Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-14
Washington Co. Good rcmplars' Union.

held at Plainfeld, December / |, could not foil
to be convinced that Good Templars, and Good
Tcmplars' Unions. are an established iustitu.
ton. They certainly looked like society Of
men and women determined 10 work earnestly
and faithfully in the cause Of Temperance. a
good number from surrounding lodges were
present, and the services commenced 40 ten
| o'clock a. N. The meeting was called to Or
der by tho Worthy Chief Tumplar of the
Union, }. $. B1tcheldcr, Of Waterbury.
Mr. Nathan skinner, To- his welcome address.
said " am directed By tho officers and meme
bors on the part Of Plainheld Lodge to extend
to you their cordial welcome II ~ with pleas
uro that attempt the execution Of that order.
although with deep regret that ! have found 10
entirely useless toundertake any formal prepa
ration for the performance Of this duty, or to
express 10 You by words that noble sentiment
Of love and high esteem which this Lodge has
Tor the members Of this Union, and for ull the
cO-labOrers in this great cause of humanity
| We are not here ~ examine or discuss cx-
! ternnls, but vital principles principles that mot
only make, but destroy the physical, the
mental, moral and spiritual life. Therefore our
/ greeting 10 You must be from the life within.
which Is not subject 20 the control Of arbitrary
| or inadequate words shall only attempt to
reflect to you some of the sentiments Of this
/ Lodge-nnd then their chosen mirror Il So
rough and unpublished, that fear their image
| may appear very much distorted when COM
pared with the purity Of the original We re-.
/ i0ice 10 greet YOU as those whose labor has not
been in vain, but whose influence for good !.
% Unreasonable MS our greeting is inadequate.
/ You have come 90 as to-day for no selfish pur.
| pose desiring no personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or
fame bringing no political hobbies or creeds
desiring to proselyto 20 no ism but humaninri-
anism. 10 seems the very angels respond
/ " Welcome 10 those whOarc united % overcome
/ the power of the destroyer ard the greatest
curse 10 humanity" But although YOU unite
I with Us as one in principle aud aim. vet.
doubtless, you bring MS many different opinions
as TO the best method Of attaining onr on jcct
rs there are individuals. And wc rl1dlg greet
all these different views that are in harmony
with the whole, and even consider them abs5.
lutely necessary ior II we were all Of one
mind there would be perfect sia9noti0n Ol
thought and consequently no progress what
ever. The beautiful light which surround.
this world is not Of one color only. but the
effect produced by the harmonious union Of nll
the prismatic colors. May an the different
shades of opinion among You harmonic iu
like manner, So that the Good rcmpars' or.
ganization may become like " city that is SET
on bill whose light cannot he hid, 80 but shull
become the guiding star todrcct errng human
lty 20 higher level than il has heretofore at
tanned. And allow me to say that the present
occasion gives strong evidence Of the attain
ments OF such results. Your pleasant and in
telligent countenances indicate that you have
your lamps trimmed and burning, with more
oil in your vessels than can be consumed on an
occasion like this ami we sincerely hope that
our present session may be as efficient for good
ms any that have preceded It, Washington
County Good Iemplars Union, although Of So
humble origin. his by the progress OF events
been developed into body that possesses
beauty. symmetry and strength
" Three years ago the present month Che
members Of Plainfeld Lodge sent proposal o.
lafayette Lodge 10 unite with them and Cabot
Lodge alternately. The proposal was accepted
on the part Of each Lodge. and LAFAYETTE Lodge
being in the center, our first meeting was mp.
