Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31

the whole matter in q nutshell;
Mental suason for the thinker,
Moral suaslon for the drinker,
Legal suason for the law-breaker,
Prison suason for the drunkard-maker.
Ebenezer Bowman, Esq, of Massachusetts was
next called to the platform. lie spoke Of the
original adoption OF the prohibitory law in this
state and its workings. Mr.. osgood followed in
the same strain, claiming that the prohibitory
law is a success in Maine. The meeting closed
with singing
TUESDAY EVENING
a social meeting was held at which Mr. II. S.
Woodwork Of Rhode Island presided
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
This was the anniversary day Of the Temple Of
Honor, and after the opening exercises Mr.. G. A.
Webster of Providence spoke in behalf Of the or
der, followed by Thomas A. Lee and Mr. Wood
worth, who spoke of the work and progress Of the
order in Rhode Island.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The afternoon session opened with rousing
crowd, the tent being filled to its utmost capacity.
The occasion was the anniversary Of the State Re-
formed Mems Club, and d. II. Plaisted of st. AL
bans, president Of that organization, occupied the
chair The services were opened with singing
under the lead Of S. b. Spinning Of Providence,
and prayer by Rev. ]. S. Little. The first
speaker was ]. X. Osgood Of Gardiner, Maine,
who said:
"My heart goes up to God that there are so many
anti-circus people in this community. In intro
ducng me the chairman referred to me as the
father of the reform club movement. want to
call the attention of young men particularly to
what am about to say. One OF the great mis-
takes of moderate drinkers is in thinking that
they and not the cup are master. Another is
when we say, seeing a drunken man, What a
curse is drunkenness2 Drunkenness is not a
curse 1t is the result of curse. Moderate
drinking is curse and its outcome is sodden
| drunkenness. What sad thought is that OF the
sad dreary days OF our life entailed by moderate
| drinking. Moderate drinking was my own ruin.
| thank God that his grace restore us. | have
celebrated August It'll, the tenth anniversary Of
my reclamation. Intemperance had nearly fin
| shed me. Oh that those long years could be OBJ
liberated from my memory! But thank God
that was spared until that It'll Of August. A
higher power than humanity originated the re-
formed mems movement. Friends had deserted
me, my property was all gone, and was left with
my family in poverty and sorrow. From the
talities to perform his mighty works and he used
me in this matter. On the It'll Of August, 1871,
had ten cents in my pocket and it was all the
money | had | was three thousand dollars in
debt. My clothes were poor and ragged That
is what moderate drinking did for me. regard
| every moderate drinker as In my position. On
| the day have mentioned tarried through the
hours at the wine-cup. spent my last dime fol
| whiskey before started for home. At my gar
| den gate, with my mind oppressed by my sor-
| rows, thoughts chased through my brain like
| lightning. My wife saw through the window
resting her weary head on her arm. The ques
ton forced itself on my mind, Why is my wife
waiting for me? The answer is only rum. The
| thought came to me as stood at the gate and
looked at my wife, and lifted my arm and cried
I'll never drink again, God helping mel
had no previous thought OF reformation. 1t wa,
indeed the furthest from my imagination. But
God put the impulse into my heart; and the vow
| | then made have ever kept. For four months
| said nothing about it to any one. But the
thought was working in my mind. saw my
companions going the way that had gone.
| heard a voice from heaven commanding me Il
help in the rescue Of these perishing souls.
went to a lawyer, former boon companion O
mine, and after much persuasion induced him t,
sign the pledge. We issued a modest call for
temperance meeting. 1t was thinly attended
No one had any confidence in myself or my asso
ciate. second meeting was held. There wa
no music, no prayer. We sat there like two poo
ragged criminals and / wondered what coulC
possibly say, for had never before thought o
addressing any meeting. My associate was
lawyer of eloquence and ability. He wouldn'
lead off in the speaking and was obliged to
What said can't remember. not even word
But am sure have in my life delivered on
good temperance address and that was my frs
one. From that time until the present hav
been almost continually engaged in this work
We hear of the Murphy movement, the Reynold
movement and 30 on. Shall | claim this move
ment as my own? God forbid. 1t is his worl
and his alone In the meeting have spoken o
no word OF eloquence passed my lips. told tn
audience the truth and they believed it. The be
loved wife who for ten years rejoiced in my re
demption has closed her eyes in death Blu
dying she looked upon a sober husband, than
God She said TO me in her last moments Kee
your temperance pledge; be sober and faithful
we shall meet again shortly We will indee
soon meet, and In that thought is a hope and jo
that the world can neither give nor take away.
After an address by Mr. George NJ Dewey Q
Hastings, Minnesota, the meeting closed with til
singing of the doxology.
"WEDNESDAY EVENING
was held the usual social meeting, which wa
very pleasant and interesting.
; THURSDAY MORNING.
This meeting was held under the auspices of tn
7 Woman's Christian Temperance Union OF Vel
mont, and Mrs l.. A. Sturtevant OF Middlebur
occupied the chair Mr., L. l.. Durant Of Mon
} pelier announced that Mrs. Emma Molloy an
] Governor Farnham would be unable TO be present
A pleasant letter from Governor Farnham wa
, read excusing himself and expressing his inere,
In the temperance work. Miss l.. W. Greenwood
7 OF Brooklyn, New York, chairman Of the depar
ment of juvenile work OF the National Chrstia
Temperance Union, spoke eloquently for tha
! branch OF the temperance work. After an al
peal for money by Rev. Merritt Hulburd OF Blu
! lington, collection was taken and the meetin
! closed.
= THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
. From one o'clock until two temperance Low
, feast was held, j. X. osgood presiding, at whic
brief remarks were made by number of person.
Shortly after two o'clock the regular exercise
0 opened under the auspices Of the Good Templal
: OF Vermont X. o. Sturtevant OF Swanton, Gran
Worthy Chief Templar, presiding. The tent wa
densey crowded and hundreds were unable |
Q enter 1t. The attendance was probably not ei
7 than three thousand people After the usual d.
votional exercises and a trio by Mrs. Laphau
/ Mrs and Mr. Spinning, Chairman Sturtevant il
troduced the first speaker, l., L. Durant Of Mon