Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-26
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
lCosrRBUrED By THE WOMEN TEMPERANCE UsIoS.I
WORD To REFORM CLUBS.

WORD To REFORM CLUBS.
We cannot possibly conceive of anything
more wise or Timely than the following ad-
vice to our Reform Clubs, which comes to
Us without any author, but which is worthy
OF being painted in letters of gold over the
door posts OF every club room, as showing
the true way to genuine and thorough re-
form:
- think that the most lonesome and dis
consulate of all things is what | might call
dry reformation for a man who has been a
liquid sinner. Drinking men have hard
times; but then they have Jolly times too.
They feel good for while every day.
Where man lives in squalid house. and
has scolding wife land every woman is
justified in scolding who has drunken hus-
band). and he is cold, and there Is no fire
and no light. and nothing to eat and moth
ing to drink, and he goes round the corner,
and there is some one there that slaps him
on the back, and calls him old fellow
and says, Why didn't YOU come sOOner?'
and sets him down and brings him foam
ing tumbler, and he drinks. and it is light
and warm, and there are pictures, and
jim and Tom and Bill come in, he
feels, Well. this something like till he
goes into temperance meeting, where he
has opened before him the dangers and the
sure destruction (lor it is sure), and then be
Is appalled, al his perilOus situation, and. IN
paroxysm Of right feeling, he determines
that he will stop his dissipation, and he
signs the pledge. And now he has time
OF 1t Was there ever anything 50 discon-
solate as virtue under such circumstances?
The man is not going to have anything
more to drink; he is all unstrung he is
gloomy-gloomy in the morning, gloomy all
day, gloomy all night; he has hOrrid
dreams. Besides, things are not mended in
an hour. a man cannot build up all at
once what it has taken him ten years 10 de
stroy. And his wife does not become an
angel or a saint in a minute. lie Is de-
priyed of his companions. lie does not
dare even look in at the window of the place
where everything Is so tempting. lie l. t1ld
TO keep away from it. He tries to do some
thing, but he cannot get work. Nobody
wants to trust him. Everybody knows
what-his reputation is. and gives him q
clear berth. He Is a poor wretch. physi-
eally broken down, Impoverished, without
occupation; and the means of grace at
home are more than he can bear. lie i
trying to keep temperate but it i hard
and my wonder il, not that 50 many 90
back, but that any ever 90 forward under
such circumstances.
- But suppose 3 man should take the
true course and should say, have under
taken to reform myself. not merely because
drink, but because | am in need OF high
er and better life; and it is my purpose, by
the grace of God, 20 be a man all over-not
alone in my mouth The resolution Is
good one and | say to him, Go forward
Go where there are Christian men and
Christian women praying. and say to them,
: Pray for me- Go and VOW, | am for
life; and if die, will die struggling for
salvation Go with tears into the sanctu-
ary where there are hearts that know how
to echo the sorrow of other hearts, aud say,
= Life lifel life Save me from the fire,
from the flood, from the wolves Go Tor
the whole. Go for everything. 60 for de-
cency, for knowledge, for industry, for
pie,y, for faith. for loving other people
Then it will not be SO doleful. Then 1t will
not be so dark
When men undertake to fight these de-
mon appetites on the lower plane, without
a larger purpose, and without the help OF
their higher selves. it is hard work bus
when they undertake to fight them ON the
higher plane, with larger purpose, and
with the help of their higher selves, 1t *
not so hard. 1t is easier to 90 the whole
than to 90 one-tenth. If a man really
wants to reform, let him make up his mind
to build his manhood all over, and he will
find that it Is easier, because he will have
the stimulus. the moral help inside OF him
self, of the newly awakened Faculties or
feelings, in controlling the old sinful pas
- 4 traugrig