Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-09
Temperance Mass Meeting.

As previously announced, the temper
ance mass meeting, under the auspices of
the state temperance camp meeting asso-
citation, was held in the grove at Lyndon
vile. The grounds are well adapted for
such purposes, being those used for the
st. Johnsbury district annual Methodist
camp meetings. Diligent work had been
previously done by the executive commit
tee. by the many friends of the cause and
by the pastors of churches in the vicinity,
while the railroad officials had granted
them every possible facility for the
prosecution of their work.
The exercises on Wednesday afternoon
were under the auspices Of the Caledonia
county temperance association. Rev. II.
P Gushing presided, Rev. WI. Johnston
offered prayer, Rev. II. w. Wright of st.
Johnsbury told something of the forty
seven years. work of the association, and
that while most Of the original officers
and workers had passed away, the spirit
of the founders had been perpetuated and
he trusted would be handed down to
successive generations intensified and
increased.
Bro. Gushing said he wanted no one to
be discouraged because the attendance
was small the first day, and related an
instance OF camp meeting in the west
where the attendance was small, the inter
est comparatively slight, and when but
one conversion occurred, and that of
tin peddler, but that tin peddler was he
whom the world has since known as the
Dempster, d. d. He then introduced as
the first speaker of the day, Rev. B. NJ.
Tillotson, pastor of the St. Johnsbury
universalist church, who took as his theme.
"How shall our young men be saved from
the vice of intemperanceo" The import
ance Of the theme was potent to all. We
can save some, but not all of them, by
training and educating them right from
the very first; great power in early train
ing and home influences. d" AS the twig
is bent the trees Inclined" though some.
times tornado may come and sweep
away the twig. We may save some, but
not all, by enlisting them in temperance
work. This will give them occupation
and bias toward the right. We may save
some, but not all. by Strengthening public
uphold them in their efforts to abstain.
But the only absolutely effeotual way 10
save them is to stop the manufacture and
sale of the liquor. There is no way to
stop the burning of trees in forest fire
but to extinguish the fire. To stop sheep
from being killed we should not doctor
and teach the sheep, but Kill the ANIMAL
that kills the sheep. The first thing to be
done to secure this end is to pledge all
congressman staunch temperance men.
That time was not far distant, he hoped,
when, in order to gain victory. party
must nail temperance banner to their
mast. The second thing to be done is to
have regular temperance campaigns like
those in Kansas and Iowa. Temperance
has come to mean business and is more
han sentiment. The third thing to he
done is to enlist the women in the cause.
When the women are thoroughly enlisted
success is secured.
Rev. F. b. Phelps, pastor of the Con-
gregational church, East st. Johnsbury,
then read a poem on "The Second Deluge."
This was spicy description of the work
of rum and the different crafts which are
in the waters endeavoring to make part.
The poem was listened to with interest
and attention, good judges pronouncing
it a fine production.
Rev. f. W. Culver then followed with
an address on the Duty of the church
and ministry in the temperance enter
prise" He commenced by saying that
the subject assigned him was an implica-
ton that was either libel or a scandal.
If it implies that the church is overzealous
and should be restrained it is libel, and
if it implies that the church is remiss it is
a scandal. He thought the libel was not
true at all and the scandal only in part.
But there is an ominous silence in too
many churches on this subject. If we
could Danish intemperance we could
Danish all other evils, hence tho temper
ance work is legitimate one for the
ministry. Some clcrgymen are afraid to
lower thoir dignity by engaging in the
reform, and they resemblod the man who
would not rescue his son from drowning
because he did not want to get the starch
out Of his new shirt. A Clergyman who
docs not engage in tho temperance work
from this reason is in morals below many
outside the church. Many do nothing in
the matter because they fear they will hurt
some ones feelings, but it is part of a
minister's duty to hurt bad peoples feel
ings. On the contrary, we should dignity
the pulpit by giving it the lead in every
great reform. The pulpit should take the
proclamation of the temperance cause
from the itinerant tramps who are sent by
no one and are often scandal and dis
grace to the cause. The Clergyman is sent
by God with the divine revelation and
has the power OF Heaven to sustain and |
supplement him in his efforts for the
cause. In one Sunday school OF this state
forty out of ono hundred Sunday school
scholars became drunkards; tho church |
there was remiss in her duty and terrible
was the result. Suppose Elijah had |
thought it might lower his dignity and
hurtthe feelings Of the people if no assailed
idolatry. Would that the clergymen of |
to-day had the fearlessness of the Old |
Testament prophets. 1t is the duty of the |
ministry TO antagonizo whatever hindors
the gospel and TO do this without apology. |
In ayn r,pronon hnI I.oo,. D. t.;,I