The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-01-13

'iAiy h"f fffkinsl atll.ntfa .s.J e.
Supposing that report of the work
of Introducing Scientific Temperance
Textbooks into our schools ana collie
ges will be expected from me at your
annual meeting, l ask your Indulgence
while | say a few things, not in the
way OF formal report, for reasons
which will presently appear, but TO
give word of earnest greeting. n
word of encouragement, a word of
caution and of advice (f / may ven
ture, and word of assurance that
while the works of your committee do
not praise her, she has not willingly
left this fallow field SO poorly TILED.
trust that am not irreverent in saving
that providential hindrances have
made IL i'm possible for me to accom-.
plish any work to which l can point.
year.
Early in the season 1 addressed a
letter and statement to the teachers of
Chittcnden county, urging them to use
their opportunities for temperance in
struction in their schools, showing the
inadequate discussion of the alcohol
question in most of our physiological
Textbooks, and the Importance of
teaching children concerning the toxi-
cal effects of alcohol as vastly more to be
dreaded than the less common strvcb-
nine and other well known poisops.
because more insidious, more care
lessly used, and less understood by
parents.
Some other similar appeals have
been made, conversation on practical
questions connected with such insfruc.
tion have been held with leading
school managers, and that is nearly ali
The word of encouragement comes
In the fact that Notwithstanding the in
activity of your committee, some good
practical work has been accomplished
by local Unions. "Scientific Temper-
ance" Is already taught in one school in
Monkton, all graded schools in Rel.
lows Falls, in part of the schools in
Bridport, in the graded schools of Mid
dlebury and of st. Albans. I'm ono
school in North DanyiIle. ana the
hinespurgh Union are trying to make
IL lrne also OF their schools. 1t is also
Taught IN connection with physiology
In the University of Vermont. And
TINS brings me to point on which /
nav, nave come to strong conclusion, viz:
The subject of the effects of alcohol IN.
on the human system,-wbich under
STAND to be the meaning of the term
"Scientific Temperance,n ,n-should he
taught In connection with physiology.
and as a part of it; as toxicoiogv ma
hygiene in general are commonlv
taught, and where they are most effect
ive,-I had almost said where alone
they are effective. l cannot bel;eve
we shall gain the ear or convince The
Judgment SO well, or indeed accouo
plish as much good If we could so Uain
the attention, by separating the one
item of the use of alcoholic dr;nhs
irem all other indulgences or habits. 40
by treating it in connection with Other
questions concerning the care md
proper treatme mt of the body. When
the mind is intelligently awake 10 tho
wonderful perfectness, power and az
quisite delicacy of the human oraom;-
zatlon IN a state of nature and of
aeaitn; a then, If ever, will it grasp the
ueep signincance and import of any act
or haoit which can be shown TO be in
ns enects, either immediate or u,ti-
mate, damaging to the delicate mecha-
nisfn, enfeebling to the power. or nm
dermining to the health of that body
which the scholar has learned To al
mire, reverence, and value so highly
Another point on which / have
wanted to talk with my sisters in The
work is the Importance of the exerc;se
OF caution and discrimination in on.
acceptance of theories and doctrinas
connected with our subject. We can'
not-and should not wish to-ionoro
the strong points made by scjentists
and other scholars who do NOT fniiv
accept or who wholly reject the views
advocated by our authorities SVa
must face these points, and the ones.
tion is, what shall we do with them2
| am convinced that IL is our nIa;r
duty TO read, study, weigh evidence
and Judge candidiy between theory
and theory. accepting the trutb wbar-
ever we find it, whether II ex.
actly fits into the groove we have a.
ready made for it, or reouires n nowar
and broader and more sweenino co,rso
in which to run. o'a'''
surely 1t is truth that We want. and
OF the truth We need not be afraidi
lie who said, ri am the way and The
TRUTH" will take care of the resuifs
even II our long accepted doctrines
should crumble to the ground, i'm ibe
overtnrning by which the truth ia
made known. Let us therefore studv
Dr. Austic as well as DR.. Ricbar,ison
Dr. Curtis as well as DR.. Hammond'
Dr. Ihudicheem and Dupre, of whom
Dr. Richardson wrote, sstheir work on
wine Will, even in another century he
more highly priced, If that be possible
than 1t is now" Let ms read aud
weigh the series of twelve able ariicles
On "The Alcohol Question: bv 90
many able English physicians, in the
Contemporary Review, beginnino in
1878; and once more. lei ns
read candicly and fearlessly such arii-
cles as Rev. Horace Bumstead's on The
biblical Sanction of Wine,v and rec.
ognize the fact that there are candid
earnest, thoughtful and liberal minds
which take an almost opposite view az
The question from that accented hy
ourselves, and which, though we dis
,over tne error In some of our leading
premises, yet bring some strong points
u evidence on their side and support
mem with clear and strong logic.
. so let us learn charity while we seek
lor truth, guardiAg against that mar
rowness which fears TO acknowledge
any truth in the doctrines advocated
by one not fully agreeing with ms, and
igainst the faithlessness of fearing LEST
me truth may upset some pet doctrine
)f our own which we have honestIy
lhough 1t may prove erroneouslv- mn,
leld and advocated. = : - ~
Thus, when our children from tho
common schools, and our Young men
ihd women from the colleges shall
,ome home to us with keen, Intelligent
questions ON these subjects, started in
heir minds by their scientific training
n physiology and its branches, hygiene
ind toxicology, in which latter alcohol.
sm y Is SO prominent an element,) we,
Ineir mothers, and perhaps some of us
heir teachers, shall be well armed and
sqnipped with the fsufh ana - Ils.S.