Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-22
Grand Temple OF Honor.

We take the following extracts from the Friend
ship Banner, paper read by Mrs. NJ. A. Conant,
grand worthy vice templar, at the public enter
tanment at the close Of the session OF the Grand
Temple Of Honor Of Vermont, held In this village,
June 8th
ITO the Grand Temple, Greeting Another
year has rolled away with Its joys and sorrows,
its ceaseless hustle and activities, Its failures and
successes, and tonight welcome you to our lit
tie gathering Of choice II not ardent spirits. Not
score Of years has passed, since the first Temple
OF Honor and Temperance was instituted in the
State Of Vermont Other Temples followed in
its train, but owing TO various causes, they have
not been of that rapid growth we would desire,
but the interest has In measure been steadily
maintained, the altar fires have been kept burn
ing by the faithful few, and we have been graft
fed, and hearts greatly encouraged as we have
listened to the favorable reports from the diff er-
ent subordinates and social temples.
&c Time flies with rapid wing and we can
scarcely imagine that nearly a year has passed
since we met in annual session with the members
OF Emmanuel Temple at Ely. Well do we re-
| member the cordial greeting, the generous hos
| pitalty, the new associations formed, and they
come back to us tonight as we look into some Of
your familiar faces, bringing a glad tide Of
pleasant memories Fraternal relations formed
above our altar, based on the rock OF temperance
| surrounded on either side with love, truth
purity and fidelity, with their mystic signs and
symbols so full OF the teachings OF the blessed
word, tend to unite us in the strongest bonds Of
sympathy and love.
| death has entered our circle since last We
met, some of our members have fallen from tn,
ranks, others have come to fill their places, and
still the work goes on. Our brother, the Rev
Elisha Brown, whose portrait draped in mourn
ing hangs on yon wall tonight, has passed GU
from among us, Joined that higher temple, en-
tered upon the blissful realization OF that eterna
life beyond the threshold on which he fingered
so long and patiently, waiting the final summons
Brothers and sisters, we thank you for you
| kindly words and presence with us tonight, ant
| TO you who have come from courtesy or perhap
a desire to know more Of the work our order pur
pose, to accomplish, we welcome you, too, mos
cordially. We can only say we are band o
temperance men and women, striving to grow on
Of self in work for others, to lift up the fallen
to reclaim the erring, and to gather the wsnderer
into a safe retreat beneath the folds Of our TEN
perance banner, following humbly in the footstep
OF the Great Master, who has said, Inasmuch a
We have done 1t unto the least OF these We hav
| done 1t unto me-
We trustiDgly believe, as one OF our co-labor
ers has expressed it, THAT patient toll, and I'm
wearied study over this great vital question
| Temperance, has shown us tiny footpath leadin
up the mountain-side at the summit, where mel
and women may stand, free from the shackles O
intemperance, bathed in heavens strong sunligh
OF purity and peace. Seeking humby and per
sistently to widen the path, to remove the hug
boulders and bridge the chasm, underneath whic
rolls the dark and turbid streams Of Ignorance
vice and premature DEATH and we hope in tim
to make the road so broad and bright that a.
humanity will be seen upon its top, or progress
ing toward the summit
The reading Of the above paper was folowe
by welcome to Most Worthy Templar L. II
Clapp of Boston, Massachusetts,; an essay o
"Women's Influence" humorous piece, or
titled, "a Difficult Question Answered" selecte
by member Of Friendship Social, Berlin, a
original poem by brother OF Corner Stone Ten
pie, 1.-THE summons and review OF the sun
MONS" showing that Gods ways are not GU
ways, though at times longing for the promise
rest, we should be willing to work aud patient
wait for the Masters call. An incident fror
Thomson's "By Land and Sea-" illustrating tn
force Of example, Take the safe path father.
closing with temperance poem, entitled " Tn
Reason Why" touching appeal from soul II
deemed to his bar-room associates to leave til
old paths Of sin and vice, give up their cups, an
in the joys OF the domestic circle and in tn
bosom Of his family find true and lasting haI
piness.