Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-16
sunday Evening Temperance Meeting

Ihc ihat Sunday evening meeting was fully
attended and Of unusual interest. After PRAYER
By Mr.. IIinckley, the president, Mr.. Mcdonald,
introduced the Rev. Mr.. Granger, agent Of the
State Temperance Society, 10 the audience, BY
whom he was warmly welcomed.
Mr. Granger prehced his address by giving
few words Of encouragement 70 the founders
Of this movement. lie thought there never had
bees temperance Organization in Vermont
that the interest and inanence had been 70
widespread as this the ladies were working in
Montpelier. All over the State tho friends Of
temperance are looking 10 Montpelier, anxious
for our success, and sympsthizing in every dis
coursgement. The fret items sought after and
read on the receipt Of our papers are the reports
Of our temperance meeting. We have, besides
the best wishes, the prayers Of every good tenn.
perance man and woman In Vermont. And
the interest is not limited to our own State.
but extends in less degree over New England,
and even to more distant parts of the country
Wherever resident Of this place has friend,
to that friend and to that place IL carried a
spark Of the interest felt by US, and no visitor
can leave without taking with him some of our
enthusiasm.
lie exhorted us not TO allow anything to in.
terfere with these ,uecfino. sid We had grc.,
reason for encouragement, and although work
ing almost n wear. and had not occnmrl;sbed
all We bonei We were N cnrs,,e onrvolvsa
with the thought that things OF slowest growth
were the strongest mos, endurable. Patient.
persistent efT,rt IN g, good a cause ,,,f,f hiring
It's reward in the grand results 90 faithfully
sought.
Mr.. Granger in his address showed us what
the friends of temperance had to contend with.
First. many of our profes,ed friends are ana
thetic. In this work every man had n, duty
-his work 10 uarform. and M ma can do il
for him. Each one sbould nut his sbonIder IN
the wheel. and work with will. messing the
enemy back step by step, not relaxing one ef
fort, but keeping every step gained. and taking
one in advance when possible, until the enemy
is forced to the wall and finally yanquished
Another class Of men do not identify them
selves with temperance or array themselves
against it. These are giving advice to both
sides They caution temperance men to be
careful, not to be rash, when anything like ef
iectiye work is contemplated They say they
can drink or let it alone, and believe it every
man S privilege to take care Of himself in this
matter, and only when their son or brother be-
comes the victim are their eyes opened n the
sel6shness Of such u theory. Many Of this
class arc men of wealth, of influence. which
makes them the greater stumbling blocks 10
the way of their less favored brother. and of
efficient temperance work. Another obstacle
to overcome is the habit among certain classes
Of taking social glass lie feared that in
some places this deplorable habit was on the
increase. Every one having the good of his
fellow man at heart, should see to it that his or
her influence was active and decided ON this
subject.
lie said he was often told by the opponents
of temperance that they wished Temperance
men would not always appeal to the sympathy
of their hearers. but be logical, giving argu.