Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-03
WRMpRfAMcR.
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD TEN
PLAR'S LODGE INTEREST.
ING AND PROFITABLE.

regular attendance IN order to see that
the exercises are promptly commenced
and its several offices properly discharged
and its business conducted with decency
and dispatch. This does not mean hur-
ry. Nothing will sooner chill meeting
than to have some one whose age enti-
ties him to respect leave the hall before
the close, and who first and last ex-
presses Impotence at every exercise or
motion that meeting beyond certain
hour, no matter how important and nec-
essary it may be. Our interest in the
cause should be enough always to give
us motive to attend the meetings, and
our observations during the week should
be fruitful enough to afford something
for the "Good of the Order" every even
ing. The cause we espouse is not made
up of dead issues. 1t is full of vital
questions, and if we treat them intelli-
gently; if we bring to it that devotion
which should charactesize every Chris
tian man and woman, we shall find the
lodge very efficient means of supplying
influences to check and withstand the
tide of intemperance. There is enough
to be seen every day. if our consciences
are active enough to open our eyes to
the evil, and to make our hearts sensi-
tive to the wrongs of intemperance, there
is enough to make US sober and thought
full how we may obey God and serve ku-
mainly in the family and in society by
doing our utmost to provide barriers
against this vice, and if possible save
some of its many victims. And so if we
come to the lodge, as to council cham
Der, to exchange views and to devise
proper means to promote the general and
special interest of temperance, there will
be scarcely time in one evening of the
week to dispatch its business.
Men who enjoy the partial oblivion of
a pipe or cigar, and to whom the gossip
of the village store is interesting, while
the ceremonies and exercises of the tenn
perance meeting seem dull and unsatis-
factory, will never give to temperance
very much of zeal or influence. Our
lodge meetings will become full of in
terest when its members cultivate proper
regard for its purposes, and when they
will prefer its appointments to the more
special ones of pleasure. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that so few of our men and
women of means and leisure, and who
therefore could aid the cause so much if
they would, think and act with regard to
this subject with so little of seriousness.
If by any means special interest is awak-
ened, if outrages make them excited, if
there passes over the community wave
of temporary enthusiasm, then there are
some who yield to its currents and allow
themselves to be acted upon by its infu-
ences. But as soon as the winds SUBJ
side and things are restored to their
usual order, then these persons, who a
little while before manifested some feel
ing, relapse into the old state of indffer-
ence; and an advantage is lost which
certainly might have been retained by
their assistance. Once faces that we
now love to recognize on the streets and
in the business marts, looked in upon US
and abode with US. but only for sea
son. Little by little they were missed
in their places, until they withdrew en-
, tirely from our meetings, and now refus,
to respond to the old greetings. Nor il
this abandonment justified by the OBJ
lection that the uncouth and illiterat,
are admitted to our society. There ar
times when the educated and cultured
may meet together as such, when tn
subjects considered and the entertain
. ment provided will be of little comfor
n to those who are without these accom-
j. plishments; but generally the ties tina
/. unite us together as men are holier an
It deeper than any that depend upon ed
!, ucation, wealth or position, and our e;
Il Inmates of each other ought to original
= in feelings that lie in our natures ia
e below such conceit.
ir Men and women of the lodge shout
n always see to it that its decorum
= properly observed. Now there is
If decorum that belongs here, as much {
ir there is one that belongs to the parlt
y or the ballroom. Men and women shoul
as he gentlemen and ladies always, az
Sc their influence will 60 but little way III
a less they are such. We aim to reae
rs men socially and by these means thro
- around them such restraints as sha
- keep them from going to the saloo
III Most of fathers and mothers desire
e. have their children 60 where their ma
Id ners shall not be corrupted, nor the
p tastes degraded, and it is expected tn
our meetings be so conducted that Il
most fastiduous of parents cannot re
: sonably on this account, object to the
10 children coming here out of fear tn
nd they will become rude and disorder
rk 1t is breach of decorum when we
ed home after lodge to disturb the neig
% borhood with noises like those that cha
acterize the drunken crowd that cor
'o' out of the saloon. Our department
H. going and coming from lodge should
Dr. so orderly and discreet. aye, all t