The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Temperance.
Onr Mission.

Experience has clearly proven the
wisdom of non-partisan methods of
temperance work; history emphasizes
the necessity of work by such methods
as the only guarantee of success. So
ciety is not ideal but real. and the
"glow of future" idealism loses
something of its radiance when it rests
upon the stern problems of everyday
life. Not what ought to be, but what
is, is the fact we face. The liquor
traffic is here intrenched; its horrible
results are everywhere manifest. If
runs victims are not our own flesh
and blood, they are kin to others who,
in the name of common humanity,
have interests allied to ours. The
claims of this work rest upon us all nor
are we exempt, though we pray to be
excused. In the light of modern sci
ence, as well as Christian ethics, total
abstinence for the individual is the
correct rule of life, and the extinction
of the traffic in alcoholic beverages the
end to be sought in all good govern
ment. How shall we attain these OBJ
jects? % By reaching the women,
and making every home a center in
which total abstinence is the standard
of practice and from which shall radi-
ate influences that will lift society to a
higher plane of living; in other words,
the first step is in the line of organiza-
ton. (2) Education by all the means
that experience has proven effectual.
C3) Legislation-protecting the weak
against the rapacity of the strong; blot
ting out a traffic the results of which are
evil and evil only. Instead of only 49,
600 women organized for temperance
work, we should have a standing army
of lot less than 100000 women in
readiness for this holy war This num-
Der can not be enlisted under partisan
banner and in a society having many
departments of work, in regard to the
utility of which Christian women hon
estly differ Hence a society less com
pick in its aims, free from any party
alliance, affording the widest range for
political preference and the fullest
scope for individual effort, is the great
demand of the hour and meets the ex-
pressed approval of thousands. Such
is the Non-partisan Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, organized not as a
rival society, but largely to cover un-
occupied ground, to enlist new recruits,
to bring again into active service many
who bad retired from the field, and to
open up ways of pleasantness and
paths of peace " which do not diverge
widely from the Christian church,
wherein those who hold a common
temperance faith may walk in harmony
Many Christian ministers have volun-
tarily proffered assistance in various
ways; but the great majority of women
are as yet indifferent to the demands OF
this great moral reform upon the
womanhood of this nation, and espe-
cially upon Christian motherhood
Many have been unwilling hitherto tC
engage in active temperance work be-
cause of various complications, bu
now that the lines are clearly drawn
every woman may find her true place
in one organization or the other, where
she may work with her whole heart
We urge the necessity for immediate
action, and would encourage, exhorI
and entreat the women to lose no tint
in allying themselves with Christian
organization that seeks to build wal
of defence over against every home
"to rescue the perishing," to hold NJ
the gospel as the power that can {" sav,
unto the uttermost," and by the meth
DDS of prevention and cure endeavor tC
secure the safety of coming generations
Yours in Christian service,
ELLEN j. PHTNNEY, President.