Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-14
Temnerauce Conference.

u
The New England Temperance Conference re
opened its session in Rutland, W. on Gu
lnesday, July 24th. Hev. b. b. stone ageh
of the Vermont Temperance Society calico
the Conference to order. Benjamin
MARSHALL. of Rutland, was appointed TEN
norarv chairman, and JAS. K. Mclean c
rotary. -
After an adjournment for dinner, thu
Temporary organization was made permanent
Rev. Mr.. Conant of Providence stated
that the object of these meetings was TO cal
together the leading workers IN the cause
To compare and harmonic views. Inns
the third meeting, the first being at New
York. at which Vermont was not representa- i
the second was held at Providence, which
adjourned to meet at this place
! After remarks by Rev. Messrs. Stone aDc
Thomson of Massachusetts,, Rev. Mr.. Co
nant read a PAPER on 60 the common basis OF
/ temrerance labor" He said the sObriety
of the mass and the removal OF grog shops
are essential to the renOvating OF human
society. He recapitulated the various agen-
cies that had been used for the Suppression
| of the evils of intemperance, stating tha'
ch one had its appropriate place IN the
ranks of tina great temperance army, out
! that each had failed to effect the desired re-
] FORM IL said that the one thing uoW neeo
ed was a stringent ProhlDitory LAW viii
officials to enforce it.
! An animated discussion followed on the
evils arising from bar rooms in hotels and
other places The dangers to young men
were discussed, and means suggested to save
/ them from destruction. During the discussion
I Rev. Mr.. Conant said that he did not think
the temperance organization which was to
sweep the country was yet born. The ques-
ton. how it was TO be accomplished as II
must be accomplished, had and still perpleG-
ed him
Hon. E. d Warner, of New Haven, Vt,
said the same question had perplexed him.
He could see hopes when he saw the move
ment among his own profession TO stop the
use of intoxicating liquors as medicine
The subject was brought up in the late Medl-
cal Society, and most of the conscientious
members were convinced that 1t should not
be used.
The discussion was further continued by
Rev. Mr.. Thompson, B. ". Burt OF Castle
ton. and Rev. Mr.. BIZ. CHAM The latter
thought that there could be no community OF
action. Every man does not act and think
alike. The only concert Of action that can
be obtained will be by each individual acting
ia his own particular way for common
end.
At the evening session Rev Mr.. Mills
read a paper prepared by Hon. Neal Dow OF
Maine. on Prohibition a Political Right
and p Social Necessity, after which stirring
and eloquent addresses were delivered by
Revs. Mr.. Thorn Fson and Conant-
THURSDAY.
The paper of Mr. C0nant, read on Tues
day morning, on =. common basis Of temper
ance labor, was taken up for discussion.
/ Rev. Mr.. Thompson, OF Massachusetts,,
discussed at some length, splicing his argu-
ments with amusing and telling Anecdotes.
Rev. Edward Mills, after speaking OF the
/ importance of the subject, said that tins
conference vas an arsenal where the laborers
/ IN the temperance cause came To get on their
armor. They are not in council 10 see how
thev can abstain from the use OF liquor, but
/ 70 learn how 70 equip themselves to 70 forth
/ and persuade and teach others the great
I lesson of abstinence.
/ One of the great questions is, " How shall
we concentrate our energies 1t We are
/ not working together IN common cause our
/ energies ave scattered. One OF the important
Questions 10 be considered Is, how can We
/ yet men To abstain from wine and lighter
drinks Ii Is wine drinking and respecct
I able drlnkioE that should be reached, and
how can we strike hands both with open
and secret organization for its suPPres-I0ns
Rev l. II Stone considered tue subject
/ from another view. Tie believes 10 self-saerI
/ fee as much as any person, but there Wa
sometimes false rels0 ning on the subject
which Injured the cause We should make
associated sacrifices How far are we t. %
! n tbs direction? There were those who,
/ from uhv-i-8l reasons could not IN axe Ind
vidual sacrifices. lie had a conversation
with a certain eminent physician OF Rutland,
the other day, who eonJended that the light
wines Of Europe were doing much u sup.
press the evils of incompetence on the CONT
/ nent Mr.. Stone feared the doctor had
/ never read Dr. Holland article reviewing
the wine drinking customs of Europe aud
/ their evil iut fences. We hOu' ascertain
whether tie physician is correct OF ourselves.
1 Also consider whether total abstinence was
/ the only method of reform.
| Rev. L. " Brigham considered how far
one Is compelled 70 make a personal
/ sacrifice He retra'ns from stimulauts for
/ himsel 49, lot for others; but tor himself, and
sacrifice is performed. This talk shat "a man
should refrain from wine drinking, Tor the
/ :, Ike of the man VINO labOrs for him Is all
mooushine Tie should abstain for purity :
"a e, aud not for others
: Rev. H. F Austin said that abstinence
was one of the crosses of life. lie spoke
/ in earnest terms Of the temptations thai were
! oftentimes placed by the Protessed friends Of
/ tempe .ance before the young men who had
I taken the plvuIe anu FctoEtntO from tNl
ways. IN the form OF Offering them hgdteT
! drinks and when they once yield to thIs
temptation, It oltentimes proves their ruin
and he advocated total abstinence.
/ Rev Mr.. Conant read an abe paper from
( Judge Robert c. Pitman o. New Bedford
Mass.
Resolutions were then reported which
recognize the necessity of concert anC
united action in the war against intemper
ance; advise the holding OF local conferences
/ TO discuss plans for accomplishing the work
re-aff m that total abstinence is the duty
and only safety of the Individual and Pro
hibitjon the only statute for the protection o
the State; saying that the position of Ia,
Church on tie question of Temperance ant
| Prohibition must relatively affect the com
munlty for good or evil, and desiring tina
its position may be unequivocal upon
subject of such vital importance to tn,
| world.
The discussion Of various questions occu
pied the conference until II o'clock, whel
1t adjourned to meet at Concord, \. H, o
in Boston, as the Executive Committee ma,
| order