to accept your
kind invitation. Hoping, however, that
your meeting will prove a success [ re-
main, Very truly, H. WILSON.
BURLINGTON, Sept. 20, 1870.
DEAR SIR: l have your kind note in
viting me to attend the temperance rally
and picnic in. Casteton, on Saturday. the
Gath inst. L regret much that visit to
the place of an old friend across the lake.
already agreed upon, after many failures
will prevent my joining in your festivi
ties on that occasion. Were it possible, 1
should be glad, indeed, to mingle with,
and know more intimately the people of
Rutland County, and especially those
whose hopes and efforts are directed in
the noble path of promoting temper
ance in our community. However much |
men may fail, land I confess I do in al
most all things,) in conforming their &C;
tual lives to high standard, no one who
wishes we'll to himself or his fellow-men,