The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-04-20

all the worse for intemperance, and so
much the more important that society
should be protected against il. If II T.
not a mcaner sin then many others, its
effects are more awful. What sin on
crime in all the long, loathsome caia-
loguc has il not caused? Then whai
else so destroys the body and soul OF the
sinner, makes such an utter wreck Of
one and 50 thwartS all purpose Of crea-
tion! What brings such misery iol
ones family and all concerned? What
effort is more like ihc work of the good
Samaritan them. than to seek 70 reform
the intcmpcratc and 10 prevent. in ever,
possible way, the young from ever fall
ing under the bondage of alcohol
Are not the methods of your society
christian! PRAYER is its primary meth
od. Work. constant and persistent. is
another of its methods. and is in obe-
dicncc TO the command. "tio. work to-
day in my VINEYARDS" or this: 'Occu-
py. till come: or this: 600 and do like
wise" Is it not becoming all things to
all men. to save souls? The employ
mcni of versatility does not prove thai
The work Is moi christian: quite the
contrary. 1t looks TO God for ble..
sing. and then goes forth to wieid all
practical forces to secure the desired
end. II employs woman's power to
captivate mans scnsibilities. for noble
end: enters into social life goes TO the
vendors of alcohol and bcsceches; goes
to the Young. whose habits are forming.
and pledges them to the right hats re
course to the law, and by this last resort.
seeks TO remove temptation from all
classes. Then, "Union" is another
method of its work. Is moi this in obe-
dicncc TO u command only second in
christianity: Glove one another"
Then. are not the results christian
Everywhere your society is toning up
public sentiment. What the christian
women of any community unitcdly de
mand. will become the resistess thing
behind all thrones, which we call pub
lie opinion. Suppose that all the christ
ian women to whom this column is
addressed week by week, should be
come active laborerS in some christian
temperance union. and should demand
for their communities those results
which your Union seeks; how Ion"
would il be before the public sentiment
of Addison county would be toned up
to an active vigor. which most men
would be constrained TO respect!
Then another result; One of the
christian marvels of this day is the
thorough reformation, physically, NOR
ally and spiritually, OF many intempe-
rate men, often ofthose who have fallen
lowest. Who shall say that these trans
formations are not in fulfilment of the
wonderful words of Christ: "Nerilv,
verify, | say unto you, he that believeih
on me, the works that do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall
he do: because 90 unto my father"
Who can go into the tabernacle meet
ings at Boston and hear the testimony
of converted incbriates to the wonder
ful change wrought in them by God, to
the sublime victories they are achieving
without being in awe? One is almost
made to feel that the day of miracles
has returned: al least, that Pentecost
, has come again. They are "greater
, works" than the healing of ordinary dis
/, ease merely. Man after man testifies
that, in answer to PRAYER. God has
taken away his appetite for alcohol
: This feature of the work is not confined
: to Boston. 1t is repetition there OF
, what occurred at Brooklyn, New York
, Philadelphia and Chicago. There arc
) testimonies to like results in some case,
| in connection with the labors of DR.
, Reynolds and others. Who shall say
: that these "greater works are not
+ largely in answer to the faith Of noble
bands of christian women scattered
through the land? This is great WORT
for Christ and his poor, that the guilty
| unbelief with regard to the hopelessnesS
of the drunkard's case is Welding tC
: faith. Let us hail the brighter day anC
| hasten the coming of one still more glo
rious. Rev. +. =. HOOKER.