Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-03-17
Plan of Work and Circular Letter Of the
Koman's National Christian Temper
onco T-ninn

auce nION.
The following Circular Letter ard Plan of Work was
National Convention. held il Cleveland Nov Is.h l9l
and 2Oth. Isl
DEAR SISTERS:
\ our representatives, women in conven-
ton assembled. at the call of the friends of
temperance reform, under the authority of
Il delegated council, desire to address Won.
We ask of You an earnest consideration OF
the sentiments herein embodied, a gentle
liberation OF seeming imperfections, and :,
hearty cooperation in tie spirit of the en-
tcrprlse.
When, in the providence of God, in the
evolution of the great moral forces that
seem to elevate our race, we stand face to
face with truths Of practical application, "A
decision cannot be evaded. To w:,ver. or
falter, is to fail of our duty to ourselves, to
each other, and to the world Such is now
the position Of every woman in our country
t" whom. in The ligh; OF tile present awak-
enng upon the subject. the question of
tempe celeform appeals. The religious
isi ect under which the work has revived
adds, also Il special s;nctity to its claims
III on the attentions; and rs the movement
has been inauguratcd through the instrl-
mentality of women, with such imme liatc
and wonderful results. the enquiry must
arise spontaneously with every thoughtful
woman, - What ought to do in this mat
ter? The claims of this question cannoj
be conscicntiou>ly ignored. Neither can it
be dismissed unanswered.
year ago we sal by or tirc>ides undis-
tnrbed by the tumult of Il nations uprising.
Now the cry has come up into our cham
bers. and i Voice is heard in every house
hold above the clamor of everyday cares -
a voice in the midnight desolation, every
where wrought by the evil of strong drink.
cryingin all hearts, Prcplrc We the way.
Along the hitherto quiet pathway of life
we have chnced to-day upon 4 place wlIer,
two ways meet: the one. the way of duty
frightening upward to celestial heights
the other. the byway of neglect and indif
ference. darkenIny downward to despair
and death. The hour and call for decision
has come. Choose We th, day whom v
will serve. If the Lord b: Col follow
him. if Bual or Bncchus. follow them'
And the responsibility in this work rest
not on few. In its success all have cqua
interest. and, So Subtle aud in>idjol> al,
the advances of this evil. may lie not adj
equal peril? Who of Il, can predict that
Fl III out of our own cherish ii cirC L. Somt
one may not wander, and stumble, and t;tl
forever?
Moreover. the YORK is to begin at once
in every household. 1t begins with our
selves in honest thought It b gins in oul
domestic life, lii or nursery, and III ON
cookery. 1t TOcS ont IN O social life. .
lhe>c. WON'T II has control by natural r OH
nni to-day, by vir,uc of the seal tia
Heaven las >ct up n her effort of Labor
and PRAYER. Is it too much To say th Il upUr
the tilcl.t} of woman 10 this. her Iii IN call
ing. rests the nation ; tn hrHllmcnt Ol
emancipation from the awful bondage O
intrmpcrancc?
/ Bo;h G. 81 and man have committed thi,
work INTO Uur hands. and because of th
delegated power. each one Of lis. in indi
vidull right and associated relations, stand
( upon Il higher plane ot possibilities an'
powers til IN ever b fore. Anl this meas
ure Of our possibilities measures also on
obligtl ion.
AMI the conf ct and the call are every
where S are also the evil anl the neccsslt,,
for action.
. The trail of the serpent j. over US all,
in forms more or les perc, ptihlc; III on
immc,iilte circle OF neiyhborhOod, anon!
our kindred or acquaintance. An n
abroad in the land paupcr sm and disease
and crime, the results ct lntempclance
crv aloud to us for rel-rSS. No one VIII,
thinks for a moment Will deny that the us
of intoxicating liquors rs Il bcvcIgae Is a
evil physical, mental, and mOral-in evl
only, and that of Il most alarming nature
We need not 90 beyond our personal oh
scrvation to confirm this assertion, and yc
4 glance at the nmen>ity Of the evil in a
aggravated form may serve to awaken on
attention to the necessity Of organized an
universal effort for its Suppression.
To epitomizc the matter, we borrow til
following HatenlcW Of Fj,ctS from the rt
port of Il committee of clergymcn, repre-
scntng one of the largest ecclesiastical ol
carnations of the country
Intemperance j. causing Il constan
drain of property This is equal ever
wear to all that has been expended i
Church enterprise since the landing Of tn
i May -fioWcr' Counting the loss of tim
OF the Incorporate, til outgo of the II:
ti,n> property would load u train of W;
., rs. with u ton ut gold to each Wagon
thirteen m les LONG. Poverty and suffer
ing everywhere result TO the lower cla>sc!
, Among the very highest classes uSetulne>
and g,nlls are qucnched in the rum ga>:
Gro@-~hops are ten times rs frequent ;
both churches and school houses. To tn
: want of Improvement of the .ower clas>o
/ we must add Il njnetoN commission {
crime.
: The imbecility insanity, idiocy. ign'
rance, AMI wicke,ne>S OF the nation II
largely due to this causc The cure of the:
and other classes of sufferers imposes Ill
1
I'll liberty is violttc,l; our homes and veI
existence are rendered unsafe.
To tie sisters, wives and mothers whol
we address. we scarcely need suggest tho'
uncataioguel agonies. none the less unive
Sll. the legitimate and inevitable results
strong drink; the fair form and promise
genius worse than hli@hted, maldened an
l brutalizcd; the army of wrctcheI lnebl
| ates Il hundred thpus#nd strong, year
D recruited from the flower of our tireside
domestic mystery in high and low place:
broken hearts under costly apparel; 81
j weary hearts hid behind the semblance
t a smile; or hnggarl. galnt unmitigatt
V woe of women worse than widowed, al
children whose heritage is a curse.
:. But while we invite attention to the fac
that most clearly Indicate the enormlty
: the prevalence of the evils of intempe
: ance. we wish to say that our hope of ul
9 mate success lis in prevention rather tn;
If cure. We plan AMI lahor especially f
>, the Young. and in this aspect of the ca
t Is only hy the coop ration OF eve
y woman that it will prove 4 success. WI
l. women, us mothers and teachers. and m
IS kerS of public sentiment, rests the fin
! and complete TRUMP of all social reforl
" EveryW here her hand can check the in'
IL picnt evil. Tie invincible Hmm bll W
brought, ut the age of nine, before the
i tars Of the gods TO swear eternal enmi
to Rome So let us pledge our children
the altars Of our faith ;lg inst this mi gh
Moloch.
1t has been more than indicated that t
recent temperance movement is who
religious.