Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-28

PLAiSuELD.-Our last Sunday evening TEN.
pcrancc meeting was opened by reading Of the
Scriptures and prayer, by Mr. c. r. Batchelder,
Mrs. &. T. Batchelder presiding
Mrs l., Chamberlain said TINT the intemper-
ate use Of ardent spirits was n subject which
had occupied the public mind for a series Of
years-,hat many ways had been devised for its
suppression. Laws had been enacted, the
liquor dealer had been prosecuted, the partakcr
had been arrested, fined and imprisoned, and
yet men continued to manufacture, sell and
drink. Kind words were often moro efcctual
than severe measures in reforming the incbri-
ate, and if all realized the Importance Of love
and charity in this matter, we should have
less of the evils Of intempcrance. The public
IS not sufficiently agitatcd upon the work Of re-
form not thoroughly convinced Of its impor-
lance and as womans influence was power
Tor evil, in the first stages Of creation, may she
become power for good, to the destruction Of
evil, in these modern times.
Miss Ella Martin rccited beautiful poem
in favor Of banshing "King Alcohol"
Mr. a. Flood gave us spirited extract from
one Of Coughs lectures
Mr.. &. r. Batchelder said he believed that
the appetite FOR strong drink was often formed
by drinking cider in chidhood-that parents
who allowed their children the free use Of cider.
were not aware Of the danger. That the man
who sold alcoholic drinks to he used as a bev-
erage wa,a murderer 10 be feared more than
he who plunged the dagger into bis victims
heart lie thought one Of the sadjest features
Of the case was that some protesting Chris
tians were constantly using spiriiuous liquors
as beverage that they seemed to have more
Of the spirit of wine than the Spirit Of God
Mr.. Morse Of North Montpelier said his
sympathcs were with the temperance reform
lie was much interested in the cause, and the
meetings in this place lilo thought the mere
act Of getting intoxicated was but small
branch that flowed into the river Of crime and
misery that run through our land us the
result Of alcohoicdrilks lie hoped the work
would go on, and that God would speed the
reform, and that the people might sec gluri-
Gus results from their labors.
Rev. j Hamilton said he jjined the Good
Templars to assist in the cause OF Temperance,
bat he believed these meetings were a step in
advance. In his duties as superintendent Of
common schools he had given the scholars
cards with pledges on for them to sign, and in
one Of our largest schools in town, numbering
sixty four scholars, only one but bad received
the sanction Of their parents to sign them -
He thought the signing Of the pledge when
young, had prevented many young men from
filing drunkard's graves.
Mr.. j. Carleton, Of Barre, an old veteran in
the cause, addressed the youth especially. lie
warned the young men to beware Of selfcon-
iidencc in their power to break from the habit
Of rum-drnking If the sppciite was once
fixed, how hard it was to reform. lie said that
it was not the weak minded ones who coult
not break from the snares, but some of tn,
brightest ornaments Of society. men who coull
not be bought for money, but brandy oserpow
cred them and are the young men Of to-day
stronger than they lie earnestly entreated
the young to sign the pledge believing it
power for good that would tell on the rising
generation.
The meeting was closed with the benedietiol
by the Rev. MIR. Hamilton.
Rev A. A. Hoyt, Editor and Publisher Q
the Biblical Messenger, formerly OF Rutland
has moved his printing press to this place, an,
will issue his paper monthly.