Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-03-31
Keep the Watch-Fire Burning.

An essay read before the w. CT U.
There is period in all moral reform
when it seems impossible to do any
thing but to stand and wait-an inter
val when there seems to be no progress
made, when workers in the moral vine
yard can do no more than prune dead
branch here and there, or plant a vine
or two. We borrow from an ancient
warlike custom, this admOnition, keep
the watch-ires burning" 1t seems dull
work to the spirited soldier who enlist
ed for the ardent and strong employ
ment of battle, to bring his fagots. and
light them, and keep them burning that
the friend OF the cause he fights for may
know where to rally.
How cheerless and cold the night air.
How desOlate sits the solitary sentinel
His duty seems irksOme and prOfitless.
only faint light left, yet, il he but re-
fleet, what glorious work he is doing.
There are friends fOrlhis righteous cause,
but they are scattered. They need a
rallying place. That faint light on the
mountain brow tells the wandering
comrades where they may assemble. It
is the strength of their languishing
cause, wait and see what that fiickering
FIRE, kept burning through the dreary
night has done. The companions in
arms assemble slowly, one by one they
come out of the darkness, grasp each
others hands, and swear fealty to the
cause of truth and right. After making
their plans of attack, they move upon
the enemy's works with a momentum
nothing can withstand. The battle is
gained, victory perches upon the stand
ards of the united band. Now the sOli-
tary night watches begin to realize the
Importance of their discOuraging and
spiritless task. What if the fires had
gone out. No matter then how ardent
the wish of each wardual of the little
army, that their dearest rights should
be maintained. Their strength was at
tenuated and they were pOwerless. 1t
was the seDtinels beacon that brought
them together, that made them invinci-
BILE. So sisters, think it is with us and
our cause, especially here in this town
where the temperance work Is so unpOp-
ular and 1t is emineEtly proper that this
society should be organized; that it let
its moral light shine about through the
darkness; that if we cannot be so aggres-
sive as we wish, we can keep the watch
fires burning, ,thatthe friends of our cause
may come out of the darkness, clasp
hands with us. When the time for
forward movement comes, as come it
will, the patient work we are doing in
creating public sentiment in favor of
reform will not be IN vain. There is
something to encourage us. Much effec-
tive work has been done by our hOnOred
president. almost alone, among the
children and youth of the place. Already
we hear them reiterating the chorus,
learned in the temperance school. We
hear them cOnversing with each other
and promising to reform from by-wOrds'
and other bad habits of speech and man.
ners. Cast thy bread upon the waters
and thou shalt find it after many days"
None need enter the work of moral re.
form expecting an easy task. Patient
waiting; continuous discharge of duty;
a trustful dependence on Him who notes
even the sparrow's fall; courage to
labor on in the hope Of victory even
when circumstances are most discOurag-
ing; q wisdom which labOrs in the spirit
of the sentiment so beautifully express
ed by others thus:
"In essentials unity, in nOnessentials
liberty, in all things charity" Let these
be the qualities which each member Of
our union shall contribute. May this
little fire we have kindled in the midst
of darkness continually grow brighter
and brighter; may our movements find
friends among all who ought to be in
terested in this great work until by and
by as the result of a small beginning,
temperance principals may prevail in
ChebOygan.