Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-25
SUNDAY Evening Temperance Meeting.

After prayer by the chairman, Mr. Joseph
Fisher, Rev. Mr.. Spencer addressed us. lie
said as a comparative stranger TO these meet
ings he hardly knew what to say, for be knew
not what had been said. lie hoped by aren
ment and illustration ~ assist, with what had
already been said and done. in giving impetus
to this grand movement, that bad for its object
the salvation Of 70 many Of our fellow beings
from sin, which is the parent Of every other
sin.
lie said he could endorse all that was said
by Mr.. Heath at the preceding meeting, and
would join that gentleman in inviting any one
who thought the matter miTepresented, to
step forward and show any iallacy in ergu
mcnt, or misrepresentation Of facts.
Mr. Spencer said he believed in prohbitcry
measures. lie believed in the law that pro-
hibits the printing and sale of obscene iters-
ture. In the law against adultery, theft, and
murder lie also believed moral suasion useful
in educating public sentiment up to the point
necessary to the enforcement Of law.
In q community of thieves the law against
thet would hardly he enforced. 10 a COM
munity the majority Of which were publishers
and lovers Of obscene literature, there would
he much opposition to its prohibition So in
community of ruinselers and rum drinkers our
liquor law is difficult Of enforcement. The
same may be sad Of the laws against adultery
murder, and every other crime.
1t is not possible that the publication Of OBJ
scene literature could 80 influence the lust Of
man, as do alcoholic stimulants. The sanctity
Of the marriage ties, for the protection Of
which the law against adultery WIS enacted,
is not 50 often violated by all other causes ms by
this one. Statistics show that intoximnts are
the cause Of by far the greater proportion ofoll
crime.
Arc there good reason. fir law against muir
tlar M 30 atr
for law lcvelcd at the cause Then to the
reasons for a law against murder, add the rca-
suns for law against against every other crime
and vice, and YOU have in fall. our reasons for
prohibitory liquor law ! believe this evil
the quintescence Of all evils II we could but
get glimpse of the utter ruin IL has brought
to innumerable families all over our land, the
crime and death it has scattered every where,
il would arouse us 10 action that would be ei-
fective. Let the rumseller beware, for he is
responsible b God, as well ~ man, for the
evils he brings upon his fellow man Every
citizen is in degree responsible for the evils
that come from the non-onforcement Of law.
The church should take the lead in temper
auce reform She should take it TO her heart
as she does the missionary and Bible cause. IL
may be asked, where is the heart Or soul Of the
church 1t should he in the pulpit, if the
church is not fully up to the true christian
standard
This is Gods cause. founded on the princi.
pies OF law and good will 10 man, and opposed
to that sin which " bteth like q serpent and
stingeth like an adder"
The Bible has been quoted IN show that it
approved of wine drinking. There are nine
different words in the original that in transla-
ton Gre given the generic term-Wiae. II a
work on agriculture should lie translated into
German, and the words wheat. rye. barley,
oats, he IN every case given in the word sgni-
flying gram, it wouli be true, and yet it would
not convey correct idea. So of wine as it il
translated in our Bibles. The original shows
there were different wines, and the word, or
term, signiiying uniermented wire is never
wine that is recommended and approved while
we are warned to - look not upon the wine
when it is red, when it giyeth his color in the
cup, when it moveth itself Alright.
Ministers who reason not OF temperance, as
well Hs of righteousness and Judgment to
come, are not faithful to their trust. It is our
duty to preach against all sin in high and low
places, wherever 1t may be found. We are
told we must not NEEDLE with politics What
If politics come to us We should not be-
come partisans, but If any political party in
corporate into its platform principles which we,
as ministers Of the gospel, are bound to pro.
claim, still we must, and ought to proclaim the
same.
The church should welcome all aids possible
IN the work OF saving men from this tOulest OF
vices, To men who are not too far gone in the
road OF ruin, it Is possible that brother +
hand may Tree them from their thraldom, but
there are thousands OF these poor victims who
would bless rs for renoying their temptation
by prohibition they look to that as their only
hope.
" That shall we say Of men who, for gain,
deal out death 10 living men in this, the last
half OF the nineteenth century? Moral sua-
sion to them? 1t would be like a poor, half.
clad child, praying to the north wind in Janu.
AIRY TO stay its frozen breath, and send warm
breezes that it may be protected saved from
the inevitable
| Law points to the rumsellers' pocket as tn,
only place they can be made to feel on this sub
ject. Then let law do its perfect work in tn,
regeneration of such as can be reached in NJ
other way. Their work may be compared I,
that OF u wife-murderer once visited in prison
This man had married a beautiful lady, whom
he promised to love and cherish. lie did cher
ish her for a few years, when his depraye,
tastes and lusts led him to form other attach
nents, and he set deliberately to work to fire.,
himself, By death, of all obstacles to his futur,
plans lie administered arsenic to his wife il
quantities sufficient to cause the most sever
turns OF vomiting, during which he woulC
hold her with the greatest tenderness, anC
seemed only anxious Tor her comfort. lie per
sisted in this course, knowing it must caus
i death in short time So the rumseller, Will
the most gracious smiles, deals out to his vic
tins what science has pronounced, and ex
perence pr0Ued to be death To the physica
man but alas, 80 slow that his moral death i
sure to be effected, and absolute ruin to al
dependent upon him.
We call upon every proIessed Christian
every law-abidng citizen, to see that the man
date OF law be obeyed, and the unclean trail
driven from our community.