Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-10-30
A Plea for temperance.

Ed. Register-We have heard since
the Leetown Encampment pretty free
discussion of the question "Do secret
organizations advance the cause of
Temperance And we have heard
with surprise some intelligent men, men
who call themselves christians, take the
negative side of the question. They
bring some such plea as the following
to defend their side We like to see
everything done openly. Why don't
you come out and let the world see
what you are doing? Why have any
secret about it any way' Others say,
you profess to found your Temperance
Orders on the Bible, where can you find
foundation enough for any secret socie-
tys Again others say, "What good
have your Temperance Orders douei"
We propose TO answer these objections
in feeble way, and will try to show to
your readers some of the grounds upon
which we base our belief. In the first
place we would reply to the first ques-
ton yankee like) by asking another.
How could we work in union, in con-
cord all over the world unless we worked
under the same laws and rules? Which
we really do. All over the globe, where
ever the English language is spoken
and wherever civilization rules, you will
find the same passwords, the same sig
nails, and the same rules, which the
Good Templars OF West Virginia use.
The same password which will admit
you into the lodge room at Leetown
will admit you to any lodge room in
the world.
Now, / ask if there were no secret
signs and Signals, would there be any
successful organization Were it not
for this common tie that binds these
men together in one great bond of
Brotherhood, would they take the same
interest in it that they now do? No.
In answer to the second objection,
I'VE would refer those that bring that
plea, to the XXXV chapter of Jere-
miah. Let them read the history of
that remarkable people, the Rechabites,
who swore that they would never more
drink wine, and that will be answer
enough. But even if we had no Bible
platform to stand upon, Oh, does not
the cry OF oppressed nations who are
groaning under this great curse call
upon usto stand firm? Temperance
men of the world? Do you want
foundation to stand upon, we reply,
Take the bleaching bones fthose slain
in this awful contest, build up pyra-
mid that shall rear its head to the skies,
aud seal it with the blood of the thou
sands, yes tens of thousands, who have
bowed their heads in the dust, who have
been crushed by the wheels of the Jug
gernaut car, driven by the cursed ty-
rant-rum. Yea, cement it with the
tears that have for ages coursed down
the cheeks of mourning widows, Of dy-
ing children, whose support, whose all
and in all have perished by the agency
of rum Is not this foundation broad
enough for all the Temperance Orders
in the world!
You ask what good have we accom-
plished? In answer we point you to
the noble band ofmen and women all ov,r
our land steadily increasing, moving on
with steady march that must carry all
before it. We point you to the thou
sands of reclaimed drunkards who have
been snatched as "brands from the
burning" We point you to homes
made glad, to hearts made happy by
the reformation of some loved one who
was fast travelling the downward road
to a drunkard's grave and drunkards
he'll. Who has done this great work
We answer the Temperance Orders
throughout the land. VINO can deny
it? Oh, brothers in the Temperance
cause, we have done and are doing
great work
Let us not rest on our oars yet, but
press on to the glorious Future which
is before us when rum will have been
driven from our midst and drunkenness
out of the evils of the Past.
'Lct us then be up aud doing,
With heart for any fate,
Ever watching still pursuing
Learn to labor and to wait
Respectfully,
NEMO.