Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-26

| rue CO01S, ana scores turn6u away, GHhpie
to gain admission.
A hundred or more Of the members Of the
club occupied seats on the platform, together
with the mayor, Mr. Huntington and other
prominent citizens Vases Of beautiful spring
flowers adorned the desk. Mr.. Mead, pres
ident Of the club, preside. and the exercises
commenced with the HYMN. Nearer my God
to Thee" sung by the audience, under
the lead Of Mr.. BARLEY. PRAYER was offered
by the Chaplain. The orator of the evening
was l.. l.. Durant, Esq, President of the
Reformed Mems Club of Montpelier, who
| spoke for an hour.
Mr.. DURANT . REMARKS.
After expressing his qualification at the
evidence afforded by a meeting like this.
that this community is thoroughly aroused
on the subject of temperance, Mr.. Durant
gave a brief sketch of his own life-a story
which in its main features has many n fami
liar paralle!-a life begun in q quiet Chris
tan home in Vermont, whose restraints
were abandoned, as the boy began to be a
man, for the less guarded ways of the West;
a return to Vermont with good habits some
what weakened. and 4 taste for stimulants
acquired exposure 10 fresh temptations
while studying the law entrance on his
profession with brilliant prospects; 4
downward course, with steady in
crease OF the appetite for drink, till
| friends, fortune, health, and hopes for
time and eternity were wellnigh lost. But
on the 9th OF April last a light came TO him.
An impulse, strengthened by determination
that his little boy should not grow up to
the disgrace of having a drunkard for his
father, led him to join the Reformed Mems
Club. lie took its iron-clad pledge. and
here reaihrmed 1t before God and man. He
had heard that Il man. well-knOwn in this
community, said that he, the speaker called
for gin and drank IT, at q bar in Burling-
ton, only the evening previous. lie defed
such dciamers, and would advise his SLAM
derer to be getting ready his money to pay
his next fine.
Abiding to the work of the Club, Mr..
Durant said it dealt not with the arm of the
law; but with methods of kindness. This
vice OF lntemperance attacks not the misers,
but the generous and whole-souled and
such are best reached by words of sympathy
and encouragement. lie urged the members
of the Club to 90 on with their good work
to gather round their rescued brothers and
sustain them. They were doing a gro
work, and it was telling on the community.
There is less vice in Burlington TO-DAY than
there was two months ago. lie urged drink
ing men to stop and refect-to ask them
selves what they are doing that is worthy to
live after them-t0 turn over new leaf.
before their moral part has become wholly
blunted and destroyed and hope and fortune
ltt; if they cannot resist the associations
surrounding them, then let them fly from
the city. But act. and act now, for there is
no promise OF the morning. lie urged fash
iOnable, heightened. moderate drinkers, TO
consider the example they are setting, and
to bewBre lest their sons should vet have 1t
To say that they owed their ruin to their
father ; example.
Addressing, finally, the ladies, Mr.. Du-
rant said the women suffered most of all
from the consequences of intemperance and
they could accomplish as much as any In
this cause. Two good women, Mrs. Prentiss
and Mrs. Crossman, Of Lewiston, Maine,
started this movement which is sweeping
over the country and gathering drunkards
BY thousands into clubs like this lie
alluded with feeling to word and acts Of sym
patlry received by himself from ladies, since
his reform. We desire, he said, your pray
ers as We travel amid the pitfalls of temp
but this work cannot 60 on if it Is only
thought of on Sundays and in connection
with church services The drinkers do not
20 to church. They must be sought out
side There j. too much sleepiness in the
churcat~ oa THIS subject. Don't let your
means and good wishes be absorbed by
costly charities at u distance. Let your
charity begin at home This sin must be
erGdlcated. We who stand here a. a warn
ing and a an encourage ent have our
work to do. and it must, most Of it. be done
outside Of the platform. 1t will be life
long happiness If We be the means OF saving
bu; single soul from ruin.
Mr.. Duraut spoke with earnestness and
feeling. and was listened 10 with close at
ton and applauded
K. ;. Styles next spoke in his energetic
style. saying that the cause was glorious
one. and they proposed TO fight it out on
this line This city would be alarmed if a
volcano should burst out from some neigh
boring mountain and deluge the city with
lava; but we have volcanoes here in the
city-sx OF them between College street
and the p9stoiii (Which have been practi-
caily licensed bY the city authorities 10 ped
die damnatiOn. Their keepers own that
their receipts are diminishing. Ore had
told him he had quit selling rum, but he
probably lied. But We must get rid OF
these pest holes And may God hasten the
day when our chief thoroughfare shah not
smell of rum.
At the close Of the meeting a number oil
signatures were added to the pledge, in
GLIDING those Of some ladies.
The reform movement IN this city certain
~ shows no signs of falling of in yigor and
enthusiasm. and gives evidence OF most
gratifying and beneficial results.
THE MOVEMENT AT ST. ALBANs-rRorcsED FINE
CLUB H0USE-NR. 4 KELyEY WATCHED.
The Women's Temperance Union. Of st
Adams, have decided TO secure a commoii-
Gus, pleasant and centrally located club
house. divide 1t into several apartments
adOrn and furnish them suitably and offer
them to the Reform Club as their head
qulrterS-their one sufficient and attractive
resort. There will be a smoking room,
rooms Tor various innocent games, and u
room for reading. writing, business discus
sion and general club purposes. 4 com
mittoe Of three was appointed 10 secure
suitable club room, and Il committee OF one
from each OF the churches was appointed to
organize effort among the ladies Of their
respective societies, looking mainly, in the
first instance, to the procurement OF funds
The Reform Club now numbers over one
hundred members.
Al 1.-THE close Of Mr. McKelvcy's last meet
ing, ne was presented with an elegant
watch-a fine Swiss movement, stem wind
ing. open faced, handsomely encaSed in
silver and gold-bearlng the inscription.
" To J. r. Mekelyey from the St. Adams
Reform Club, May Is, 1876" The preSen-
tation was a complete surprise to Mr.. Me
Kelyey. With tears streaming down his
checks and voice choked. he turned to the
audience, and, saying simply, I" Ladies and
gentlemen | am beaten, reiterated behind
the club to the rear of the platform. Soon
regainlng control of his feelings, he returned
to the front and made ielicitous speeches IN
acceptance Of the gift.
BENNINGTON. The only exhibition of
Bennlngtons industries at Philadelphia is
made by q. Hayden Day. q manufacturer
of surgical splints. lie Is the only manu-
facturer OF these goods in the United
States.
Mrs. Stay, who ran away from her = hub
by dear" the other day, returned last Sat
urday.
Hon. T. W Park will hold a reception
for the Park Light Guards at his elegant
mansion in North Bennington after the
ceremonies on Decoration Day.
May is skim-milk month
When ieebly does tie pulse stir
faint warm enough for calico coat,
And you feel like a fool in an lister.
SOME NOTABLE LOVE SONGs.-A CaliIor-
MIA paper prints the following Chinese love
song;