The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-13
KENosHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 1877

has followed. In my experience in the
work never felt more confident of
success by temple than when / parted
with the Warm-hearted brothers of i
Racine, No. 76, on the goth Of last No
yember. The least that can be said, |
in this connection, on this happy occa-
sion, is that the success has been vast
ly greater, the victories more glori-
Gus, the effect more noble, the results
grander and more widespread than [
had dared to hope for. My heart
warns toward the noble men whose
labors and valiant deeds have resulted
in such triumphs, have been the means
of garnering such bounteous harvests. |
What are these successes, these tri-
umphs? God alone, who knows and
sees everything, knows all of the good
that has been done by this temple
during the eventful year that has Just
come to a close. And yet, who that
looks over this vast assemblage cannot
see unmistakable evidences oil
some of the triumphs? During the
year more than 800 men. more than
200 Of whom have drank more or less,
have bowed at the altar and taken al
VOW as binding and sacred as VOW can
be made. Friends, these are some of
the victories. The fires of love and
hope have been rekindled in many
brests; and what gladness and com
fort and hope these new-made fires,
famed to flame abeatour altar, have
been carried to hearts and homes in
this beautiful Belle City of the West.
These, friends, are more of the triunphs.
See the scores of thoroughly reformed
men. Look into their sparkling eyes
and happy faces. Hear the prayers
in behalf Of the temple that daily 60
up to God from the grateful hearts of
mothers, wives and children. See the
I,glistening, trembling tear drop that
follows recollection upon the new
found joys in many, SO many now
happy home circles. Who dares to say
that these are not glad triumphs- vic
tories .4lat warm the heart? See the
wonderful change in public sentiment.
Realize that there is mighty power in
the temperance sentiment Of Racine.
Enumerate the long list of homes from
which wine and beer-drinking Gus
toms are forever banished; count the
thousands upon thousands of dollars
that would have been worse than
burned-that would have passed over
saloon counters, but for temperance
work done here the past wear. What
strong evidence of a practical victory
this affords. See the general awake
ming in temperance and church socie-
ties throughout the city, Note the in
crease of confidence in the work-the
|reforn-on the part Of the great mass
of people who, until quite recently,
gave Little or no thought to the great
question, and the respect they have for
you who are laboring so practically in
behalf of the noble cause. This is
among the marked and most eneour-
aging triumphs; for we need not hope
for final success without the respect,
confidence and cooperation Of the
classes in question; and the surest and
quickest way to secure their respect,
confidence and cooperation is to labor
in the future as you have during the
year just closed; to labor earnestly,
practically, personally, tremendously
and with unfinching determination
Such work makes people stop and
think carries conviction.
The good work of your temple has
not been confined to Racine. Looking
a few miles down the shore Of this
great lake we see a city that for years
stubbornly resisted all attempts to in
troduce temperance societies. The re-
peated and determined assaults of Ra-
cine's 'Flying Brigade" composed Of
men full Of love for the order and zeal
in the great work, overcame all obsta-
cles and resulted in the establishment
Of one of the best temples in the State,
many of whose 40 brave members are
here to participate in the ceremQpies
attending the celebration Of their pa
rents first birthday. "Kenosha' is in