The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-06-17
County Conve ntion ofw. cru.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
BY ELIZA G. BENTON.

County Conve ntion ofW. C.TU.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
by ELIZA c. BENTON.
MRS. PRESIDENT, DELEGATES AND
FR,ENps. read that in multitude
of counsel there is safety. The subject
before ms for consideration is SO vast, is
80 intimately connected with the happi,,
ness of our homes and the general good
of society, that we feel compelled to do
what we can, be it ever 30 little, to.push
forward this work.
You have doubtless met, as others
have, many discouragements In your
several, fields of labor; the GOODNESS of
those YOU should count friends, the in
difference, or worse, Of those who
should be the strongest supporters of
our cause; you have met the enemy in
temperance stalking boldly through
your streets, or lurking in alley ways
driven for time by wholesome fear
of the Just law, and you have been
asked, as q sister has said, "Ayl by
those having the stature of men, to
leave your homes and make yonr
presence felt in the court, in order that
Judges might be gallant enough to
stand upright and jurors have courage
to convict" You are told, too, 1t Ia
worse than useless to appeal to those in
authority to execute the law and asked
to enter upon the conflict in person.
NY sisters, You know all this. As one
has said, "You have seen, and heard,
and felt the clash of interests, and the
conflict of opinion, and your women's
hearts have asked, and 30 you have
asked yourselves, have asked each 9TH
er, have asked God, what can we,
what ought we to dor
We must work on. This is not the
time for looking back, or hesitating on
the way, and while we would carefully
avoid just criticism, ..and temper our zeal
with judgment, we must redouble our
efforts in forming public opinion in
favor of temperance and justice, so that
our brothers shall dare 10 be just and
upright in this matter and shall be up
held in 30 doing by a majority of the
people.
II 1 have presented to you dark pic
ture, 1t Is not without silver lining.
All who are interested cannot fail to
see chat much progress has been made.
Many new workers have entered the
field with fresh vigor and enthusiasm.
Public opinion is rapidly advancing in
favor of our work, and bright bow OF
promise for the future seems to extend
over the world.
We have hope in our work, believ-
ing that our cause is just and that right
will eventually triumph; so we stand
united with firm determination not to
be overcome by difficulties, or to grow
weary in the work undertaken while
there remains so much to be accom-.
plished. but we will say with the poet
$50 let it be in Gods own might
We grid us for the coming fight,
And, strong In Him whose cause is ours
In conflict with unholy powers,
We grasp the weapons He has given
The light, and truth and love OF heaven"
My friends, l have not what the
world clamors for, some new thing &c
present to you, neither have the gift
to make old things attractive. You
are already thoroughly acquainted will
the subject; the different opinions OF
temperance people, as we'll as the diff.
culties put in our way by those oppos.
ed to our work, and the many troubles
attending the execution of the law: and
greater than these, the Indifference and
want of activity shown by 80 MANY OF
our sisters. When will they arouse
themselves TO sense of their indiyid.
ual responsibility in this matter, to feel
that God requires of them not alone
purity OF life and mere negative
goodness, but to be positive power
for good in the community by using
their influence in retaining the fallen,
strengthening the weak, guarding the
Young from temptation and in putting
the evil of intemperance entirely from
our midst. They plead in excuse,
their homes have never been invaded
by this curse, or they have no ability
for such work. But let us urge upon
them this fact, they can influence pub
lie opinion in this matter by taking a
decided stand and exercising, as our
state president said, "That true cour.
age which accompanies dignified be-
lief in our cause" "And as thew love
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatso-
ever things are of good report, let
them think on these things"
Knowing the difficulties that beset
our way, feeling the importance of
wise judgment in our action, we greet
you, we welcome you as those enlisted
In the good cause, as those in full sym-
Pathy with us In Christian love and
labor.
We are made glad by your presence
here to-day, as 1t is a fresh proof of in.
creasing interest in temperance work,
inspires us with courage to 60 forward,
30 with hearty cordially we welco me
you to our hearts and homes.
RESPONSE.
BY MRS. N. SEVERANCE.
NILS. PKEsIDEN AND LADIES OF THE
VERGRNNEs w. G. T. U.-If there was
lurking In any of our minds suspicion
that we have come together this Jim q
morning without any ADEQUATE reason.
the very cordial words of welcome to-
which we have just listened must have
dissipated that suspicion at once, and
We return warmth for warmth, and
confidence for confidence. And vet
the question returns upon us, Why are
we here7
Most of lis are no strangers to house.
hold cares. There are duties which
must wait during en- ctec.:-, "a
clamor for our return. Some of Ms
will crowd the work of two DAYS i'm
one to make expiation for the hours
spent here. We come together at the
cost OF personal Inconvenience and self
sacrifice. Is 1t the old story of femi-
nine vanity, that we may display the
latest trophies won at miilinerv esta n.
lishments, or give an airing to incipient