Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-09-04
!ENPEANtE DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by
TIE GOOD TEMP LARS
MuLgEgRY.
coon 1,rMPLARIsM.

cause OF Temperance. True tol
their mission and faithful to their
charge, they drafted the consti-
tuition which laid the foundation
Of the Independent Order Of
Good Templars. Aye, and they
buildcd better than they knew.
When they engrafted in our rit-
ual the sublime truth of Chris
tianity, they implanted some
thing within it that was to play
upon the heanstrings Of restored
mankind and cause it to beat
tune to heavens sweetest music.
When they adopted our system
Of beneyolepce they planted up
on It's threshold g vine that was
to grow and blossom as the rose
and cast its fragrance on every
breeze ;JFhose branches were to
spread like the goodly cedar to
adorn and bless the homes of the
unfortunate in every land. 1t is
one Of the greatest institutions
i'm the world. II was theirs to
build, it is ours to enjoy. And
as time rolls on its beneficence
win increase and grow brighter
with passing years. II saves the
fallen; it saves from falling. 1t
stands as a mighty barrier to.
protect society from the evils Of
the outer world. Within our
walls all are safe; the destroyer
does not enter to mar its work
ings or despoil it Of its glory.
Its motto is charity, plain, prac-
teal christian benevolence. 1t
does not theorize alone but la
bors for present results and to
relieve the suffering from their
woes. There is something about
It's social system which it seems
to nae is almost without a paral-
lei in the history of human prog
ress and reform. Its service, its
song of welcome, It's good viii to
mankind is impressed upon the
minds of the initiated, lift the
thoughts above the petty bicker-
ing of the world and blend them
beautifully together in sympathy
with each other III common in
tercst for one common cause;
the redemption Of man from the
blighting curse Of intemperance
and sin. temperance is a Chris
tan virtue and our rituals are
text books that present it in all
its purity and worth. It joins
the hands of all its members mu-
tually together around one sa-
cred altar Of fratelnal love.
Thus they journey on down the
hin Of life peacefully to sleep to-
gether at its foot. Such is Good
Templarism. 1t saves the me
briate; it corrects the erring; it
reforms the vicious and crowns
them all with the hope of heav-
en- and eternal bliss. With
such thoughts in our minds and
words upon our lips, who would
not say God bless it's founders
and sustainers. Yoilers in the
good work, move patiently on.-
j. p. BieIby.
DEAD OR SLEEPING f?
Once upon a time there was a
pleasant little village situated in
the heart Of a beautiful valley.
A pretty stream meandered past
and wandered lazily ON to Join
the river. The inhabitants of
village and surrounding country
were numerous, and the goods
y
of this world appeared to be
plentifully showered upon them.
And yet there was one great
curse eating out the lifeblood of
their prosperity and happiness.
Distilleries were dotted here and
there throughout the surround
ing country. A dozen or more
within half dozen miles of the
place. Within the village every
other business had written over
its door in large letters, SALOON.
Street brawls and strifes were
numerous. Squalor and wretch
edness, side by side with plenty.
There were good citizens in the
place, honest upright men. But
they were asleep. Blind to the
great misery everywhere around
them, and the evils resulting from
liquor selling in their midst.
Their own sons and their neigh
bors' sons were drifting slowly
but surely to their. ruin. But
they put forth no hand to check
the evil, or strike at the heart Of
it all. There were churches
here. Every Sabbath day the
ministers lifted up their voices
in prayer, and enreated sinners
to come home to God, but made
no mention of this the greatest
of all the sins in their midst.
They were asleep, and while
warning people against other sins
forgot to put forth a hand to
check the great evil of intemper-
ance, though every day, every
hour put before their eyes some
of the resultant miseries. Anon
philanthropist, his heart filed
with love for his fellow fallen
man, passed through the place