Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-22
Grand Lodge OF Good TempIars.

the Vermont Grand Lodge Of Good Templars were
introduced on Tuesday evening Of last week by
public reception ut IIowe's Hall, Mortified The
! hall was tastefuy decorated with evergreen and
over the stand Of the presiding officer was large
arch bearing the word " Welcome" and beneath
the arch triangle inscribed with the triple motto
Of the order, " Faith, Hope, Charity" II has been
customary for the Grand Lodge to hold "mass
meeting" at the close Of It's session in any place
but the idea Of q public reception, given by the
people Of the town, Is new. The hall was filled
TO its utmost capacity, every inch OF standing
space being occupied The audience was COM
posed in great part, Of course, Of persons from
different portions Of the town, although members
Of the Grand Lodge wer present in large numbers
The meeting was called 10 ordera seven o'clock
| by Hon. Heman Carpenter, and the exercises were
opened by the Glee Club, with the anthem, Sing,
IIallelniah;" and this was followed by prayer by
the Rev o. NJ. Boutwell,, and the Glee Club then
gave the anthem, How excellent il thy name"
In a few well chosen and happily put expressions
Judge Carpenter granted the "freedom Of the
city to the visiting Tempars in behalf of the
citizens Of the town Hon. j. H. circuit followed
with few words of welcome in behalf Of the viii
lage, and spoke Of the Good Templars as an or
|
the formation Of public opinion in Vermont
After the anthem Father, o hear u.s." by the
Glee Club Rev. William S. Tlazen welcomed the
members Of the Grand Lodge in behalf of the
churches, speaking with unusual force and earn
estness, and characterizing the two organizations
as co-workers in common field. Dr. +. d. Brad
ford next presented the greetings Of the fraternity
Speaking of the multiplicity Of organizations and
nth hnr af.
| Tcmplary." Rituals may change and forms NAV
be altered, but the principles of the order will
live, for they are eternal. Starting twenty.seven
years ago in an obscure village in western New
York, 1t is now limited only by the bound. of civ
| lzation.
At the close Of DIR. Bradford's remarks wei.
come poem was read for Mountain Gem Lodge,
South Mortified, by Mrs L. X Jones, and so well
was it received, that Mrs. Jones was requested by
vote Of the audience to furnish n copy for the
Grand Lodge archives.
After the reading of the poem, members OF
Goudsville Lodge sang, in an admirable manner,
Greeting Glee. Following this, Grand Worthy
Chief Tempar Folsom thanked the people Of
Mortified for the very pleasing manner in which
they had welcomed the Grand Lodge, and as
sured them of the hearty good will OF that body
After the singing of the glee IIark It's the
trumpet sounding" the Grand Worthy Chaplain
Rev. A. b. Truax, was introduced and gave one of
his characteristic and ringing addresses Then
came the glee THE Wandering Savoyard" and
the exercises were closed by the benediction by
Rev. Mr. Kimmell
Many persons were obliged to leave being I'M
able to find even standing room, and of the nearly
six hundred who were in the hall all seemed
pleased with the exercises The greatest good
huinOr prevailed, even in the midst OF the crowd
The music under the charge Of Mr. John Owen,
was good and was warmly applaudei.
The business meeting opened in lIowe's Hall on
Wednesday morning, Grand Worthy Chief Tenn
par Folsom in the chair
The committee on credentials reported sixty-one
eligible as representatives, and twenty-five Grand
Lodge visitors, making total OF eighty-three
upon whom the Grand Lodge degree was conferred
The afternoon session was opened in the sub
ordinate degree, and the first part was taken up
with the reports Of the Grand Worthy Chief Tenn
par Grand Worthy Secretary Superintendent of
Juvenile Temples, and the delegate to the Right
Worthy Grand Lodge
The Grand Worthy Secretary reported that the
number OF members in good standing last year
was four thousand five hundred and sixty-eight
and during the year one thousand nine hundred
and eightytwo members have been added while
the total loss has been one thousand five hundred
and two, making net gain of four hundred and
eighty. The present membership is four thou
sand nine hundred and ninety-eght There were
sixty-six lodges at last report, and thirty have
been instituted during the current year while
eleven have surrendered their charters. Thus the
net gain has been nineteen and the present num-
Der of lodges is eghty-fve.
Following the reports OF the officers the various
district deputies were called upon, and j. C. Leslie
OF St. Adams reported for District No L. Timothy
Holt of Derby for No. 3, o s. Wiley of Sharon
for No. 6, II. NJ. Buffum of Bennington for No. s,
II NJ Mott of Brandon for No 9, W. II. Matthews |
Of Cornwall for No. TO- and ]. S. Batchelder of
Waterbury for No. II No reports were rendered |
from the other districts
The wednesday evening session was taken up |
in great part by remarks, etc, under the head Of
Good of the Order"
The session of Thursday morning was opened |
in form. The finance committee reported S265 as |
the amount OF assets over liabilities
The Grand Lodge then proceeded to the election |
Of officers, with the following result Grand
Worthy Chief Templar, Col John b. Mead of |
thews of Cornwall Grand Worthy Vice Templar |
Miss Mary A. Pomeroy of Franklin Grand Wor-
thy Secretary, Frank plumley of Mortified |
Grand Worthy Treasurer, Joseph Barton of Char |
lotte Grand Worthy Chaplain, Rev. A. B. Truax |
OF Mortified Grand Worthy Auditor +. f |
Brownell of Pownal Grand Superintendent of |
Juvenile Temples, Mrs. S. A. Case Of Fairhaven |
Delegates to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, W |
IL. 5. Whitcomb and p ID. Bradford Alternates,
Joseph c. Leslie and A. r. Straw
Colonel Mead gave a short address thanking the |
members for the honor conferred The commit
tee on re-dstrictng reported, recommending that |
No II be divided into three districts but the /
other eleven districts remain heretofore, and |
further recommending that other divisions be
made as the work increased The committee on |
tue state of the order presented their report
rs did also the committee ON Emission work"
and Mrs. II. c. Batchelder gave stirring address
in regard to the Juveniles,
The afternoon session taken up with the
installation of officers, reports Of committees ex-
qualification of unwritten work of the order and |
general business
The Grand Lodge voted to continue the extra |
per capita tax OF two cents "a quarter for mission
work, and on call of the lodges for special pledges
there was a most generous response rendered
The mission work is to be continued, and is to be
pressed harder than last year, and greater results
are anticipated. Frank Plumley, o. ID. Edgerton
and Mrs. S. A. Case, are the mission committee
for this year.
The next session of the Grand Lodge will be
held at West Randolph the third Wednesday in
next January.
Arrangements have been made with Mr. Bryant
whereby he will be retained in the field SO long
as the season for such work lasts, but he will do
more lecturing before lodges already organized
than heretofore Other organizers are secured to
go into the field at once
public meeting was announced for Thursday
evening, and at seven o'clock llowe's Hall was
filled TO its utmost capacity. Colonel Mead pre-
sided, and the meeting opened by music by
the band followed by short but earnest prayer
by Rev, A, b, Truax. After another piece of
music, Colonel Mead spoke very earnestly for IA
few moments, aud was followed by music by a
quartette. Members of Mortified Juvenile Tenn
pie each appearing in regaia, then gave several
and declarations, and were warmly |