The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-15
Address Of welcome.

assume that il is not so much a
aniy as il is pleasure to extend TO you
tonight the commonh and of fellow
ship and welcome you--yes thrice
welcome we say.
This place is sacredly dedicated TO
the cause of temperance, and may
the all seeing eye Of wise and
oenifcent Creator ever Stand Between
1t and the wine, cup. Let The sacred
alter at which we all have stood ever
remind US that we are travelling upon
the level of time 10 that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no trav-
eler ever returns; let the nobler i'm
pulse of our manhood and woman
hood ever stand before the world as
living beacon of virtue, rectitude,
and honor, clothed in the purple
colors of faith, hope and charity.
Let not The vile serpent, intemper-
ance, ever find a resting place in our
hearts, or stain our spotleSs banner.
We welcome you tonight with the
impulse Of common brotherhood.
Good Templars of Bancroft, Morrice
Owosso, and all who are here to-
night: ] do, in behalf Of Byron
lodge, (the banner LODGE, welcome
you within its sacred walls, and in
unity and peace way we abide
together tonight.
Let US draw the line SO as 10 pro
tect ourselves, and those who are
near and dear TO US. May the God
of battles so direct ourlives and &C.
tions that not one star shall be blot
ted cut, or stricken from our crown
of honor. No, the memory of the
dead patriots shall not be blackened !;
American freedom-like the surging
wave of old ocean-shall roll on un-
til the star that just passed through
the endless space above rs, shall
shine forth, and be as welcome as
that shining orb-that shall make
the meriden of that great day.
The great thought that occupies a
place in the Good Templars mind
to-day, is shall we have an amend
ment TO our constitution that will
prohibit the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquors in this state.
That such an amendment would be
founded upon the rock OF justice, is
a fact admitted by the wisest states
men Of our day. When we look
around US and see on every hand a
people who are the posterity of those
brave men Of old who struggled with
mother England for their liberty
remember the time honored words of
Thomas Jefferson, External vigilance
is the price of liberty" Remember
too, how those patriotic words guild
ed and stimulated the colonial vet.
Grams when they marched against the
British oppressor. Had it not been
for the true patriotism that leaped in
the breast of our fathers, CORVALLIS
would never have surrendered at
Yorktown, nor would Lee have given
Grant his sword under the apple tree
at Appamatox. Now my brothers if
eternal vigilance was the price of lib
erty then, and could raise thirteen
weak and struggling colonies to a
Nation Of fifty million freeman,
should we not as temperance workers
be content to hope for success through
vigilance until we reach that grand
apex which shall blossom in the COM
ing day?
Each Good Templar has duty to
perform, for we are sworn upon our
sacred honor to do all in our power
to Danish incompetence from the
land. Let US remember the language
Of our ritual weak endeavor is the
germ of giant power to see fallen
one reclaimed, wife and children hap
by, the man marching heavenward,
the devil cast out, Christ once more
made welcome; is it not glorious thus
to live, and garner in the sheaves for
immortality? Sublimely beautiful
were the life and teachings of Jesus,
and glorious may ours DE as we fulfill
our mission.