Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-15

NJ A"o "ppob WhstunhusWerhhle. 1he
moral power Of the occasion was irresistible.
Elder Apathy was good man al heart
He had become convinced Of his mistake.
Tom BliDn's cry Of agony, and Sister Brad
shaw's appeal overcame every sonse of
clerical proprlety He dropped down on
bis knees and prayed. Every head WIS
bowed. Every heart was awed ms the Holy
Spirit stirred his soul, and moved his Inns.
as Il had never done before. He prayed for
the prosperity Of the lodge and Gods bless
ing to rest on its labors. He prayed for him
self. for Tom Blinn, and every one present
II was ~ prayer full of earnestness and fer
vor. The house was hushed to perfect still
ness until II was ended Almost the entire
audience had been shocked at Elder Apathy's
refusal to. pray ut the opening Of the meet
ing. And now that he had prayed. and even
invoked Gods blessing to rest ON the lodge.
and its labors, the revulsion Of feeling was
complete, the effect understandable.
AS soon MS the prayer was ended, Sister
Bradshaw rose and said
We cannot take Tom Blnn into the lodge
tonight, for the lodge is not in session
But here is pledge | have drawn up.
Come right up here, Tom, and sign IL. IL
will keep You safe until you can enter tho
lodge, Your example will be worth more
to us than the example of n hundred who
had never been in the gutter. Your name
shall head the roll of honor, then all the
rest can follow. When Tom Blinn's name
went on the pledge followed by Elder APP
athy's, Of his own free will, burst of ap-
plause went up that made the school house
ring.
Four other inebriates followed with their
signatures. Then came long list Of mon,
women and children. almost the whole NOR
nj force Of Harrison. The meeting was u
success wholly unlocked for The tragic
occurrences which had Immediately pre-
ceded the meeting, paved the way for its
success.
Rescue Lodge was also success and tri-
umph. Before the week ended nearly a
dozen inehrintes were initiated into its mys-
teries, even Elder Apathy had taken its SOL
emn obligation to abstain from wine and
cider and to labor to reclaim the fallen.
and save others from falling. The next
Sunday the church was filed to Overlooking.
There had not been such an oulpouring for
years. Elder Apathy announced his text:
"Wine is u mocker; ST. ong drink is rag
ing, and whatsoever is deceived thereby, is
not wise"
Elder Apathy did not go hack ON the lodge.
lie had been startled out of his lethargy to
see his error, and his whole soul had be-
come enlisted In the temperance cause.
He acknowledged his mistake, and prom
ised his future course should redeem the
past. His sermon was so earnest and con-
vincing, that the friends of the cause went
home rejoicing. The rumsellers stole away
crestfallen. feeling sure that their wicked
traffic would be- broken up and destroyed.
Rescue Lodge prospered from that hour.
II was II great moral power In the place.
Its members soon swelled to two hundred
names and only one or two of the reformed
inebrlntes ever went hack To their cups.
Elder Apathy's church:was crowded with
listeners. Before the year ended a great
reformation commenced, More persons
were added TO the church that year, than
had been admitted for dozen years pre-
vious. Among them were several reformed
inebriates, Tom Blinn taking the load As
these once degraded beings came up to tho
baptismal font, with clean hands and pure
hearts, Elder Apathy's soul WAS filed with
Unspeakable joy. and he recalled the words
that are written:
"He which cont erteth the sinner from the
error OF his way, shall save n soul from
death, and shall hide n multitude Of sins ;"
Elder Apathy had learned that social in
tercourse and sympathy are the most sue
cessful Of all means TO reach the impenitent.
Moreover. ho had learned that as long Ms
the spiritual shepherd sits unconcernedly In
his fold, the lost sheep never come home to
be found. The shepherd must go out and
seek them, or they will be destroyed
Rescue Lodge continued to flourish
Every rum shop in the village was closed
Drunken men no longer reeled through the
streets Mothers could sit by their fresides
through the long winter evenings. and moi
tremble lest their sons wore being tempted
to enter the dram shops where they would
be dragged down 10 destruction. Temper.
ancr and virtue walked the streets hand il
hand, a blessing to all.
Sister Bradshaw has gone home to glory
Death came suddenly, but she was prepared
for it. She had time to commend her boy,
to the care of the lodge, and the Lord, anc
then closed her eyes in perfect peace. Her,
is the white robe and starry crown. tn,
crown of life everlasting; for It is written
AS ye did tunto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye did it unto me-" And again
The giving of II cup Of cold water, shall il
no wise lose its reward ~