River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-10-30
Temperance.
To the Good Templars of the First Dis
trict of Wisconsin.
lear Brothers and Sisters.

Another grand lodge year, with all
its opportunities, improved OF unim-
proved, has passed and gone. These
opportunities that have been improved
will ever stand upon the pages of the
great book of life 10 the credit of
those who have improved them. and
thus will help to swell the brilliant
achievements and sublime cOnquests
of Good TemplaTy in Wisconsin dur
ing the year just closed, while those
unimpT0ved are passed and gone for
ever.
AS we enter upon the new Grand
lodge year shall it not be with a re-
newed determination to cOnsecrate
ourselves more fully to the great work
we have on hand--ouT Christ-like mis-
sion of Saving the fallen, and saving
others from falling" Most certainly
"the enemy with which we contend is
crafty and powerful, and to resist such
foe successfully will require our
mightiest efforts The times are up
on us for eaTne st, active. aggressive
work. These closing years of the
nineteenth century are witnessing the
most mOmentOus events of all the
ages, and are marking a critical pc
IIod IA our nations history; and the
strength and peTmanence of our re.
publican institutions are being tested
as never before. The legalized saloon
system, towering up in all its gigantic
proportions, with all it's tendencies TO
vice and degradation. is coTrupting
our nations life aud thought, wasting
our resources, paralyzing our indus
trial al uan9sfnu rho
foundations of our free institutions;
and every consideration of patriotism,
every interest of our holy Christianity.
as well as the instincts of our common
humanity, demand its speedy and 40.
solute suppression.
Among all the organized agencies in
the field seeking the overthrow of this
legaliZed iniquity, none can be made
so potent. and certainly none is so
we'll adapted 10y its methods Of work
and financial system to meet this SUI
preme demand of our times as the IN
dependent order of Good Templars.
Its platform of principles shines with
increasing luster among the LOblest
utteranceS of the craftsmanship of the
nineteenth century, and places Good
Templdry among the boldest cham
piOns of civil and religious liberties,
as we'll as the true opponents of Amer
lean ideas, and correct moral philOs-
ophy and sound political theology, all
of which are so vital to the perpetual
tion of our republican institutions. As
a school of patriotism and an educa.
tional force in the schooling and grad
uating the type of American citizen
ship necessary to carry this grand re-
public forward to sublimer heights,
and grander civilization, Good
Templary has no superior in our land.
It's brilliant achievements in the past,
as well as its hopes of grandeT con
quests in the future, is due to the
superiority of its methods of work and
its financial system, and especially it's
underlying philosophy, which is in
harmony with the teachings of Gods
holy word, as well as the history of all
moral and philanthrOpic movements,
and which distinguishes it from all
other temperance organizations, viz:
the uniting of the moral and intellect
ual forces of the community, and
such social influences as tend TO refine
and elevate mankind in an Guceasing
warfare upon this giant evil, and not
dicidiRg these forces along the line of
the sexes, cOmmends it to the thought
and support Of every man and women
who is anxious and honest in their de-
sire to see the prohibition of this
greatest OK all curses of modern times.
Now, my brother, my sister, in view
of these important facts, and in the
presence of the opportunities and pos
sibiitieS OF this new Grand lodge
year, let me urge you to do your full
share to make every meeting of your
lodge both pleasant and profitable,
and thus help to make your lodge
prominent among the recognized
forces for good in your community.
Work up the uniform program for
good of the Order, study the history.
principles and sublime cOnquests of
Good Templary, catch it's spirit and
Inspiration, and 90 out and work as
never before to promote the interests
of our noble Order and advance the
cause of temperance. Push our juve-
nile work, join the temple. attend its
meetings whenever possible, and re.
member that live, tl0urishing temple
is the sure fOTerunner of live, flour
ishiDg lodge. The Juveniles of to-day
are the subordinate lodge members of
tomorrow, and will be very largely
what we make them. Make as few
suspensions as possible. Print this
motto upon the walls of every lodge
room: Numbers add to our strength.
limitations increase, while suspensions
decrease our numbers. Advertise
your lodge and its work. Have
Good Templars Hall written in large
letters on the front of your lodge
room, SO that the passersby will
know that you are alive. Every mem
Der wear a recognition badge and thus
make themselves "a living epistle,
known and read of all men. Agitate
Good Templary. Talk Good Temp
larry, and thus make yourself known
aud felt as one of the 10000 Good !
Templars in this grand state that are
moving with such majestic tread to
the overthrow of our 5000 licensed |
saloons, and thus saving the boys and /
girls TO a useful aud noble manhood /
and womanhOOd.
We are within the closest touch of |
the masses. Reaching more Of the |
boys and girls, more of the young men |
and women, holding more public /
meetings, carrying the gospel of total /
abstinence and prohibition to more |
people than all the other temperance !
forces combined. and if each will do |
their full duty we will close this Grand |
Lodge year with $500 members in the I
First district, and with such a jubilee |
as will never be forgotten. | expect |
to remain in the district the entire |
year, and pledge you my hottest ener- |
gies to aid in reaching these high ex- |
pecJatiOns.
shall endeavor TO give at least two /
days to every lodge ia the district /
each quarter.
My postOfiice address will be at f,
Hudson. Let me hear from you often. !
Every urgent call for help will be re-
sponded TO as speedily as possible.
And now for united, persistent, con-
secrdted effort to increase our num-
bers and extend our influence in the 4
district until victory shall be written
uDOn all our banners. and the last sd