Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-10
Mass Temperance Meeting.

Mass Temperance Meeting.
Never has Trinity yostry been more crowded on
The occasion Of temperance gathering than or
sunday evening last; and seldom, II ever, ha.
there been more interest manifested in the caus,
than was shown at that meeting sc an earl,
hour the crowd began To- assemble. aud continued
To do -o as long as there was any room 10 assem-
BILE H. ENtn seats were placed in all the aisos
yet many were compelled to stand, and man,
moro found 1t impossible to find even standing
ROOM and were Obliged to go away The number
present has been estimated at from ten to lively,
hundred people, and We feel comparatively WI,
/ in placing II at the latter number The announce
mont that L. ]. nnmni. Esq, Of this village
would speak in the interest OF the Reform Club
in company with C. e. Frost, Esq, was sufficient
to draw this great multitude Of people to th,
meeting. The regular evening church meetings
save that at Christ church-were set aside 10 af
ford all an opportunity TO Join in this meeting
and give fresh impetus TO the grand aud worth,
cause
w. e. Perrin, ESQ presided at the meeting
After prayer by Rev. Mr Wright the chairman
introduced Mr. Durant rs the first speaker " IN,
evening Mr. Dumnt began by saying that D,
thanked the Reform Club and those interested In
temperance, for permitting him 10 stand befor,
them. lie felt great deal better standing iher,
than he ever felt before lie had made mp Mi.
mind 20 quit the company Of Rum. and he and
the latter had dissolved partnership lle had
done this Tor two reasons-one was a personal
reason. and the other was that in the long period
OF their partnership, Rum had always beaten him
There were those who had thrown out accusations
OF his falling since he signed the pledge; he did
not care for their talk but pitied them rs men de-
void Of soul He went on 10 give a brief sketch
Of his past lie lie remembered hi. first glass.
lie thought he could manage the matter very
we'll but found himself mistaken, and was led
down into the depths. lie expressed many re-
grcis at the years he had wasted In devotion u
King Alcohol, and spoke in an earnest manner Of
the bright prospects which had been dimmod and
blighted by intcmpeance Speaking 10 those
outside The club he claimed that any could stop
drinking who had the will TO say 50. II one had
talent 1t should not be hid in a napkin or buried
he bottle of rum. lie spoke earnestly concern
Ing the influence for evil exerted in families
where liquor is brought upon the table and used
ia the sight Of those who have as set acquired mo-
appetite for &C. Christians, he said. should pray
foUcnuy Tor this causc-oifer not cold. freezing
prayers, hut warm, earnest petition, for those who
are addicted to this evil llc had thought this
matter over some ten days before taking the final
step lie had been encouraged since ho resolved
TO lei rum alone and he most heartily thanked
those especially the ladies-who had so well
cared COR and strengthened him in these DAYS Of
trial
Mr. pumnt spoke for about au hour, and held
the close attention Of the audience throughout.
Many hearts reioieed as he told Of the manner in
which be- had been won over to Temperance. and
surely there were none present who wished him
aught but success in the new life
Following Mr. Dumnt, Mr. C. C.. Frost spoke Tor
almost an hour with bis usual warmth and earnest
ness he said he came TO listen to the speech Of bis
friend numnt, and Doc lad been very much graft.
fed in so doing His remarks were to a great ex-
tent upon the poweroi influence, and he besouelft
Dis hearers to see TO it that their influence was
on Che side Of right 40 one nan-no one wo-
man-can take this matter up and carry it for
ward alone All must unite in the work. and
then 10 will DE % success. Some whom he had
met bad advised him 90 stay in New Hampshire.
Tor there was mo- need Of temperance work in Yer
nout DE himself Thought there vas great need
OF Do, for he had seen more rum drinking in por-
tons OF the state than ho had ever seen before.
lie spoke strongly in favor OF hand-shaldng-that
is, he deprecated keeping away from fellow
ship with the rcformer- account Of social posi-
ton. This reform worl-or association with it
does not lower men. on the contrary, it elevates
them and brings them where they ought 10 be
There should be a feeling Of brotherhood in this
matter lie denounced the keeping Of sideboards
or rnm-holes-in the home, and cited cases in
which those ,idehoards, or the contents Of them.
had been the cause Of the ruin Of Young men.
lie was loud in bis praises Of the good work the
ladies are doing, and urged them to continue as
long as there WAS work 10 be done Mr. Frost
a. an know who have heard hints an able and
interesting speaker; but ON this occasion he
seemed doubly in earnest, and urged upon the Re
form Club such methods of dealing with the rum
sellers as would make them cease their nefarious
traffic. They must be given to understand that
they must stop This work Of killing mems souls
and bodies
About sixty new names were added to the
pledge at the close Of the meeting, and we trust
the influence Of that meeting will be felt in every
home 600 our town