The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-12-03
Talks on Temprrauce.

There are some folks who are eyerlast
ingly saying what shall we do in thi
temperance work we see how alarming
~ it prevails-how many become the vic
tins Of this terrible appetite for stron,
drink-how many are ruined aud hov
much sorrow is caused by it what shal
we do to stop it, what can we do? Nov
these questions are legitimate--they ar,
such as come home to any candid mine
who reflects upon the evils Of ntemper
ance.
We have no war to wage with tht
questions-but we have u word to say tC
those in whose mouths these questions fnC
place and whose only work in the temper.
ance cause is ever to put the meaningless
question What shall we do ?"-It is
meaningless because it means nothing
They ask it with sort of snvel and
pious cant that is altogether too common
in these days. "Oh give us some new
and startling method-some grand theo.
retic machinery and how we will run it,
how successful we will be; we will revo,
lutlonize the moral world and bring in
the millennium"
Yes only milcnnial glory don't come
after that sort of cantishness. Theories
for the worlds reformation have been pro-
posed by the myriad and still the stub.
born facts of sin stand forth prominently.
The fact is as temperance men we
have allowed ourselves to be diverted
from our great work by theorizers and
their insane theories.
We have suffered ourselves to be duped
by the spccious plea Of the "Maine Law"
and all other kinds Of law, thinking if
only we get such and such laws we will
therefore and of necessity he tenper-
ance State and Nation.
Law is good and has done good and is
doing good. All honor to the law. We
have on our statute books tho bes. laws
In the country-or among the best. But
here comes the thought, how do we use
law-do we watch it and enforce it and
make it honorable?
We have the appliances within our
reach to revoutionize the community and
yet We ask ,chat shall ,ce do? Do why
begin to talk, agitate the subject if you
can do no more and keep talking until
you stir things. There is power in words
Somebody will feel their power besides
you. Some ear will listen the leven of
temperance truth will do its work. Talk
about the need OF reiorm-about the
dangers Of alchoholic driuks-keep talk
ing give the conscience of the maker and
seller and drinker no ease or peace So
a;a 'hn ~, ,o~t"l NV;iharfnrca in ENGLAND
about a century ago when African Slav.
cry prevailed in all parts of the civilized
world. He began to talk out the strong
convictions of his soul at first men paid
the fanatic no attention, after while they
said you can't accomplish anything you
may as well be still he would not, and
kept on talking and by and by the nation
heard and was aroused and abolished
Slavery and Wilberforce became one of
the mighty men Of his age.
What can you do in this temperance
cause you can talk, Do this much and
stop putting that foolish question any
more Of what to do. In nine cases out of
ten it is prima facia evidence of lazy
do-nothing spirit.
You nave an influence, put it on the
side temperance always and everywhere.
Do not flash great light for little.and
then go out in the darkness. Be steady
in your temperance influence; be constant
and you will do good. Consistency is a
jewel and will always give a steady and
beautiful lustre. Use your influence
faithfully through summer and winter
at home and abroad iu all company let it
be firmly known that you are temper
ance person from the highest motives OF
right. You can do this--do it and stop
this endless questioning as to what can |
do?
You can aid in forming Band of Hope"
societies, Good Templars" organizations,
"Sons Of Temperance, &c, or if these
organizations are defunci 60 to work and
try and revive them.
Get up temperance meeting, get some
speakers do something if it fails and you
come to the but Of ridiculc.
Glorious results have generally had
small beginnings. Despise not the day Of
suall things. Up then and be doing and
do no waste your life in frivolous breath.
Work and your earnestness will be con-
tagious, they will catch your spirit and
the good work Of reform will 90 on. We
are waiting for some grand scheme or
method to turn up" and then. oh then
how will We work Fudge on such zeal
as this Show your faith by your works.
Circulote the pledge, keep up your TEN.
perance meetings talk the evils of intem-
perance over your children and all the
children, prejudice them against all
species OF intempemperance Do some
thing, aud do it to-day" Al
Rutland Independent.