Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-27
A Few Words in Defense Of Coed Tenn
Mar Y.odUaa

My attention has been recently called to
an article In your issue Of the 9th inst. =,
entitled The Temperance Reform, in which
occurs this ungraceful and unjust ding at
the Order Of Good Templars. "rhe super
fetal work of the Good Templar Lodges,
with their secret grips and fiummery and
iustian, though originally wellmeant,
tonehes not the m2rrow Of the NATTER
Good Templars, we are told in substance,
II not In precise language, that we are
making an ostentations display upon the
! surface, but efiectinx no real, inward moral
work-that we are a splendid sham-a
| glittering farce-that for sixteen years the
artillery of Our order has been laundering
| on this contineut, but all the while has
! been sending forth blank cartridges.
Nobody has felt us-no human heart has
been lifted out of the darkness of despair
Into the cheering light Of hope. No weak
mortal has been protected and saved from
| moral ruin by our fraternal love. No
| warnings for a better manhood have been
inspired through orr influences. We have
| been toililg on, spurred by the self-con-
| ceifed notion that we were contributing
something towards the worlds elevation.
and Increasing in some degree, the sum of
human happiness, but now we must wake
up to find it all a delusive dream. Are we
| expected to be brow beaten by such im-
quietly submit like whipped spancls-God
forbid. BY all the force within US let US
rcpel such statements and prove their
utter falsity. The Order Of Good Tcmplars
has record, which Ii will not be ashamed
to unroll, to vindicate It's right to respect
full consideration, should ever an iutelliye
public demand il. But 10 statements from
whatever source. or however disparaging
can blot out the good 1t has done. for it
has written its history upon thousands of
human hearts, which have been blessed bv
IL. Ii has touched the marrow" in thou
sands of cases, and a noble army OF re-
formed drunkards are enrolled beneath It's
banner, equipped with the sublime princi.
pies IT the order, and fighting gallautly
for the cause OF Temperance.
You need not go beyond the limits of
Ellsworth to find a Lodge of Good Tenn
piars, whose membership embraces nearly
dozen persons who We're formerly
pursuing course of dsipatiou bur mr..
now clothed and In their rIg HI minds :,
aud bid fair to become useful and honored
citizens. II all the churches of Ellsworth
together, can show a larger addition To |
ti'eir membership. from the same class of !
ihdividua's. within the same space of time |
we shonld be happy to learn the fact. and |
otd them God speed in their noble work |
But should they fail to make so good AN |
exhibit, We would not even then ignore
the value and usefulness OF church oryan- /
halions, with all their ''fraternal yrips /
ana nummery and fustian." Civilization
owes them a debt OF gratitude
organized Temperance Societies rank
hlgh among the philauthropic institutions |
OF our land, and that they have accomplish
Ell work over which angels rejoice no
sane person of Intelligence will DENY
You might As well deny the influence of
.hc sun upon vegetation, rs To deny the
Ilhuehce OF these moral agencies upon
society. A higher tone of public senti
ment, better laws. a decrease Of drunken
ness, crime, and misery, and a corrcsnond-
ing increase of domestic happiness. social
virtue, and public order. are In a lary,
ueetee The accredited results of these ar
CARNATIONS.
The Order of Good Templar.. though
not entirely free from iInperr.ctions
possesses elements OF power and success
peculiarly its own. It, machinery is nor
perfect. but IL worked by true wisdom and
pure philanthropy, IL would accopnIish
good ,
mat II has had its Judases aud Arnolds
who have assumed high and solemn obli,
cations ior base and conference.-the pur-
lose>-Who have been admitted into conf
ucnc" ana Fellowship only 10 betray them
ana uiVu!gc the private work OF the order.
ihd circulate slanderous reports which,
nave In some cases, injured the populuri,y
VI lhe i.odsc, and ia others, brought il I
mo diSrepute, no one will deny That in !
'o."c cases 100 little wisdom, In others. d
200 lttIe charity in the discplininp of /
members have alike produced evil r.s,,lt. ,
anu not nnfreqnently broken the harmony
d tue Lodge, anu introduced a r,,,.ti,,,,
,pirit, Is equally true. But it we have
,'''',t 10 no. what the church with all its
Ia" ioineu elements OF moral power, has
'aiieu 70 accomplish-namely hold
he,iocr true 10 his obligations.
WY should We be so severely can.prnJ
or tue lll-conduct of individual memhers
VINE church members. often violate most
u Tue ten commandments and neor,v
teis canon OF the church, and still the Q
escape that censure which il ac- :,
oiued the Order of Good Tenplars II
We nave no internal process bv which
" art IN . lew moments, transformed q
n.o angels, though the triumphant flourish Il
'nn "nich some outsiders report the 10
W" hiau OF members, and ridiculc the t.
' 'uei, would seem TO indicate that we have ),
Nv erIised TO that effect. Lodges are W
lien TREATED, as quack doctors are deal, a
,,th, who advertise their nostrums 10 cnra II
IL diseases aesh Is heir to, and fail To cnrn -
ny. '''' 10 cure =,
~ oHo presume il simple enough tn %
uppoee .aat merely passing through the e,
i't'atory ceremony changes a Candidates
naacter, any more than a benediction or "
rayer oreathed upon person constitutes ca
Iin christian. 9.
Onr fni,i..i- ~
-, --;.-.--.on service in beautiful and he
IN language, impresses a candidate Ell
IN tue dignity and responsibility of tho on on
y 't,, ne mas assumed-the solemuity OF n
= ooii2alion, the exalted character or an
y reiation into which he enters and ia an
'ahdeur of the work he ia crnec,ad 'a ~,
form. tends to awaken elevated
htiments and aspirations, gives him = =
Nv view OF the ennobling duties and reIa.
1Hs OF human life and platform mon
hch 10 stand when the conflicts between
asoii anu passion-cOnscience and anne
rage hercely within. But the liner :
n9.oary Is not reached until the new T
iue member becomes the recipient of i
az practical sympathy and hearty FELLOW.
lp' winch are the true secret of our snc-
$ as reformatory institution.
i-ct that poor, miserable, gutter drunk
:, deserted by his former friends. slight
oy the professedly pious, scorned hv 30
respectable and fashionable. and elm
sea oy the bad, be awakened to A sense Bar
ms condition and inspired with an AS. etts
auoil Tor a better life, recognized as der
~ porn IN the image of his God. with q
Infinite destiny before him-let him .
" ousht "here he can hear the beatinos - :,