Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-27


es in some Of The churepca ead not ended
the speaker waited until about half an hour
later. The audience began to show signs
OF irapatience for her arrival when some one
began 10 sing the hymn "Sweet BY aud BY, II
and the assembled people joined ia with a
will. While singing the second verse Mrs.
Mason arrived.
The exercises commenced with prayer by
Rev. Il. T. Fairbanks, after which the
speaker read the third chapter Of Corinthi-
ans.
Music was furnished by the choir Of the
Universalist church.
The speaker was introduced by John Ste.
vens, Chief Templar Of the Temple Of Honor,
under the auspices of which order the lee
ture was secured.
Mrs. Mason began by saying that years
ago the slavery question was agita.ed and
discussed in the country until the great
struggle between the North aud the South
was the result. Who would have been wise
enough to predict the downfall Of slavery in
this country dozen years ago2 Earnest
work and heavy sacrifices were made to
bring this result about. The blood Of our
brave Northern youth was shed on the warm
Southern soil, and an empty place left in
many Northern home aud heart, yet even
the testimony Of thousands slain we could
not regret All, no not when God smiled
upon the nation freed from this blacklist
curse as the sons OF America slept in death
on the battle field.
The end Of the rebellion could not then be
seen, and we must not expect now to see the
end Of this temperance reform. The slavery
under which America now suffers is worse
than the other. That only enslaved the
black race, but this affects all and dsturbs
the homes of all. When this curse had be :
come so great that the women 10 the West
cried out against it, it meant something
The pulsations commencing with the women's
movement have stirred the whole nation, be-
cause the movement is born of God. Dc
we suppose when women are awakened as
these Western women we're that the effect
will die away in week Who will blame
those who Notwithstanding their womauhood
engaged in the battle aud appealed to the
God who rules nations? These women used
moral suasion.
Our temperance laws should be enforced.
We should have state officer whose BUSH
ness it should be to see that the
liquor law is enforced, but law and
moral suasion must 60 hand in hand.
A child needs both love and 6rmness in it:
government. The child that is brought up
in fear without love is dwarfed and deform-
ed in its moral nature. Love must go with
law to be effective.
Que thing essential to success in this
cause is consistency. She had seen pro.
fessed temperance men who talk temperance
loudly, but if they do not drink themselves
they will treat their friends. 1t is to be re.
GREETED that in this beautiful aud COMPARE
lively temperate village Of st. Johnsbury
some of those who stand the highest-leaders
of society-have wine in their houses and
upon their tables. Little things count, even
in the temperance cause.
Men will preach and pay for temperance,
but who will U0te for it? Men Of st.
Johusbury, where is your manhood, that
politics should thus disgrace you, and make
you so far forget this noblest of causes as to
vote for rum Do not talk temperance aud
then vote rum. Be consistent. We women
ask you men, who have the ballot in your
hands, to vote down rum. Aud when you
arrest and fne crew Of drunken rioters, do
not fine them S25 but 1925.
Give US justice, and have back bone
enough to enforce the laws. But there'is
nothing so powerful as love and prayer
Though this seems to be a more than COM
monty temperate town, there is need enough
OF reform, even here.
Women of st. Johnsbury, make your
homes attractive. Greet your husbands
and brothers with love and smiles, instead OF
with frown Of discomfort, when they come
home, aud they will feel that home is n more
attractive place to spend the evening in than
the bar-room or the grog shop.
Young ladies, do not offer the tempting
cup to your gentlemen friends. She could
remember few years ago when her own sis
ter sat up late at night awaiting the coming
of him with whom she had entrusted her
happiness for life. When the gray morning
had almost come, he was brought to heI
pale and cold and stiff as they had found
him upon the Aagstones. The wife did moi
need to be told what had brought him to
this. Seven years ago she had given him
the glass that had started him on the down
ward road, and now she reaped the fruit OIL
her folly. ...
Under the waving pines in the far Yves
is mound beneath which lies the form of &
loved brother, and in the place she calls
home in New Hampshire sits mother, gaz
ing listlessly, at times almost maniac, and
is it wonderful that she is lecturing on TEN.
perance?
We should be glad to give more of Mrs
Mason's earnest appeal for temperance, bu
space forbids.