The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-26

DflstOl ana w eyDrluge ana III MluQle-
bury college and Beeman academy.
After the adoption of a vote of
thanks to the retiring department super
intendents and to Mrs. Button, the re-
firing corresponding secretary, the
session closed.
FRIDAY EVENING.
The audiedce of Friday evening was
as large as that OF Thursday, every
seat being occupied. There were seat
ed on the stage, with the officers of the
union, President Hamln and Profess
sors Austin, Eaton and Seely of the
college, Rev. j. j Noe, Rev. A. De. f.
Palmer, Rev. 5. l.. b. Speare and the
speaker of the evening, Rev. NJ. d.
Jump, pastor of the Burlington Meth
dist church. The exercises began with
singing, after which the scriptures
were read and prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. lIanlin.
Mrs. j. W. Pitts of Middlebury, who
was down on the programe for a solo,
being unable to sing, Mrs. H. 5. Foo tie
sang "Nearer, my God, to thee"
Mrs. Greene, the president, introduced
Rev. Mr.. Jump, who announced as his
topic "a Reasonable View of the Tenn
perance Question" There are, he
said, two factors in temperance work
the transient and constant. The first
are those waves of agitation that some
times sweep across the country the
second, forces always at work, such as
education. lie would deal chiefly with
the latter, believing that the time had
passed when appeals to the emotions
were of value. The evils growing
out of intemperance were too well
known to need description. Drunk
ards are not only made, but they
are born. The law of heredity is more
powerful in its operations now than
ever before, owing to the virulence of
the poison that is dealt out Intemper-
ance intrudes into the inmost sanctu-
aries of the land. 1t enters the very
house of God and drags its victims
down to destruction. What, in fhe
second place, does a reasonable view
show? We claim that it shows pro.
gress of reform. But so far the
work has been largely preparatory.
Medical men have declared against the
unnecessary use of alcohol. Formerly
the clergy did not hesitate to drink ;
but they dare not in these days. Many
of the States have put prohibition into
the foundations of their government.
Third, reasonable view shows the
need of organization to defeat this giant
evil. With that, in two generations it
might be driven out of our country.
Another thing which moderate view
makes apparent is that spasmodic
efforts for the suppression of intemper-
ance are of no avail. A reasonable
view shows, also, that the laws against
the rum traffic are not enforced as they
should be. When it comes to the pros
ecution of those who sell liquor, the
magistrate violate their official oaths.
A reasonable view shows, finally, that
no other question equals in importance
this one of temperance reform. Now
moral enthusiasm has come into the
work since the women took it up. 1t
has brought the whole reform into al
lance with religion and given it an inn
petus otherwise impossible of attain
ment. IL is an augury of final success,
tor which God be praised.
Mrs. Greene made a brief address,
thanking the people of Middebury for
their hospitality and kindness and
announced that collection would be
taken tor the benefit of the Middlebury
union, to assist in defraying the expen-
ses of the convention.
The session and the annual meeting
of the State union were brought to an
end with the doXology and the beue-
diction pronounced by Rev. NJ. Speare.
NOTES.
A cold collation. was served each
noon in the Methodist church vestry,
where delegates and visitors passed a
social hour. Each county union assist
ed in providing the repast. The Jap
anese paper napkins were held by
clothes-pins, Handsomely decor ated with
hand painting by young ladies. AT the
last dinner each one was requested to
take her napkin-holder home as me-
mento of the convention,
The publications of the National
Temperance society were kept on sale
all through; S24 were taken. Tracts
were distributed through the audience
each evening.
Mrs. Hannah Whithall Smith is the
| anthor of tho wal. lnnun hOnl, sGfr no