Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-06-01

spirits) net in the little shoe shop occu-
pied BY Parker Bros. to see what could
be done to stay the pestilence that was
sweeping the town. blighting the moral
and financial prospects, of many OF Its
ablest inhabitants. Some one of the num-
Der had heard of an organization of Good
Templars, whose aim was to Danish IN
temperance from the land. 1t was as
the straw grasped by the drowning man,
but there might be chance. Applica-
ton was made to Rev. Pliny HI. White,
then at the head of the order In this
State, and eight years ago. charter
was granted, under which Mount Norris
Lodge No. 2. [. o. of G. T. was organ
lied. presto. ehange.) Numbers ca
ger to avail themselves of any means
whereby they might be saved from the
evils of intemperance, presented them
selves for admission the Lodge grew in
numbers and influence and on this 9th
anniversary night it has on its roll of
membership, two hundred and sixty-sev-
en- names. This in town of only nine
hundred and forty-two inhabitants, and
these scattered over large territory.
That the Lodge has had, and stlll
has enemies, we regard as the best evil
dence that it has to a great extent been
successful in its efforts. Some are op-
posed to Good Templarsm because it is
a secret organization. To such we can
truthfully say, the only secrets connect
ed with our institution, are our signs of
recognition, and pass words and signals
for entering Lodge while in session. The
grand object for which we labor, is the
suppression of the greatest of all evils
intemperanee.
There is another class who stand aloof
because the Lodge embraces the worst
society in town." To this charge we
gladly plead guilty. for if the charge
cannot be sustained, we have failed tC
accomplish our object. While we regret
being deprived of the society and assist
ance of this class of persons, candor com.
pels US to say those who are already
above the reach of temptation would
probably MT be benefited by associat
ing with us as a Lodge. In short oul
object is to reclaim those already SUM
low in the scale of human degradation al
well as to save the young and virtu's from
falling into the snares of the tempter.
Others still have kept back becaus'
they suppose the Lodge would be shor
lived, expensive while itshould last. an,
that it would accomplish nothing. Fo
the benefit of these let US look for mo
ment and see what has been accomplish
r ed by the Lodge, nobly assisted by tn
5 many friends of temperance and reforr
!, who are not connected with our order.
5 Eight years ago rum was plentier tina
money rum bottles plentier than books
D To-day We thank God that liquor ca
? scarcely be obtained in town that i
2 place of bars filed with bottles Of hqui
: misery. destruction and death, we hav
$ a small but choice library of books.
IS Eight years ago there were no settle
). ministers in town, and but one meetin
house To-day there are two resideI
preachers of the gospel and three ehurcl
# es.
= Eight years ago the Town Liqu
Agent sold nearly six hundred dolla
worth of liquor in one year, and it
# stated by those posted, that two-thir
Of the liquor used in town during tt
same time was obtained from other sour
es. This being granted, we have a
- tai of eighteen hundred dollars paid o
= for that which was infinitely worse tn;
" useless, in one year, by community 4
- exceeding at that time eight hundr
= and sixty. An amount equal to the e
y tire grand list of the town for the sal
:. year. An amount but little less tn
- the tax raised to defray the expenses
= the town for that year, which was tn
teen hundred dollars. and the entire e
III pense of maintaining the Lodge from
hg organization to the present time, whit
Ell every thing included, amounts to ;
en- hundred and seventy-eight dollars a
OF seventy-fve cents.
In Eight years ago, dram drinking v
eS the rule-abstinenee the exception.
u.s. day temperance is the rule, drunkenn
Wis the exception.
lso Eight years ago, all who chose, S,
liquid damnation in unlimited quar-
ties, without fear or favor. To-day
Of there is a place in town where iql
at can be obtained, it is known only to
few. That public sentiment has ehal
ed for the better in this respect may
:. seen By the fact that soon after the
;nc form movement began, new hotel '
- built here, and run until few mon
ont ago on the strict temperance plan.
few months since n strong atternnt !