The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-07-20

BY MRS. j. A. CHILD, AT THE TEMPER
ANCE INSTITUTE HELD AT wEY-
BRIDGE, VT. JUNE Is, 1888.
Mrs. President, Delegates and Friends:
We welcome you to our quiet little
country town, asthe representatives of
that devoted band of women, iof whom
the world is not worthy, who are today
doing such noble work for God and
humanity.
You have come to counsel together
how best to promote the interests of
that great cause so dear to our hearts,
and thereby the good of society, in the
most important field that ever invited
the thought and labor of woman, a
field that lies at the very center of our
domestic, social and religious well-be-
ing. You come, and we meet you, not
as specialists, for from its first incep.
ton the work of the w. G. T. U. has
been many-sided, broad, humane and
Christian, helpful. reformatory and
educational. We come, then, as those
whose interests are closely identified
with those of every city, town, neigh
borhood and family in our land and so
entitled to the sympathy and co-opera-
ton of every lover of his race. OF
course, we are familiar with the con
flicting theories of temperance reform.
We have the staunch prOhibitionist,
who would trust all to law the eloquent
lecturer, who believes in winning by
persuasion; n divine, who breaches
total abstinence, and another who
needs a little wine for his physical we'll
being, and who descants, with a gusto
that savors of relish, upon the temper
ate habits of the people inhabiting the
vine.growing districts of Europe. TO
each and every method the directors
may be named legion. You have en-
countered the hostility of those whose
death-dealing work you oppose, and
oftImes the ingratitude of the degraded
whom you sought to uplift.
The present is the tenth year since
that memorable pentacostal season call.
ed "The Crusade" and in spite of all
difficulties, opposition from without,
and, what is far worse, luke-warmness
and Indifference from protested friends,
still there is cause for abundant en-
enlargement. To-day, $500 unions
dot our land, with a membership Of
10000 earnest women, many of their
pushing forth with vigorous endeavol
on every line where licensed crime
may be repealed and fallen humanity
raised from degradation and woe.
Thirty-two States and several Terri
tories are fully organized and auxiliar,
to the National union. Tw~erty-sil
States have clamored at the doors o
their lie sislative halls for prohibition
or restriction in some form, of tn,
traffic. The liquor crime, with its at
tendant evils, is the absorbing question
before the American people. Agitator
are becoming more prominent, rs wei
AS constant, and the world is compelle,
10 hear and observe, willing OF unwill
ing. Conscience and political econom,
go hand in hand, and success is N
longer doubtful.
We hear, "the people are not ready,
nor were they ready for the abolitio
OF slavery, but is it no less a fact of his
tory?
There must be those who go befor
and prepare the way, but the time
coming when the people will heal
You say it will take a long time, bu
let us remember
"The mill of God grinds slow.
But grinds exceeding small,
lie doth with patience wait,
But yet with equal justice grindeth all"
We recognize you as members
that large sisterhood that gives brigl
promise for future generations. w
greet you as those who can instruct u
and thus we welcome you with joyol
exultatiOn to our hospitality and OF
hearts.
RESPONSE.
Dear Sisters, Ladies Of WeyJridge:
Your graceful words of WELDON
to your commodious church aud you
pleasant, h%ospitable homes we wouI