pointed and held there At that meeting a
constitution was adopted, giving it the name OF
Washington County Good Templars Union,
which was 10 consist Of the three Lodges and
as many others IN the County as should there
after unite with them And it j. with great
pleasure that the humble origiuat0rs OF these
meetings have watched the growth of this body
until they have seen ITS just proportions
rounded out by members from each llj.c iu
/ the County
But our crafty aud powerful enemy insult
I ingly inquiries, W hat have You d0ue2 What
have You accomplished by all your meetings
/ your trouble, labor, time and EXPENSE And
| the thOughtless crowd, whose minds have been
destroyed by the enemy, send back the echo,
| What have you done2 Accomplished let
/ those reply whose sobered words come through
| the CRATES at tie shire town Of this County
/ Accomplished Has not this organization had
some influence that has assisted in reaching
the highest point Of civilization, yet attained,
viz the maintenance Of law, law made hy the
| people, and for the people? Then let US, in the
words Of st. Paul, when he had progressed go
far in his la5orious journey as 10 come IN sight
Of the three tayerns-let US Thank God and
take courage.
Rev. Mr.. Cobleigh, of Lafayette Lodge, in
response, said, a person unacquainted with
Good 1emplars would be surprised TO see so
pleasant, intelligent and law-abidng citizens
as the audience before him gave promise Of
They were represented to be a class Of person.
who made it their business to NEEDLE with the
affairs Of others, and tO interfere with the right.
Of other people. Bat it was not so. We, as
Good Templars, meant TO teach others to
mind their own business that the rumseller
must not NEEDLE with ours By entering and
Decorating our homes, taking the happiness
and Joy from our hearthst0nes by running our
lairest flowers and blighting our tenderest buds
OF promise. lie knew that it did not require
much courage 10 get up in n Good Templnrs
meeting and make n " bunc0mbe - speech,
where all were friends but be hoped to live 20
. see the time when men would he ready and
willing to stand up for temperance in all
places, that they would have sufficient back
bone 70 sign any paper necessary for the en-
iorcement Of the law. Then there would be an
influence that would be felt, and our enemies
would fear US
A report from each Lodge represented, came
next in order, and were very gratifying to those
who have the welfare of humanity at heart. Il
! showed growing interest in the cause II
was visible that there were men and women So
unselfsh, and with so much love for their fell
low beings, that they were willing to give tim,
and money 10 advance this common cause.
The following resolution was offered and
unanimously adopted
\ Rs0lred, That the Washington County
Good Templars Union do heartily approve nnC
commend the action Of the States Attorney
, VIM. p. Dillingham; in the enforcement Of the
, prohibitory law.
Remarks for the good # the order occupie.
: the time until noon, when the meeting was nd
! ourned Refreshments were furnished in th,
yestry by the Good Templar, of Plainfeld,
At two o'clock the meeting was again called
to order, andan Essay was read By Miss llarris
= Of Cabot Lodge-a poem, by Rev. Mr. Elan
ders, OF Lafayette Lodge, and defamation b.,
2 Il young hu from W hltsntll Lnuge-ull O
, which were well received by the audience
? The question for discussion was
Resoired, That lermentei wines shoulC
, never be used in the administration of the sa
crament Of the Lords Supper,
, hardly think that any question could hay,
created more excitement than thls-yet pericc
good nature regned throughout the meeting
W hen at the end Of the discussion, a yot,
r was called for, and all but two rose in favor Of
no fcrmeafed piRe at the communion table, Il
showed very plainly how public opinion stood
in the matter
Col Mead lectured 10 the evening, but he i,
so well known and appreciated that comment
is unnecessary | think it is the prevailing
opinion that the Union at Plainfeld was a sue
+ cess.
WEST ToPsHM Rev. p. n. Granger, STATE
Temperance Agent, lectured at the Unior
church, in this place, on Thursday evening
January lst. After the lecture the pledge wa.
circulated, ana over sixty signatures obtained
There is quite an interest awakened here loi
the cause.
The Week of Prayer was duly observed
Rev. o. A. Farley, assisted by Rev. NJ. Jen
I kins, Of Waits River, were very jealous If
their efforts to awaken tho professor, reclaim
the backsider, and to convict and convert tn,
sinner.