St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-06-02
A Word to Reform Clubs.

A Word to Reform Clubs.
We cannot possibly conceive of any
thing more wise or timely than the fol
lowing advice to our Reform Clubs.
which comes to lis without any author.
but which Is worthy of being painted
III letters of gold over the door posts of
every club room, us showing the true
way to Il genuine and thorough reform ::
Il think that the most lonesome and
dISconsolatc of all things is what call
il dry reformation for Il man who has
been liquid sinner. Drinkin" men
have hard times but then they have
Jolly times too. They feel good for Il
while every day. Where IA man lives
IN II squalld house, and has Il Scoldinu
wife (and every woman is justified in
Scoldlng who has Il drunken huSband).
and he Is cold, and there is no fire and
no light, and nothing to eat and
nothing to drink, and he goes round the
corner, and there iS some one there that
>laps him on the back. and calls him
"old fellow" and SAYS. "Whv didn't
You come sooner ?" and sets him down
and brings him a fo;lming tumblcr. and
he drinks. and it is light and warm. and
"Iom, and Bill come in. he feels.
"Nrll, tins Is something like till he
goes INTO Il temperance meeting. where
he has opened before him the dangers
and the sue destruction Cor il is sure).
and then he L. appalled, AT his perilou>
situation. and. in IL parnNNsm OF right
feeling. he determines that he will stop
his dissipation, and he signs the pledge
And now he has Il time of it , Was there
ever anNthing 50 diSconSolate as viItuc
under such circumstances The man i
not going t" have anything more to
drink he is all unStrung 4: he is gloomy
gloomy III the morning. gloomy all
day. gloomy all night he has horrid
dreams. Besides things are not mend
ed III an hour. \ man cannot build up
all at once what it has taken him ten
Years Ia destroy. And his wife does
not become an angel orr saint III IL min
ute. lie Is deprived of his companions.
lie does not dare even To look in at the
window OF the place where everything
Is :" tempting. He is told To keep away
from 1t. He tries To do >omethimr, but
he cannot get work. Nobody wants To
trust him. Ever body knows what his
reputation l.. and gives him II clear
berth. lie Is Il poor wretch. phN NSicallI
hlokcn down. impoverished. without
occupation and the "meanS OF grace"
at home aIc more than he can bear.
lie Is Try ing t" keep temperate. but il
Is hard aud my wonder is. not that 81
many z" back. hul that amy ever go
forward under such circumstances.
But suppose, Il man should take the
trIIt. and SI,,ui.l
undertaken to reform my self. not mere.
lN hec;ln>" drink, but hecau>c | am in
need of Il higher and better life and il
l. my purpose. 10y the ylace of God. to
hc II man all over not alone III my
mouth. The resolution Is Il good one
and say tn him. Go forward. Go
where there are Christian men and
Christian women pray ing. and say To
them. Pray for me. Go and vow. i
am for life; and if die. will die Strug-
CLING tor >;IlVation.' Go with tears into
the sanctuary where there are hearts
that know how to echo the sorrow of
other hearts. and say, Life life life,
Save me from the fire. from the flood. .
from the wulNc>r &" for the whole. .
&" tor everything. TO for drcrncN. |
for n"wlcdgr. for industry. fnr piety.
t"r ialth. tor loving other people. Then f.
II Will not he ;" d"lrtul. Then il will /.
not hc :" dark"
When men undertake t" fight these
demon appctitr> on the lower plane. /
without Larger purpose. and without .
the help of their higher selves. it l., .
hard work but when the, undertake. To
fight them on the higher plane. with Il .
largrrpnrp"Sr. and with the help ofIhcir
higher selves. ii is not 81 hard Ii i> /
ra>lcl T." :" the whole than to 20 one
tenth. II Il man really wants to reform
let HIM make up his mind To- build his .
all over. and he will find that |
II l. ra>irI. hrcau>r he will have the .
the moral help inside of him |
self of the newly awakened faculties of .
feelings. III controlling the old sinful /
passions. Icrmom Chronicle.