Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-03
Duties, Public vs.. Private.
Read at the anniversary meeting of Winter HON,
Lodge.i

Read at the anniversary meeting of Winter Home
II Lodge.i
, There seems to be a great division of
!, opinion among different people MS to the
duty they owe the world at large There
Is class of people whose whole mind CEN
ters on home and its four walls, particu-
larry the walls. II you ask their aid for
any public purpose whatever, the answer
will be that they have no time, they have
so much to do, etc, etc.
Now little discussion of this question
might be beneficial. If everybody be-
longed to that class where would society
be? And II it is Of no benefit whatever to
have society Of any sort, the sooner we all
join that class the better. Ii, on the other
hand, society does good, and public gath
erings Of any kind are a benefit, why
should not every one help on good cause
when it is presented to him or her?
For instance, the Good Templars' Lodge,
Is It a benefit to society or not? There are
some, no doubt, who really and honestly
think 1t does no good. Their opinion
should receive due respect, and we ought
not to ask them to help it on-provided
that they have eyer taken the trouble to
honestly examine the workings of the or
der, and have formed their opinions intel.
iiSently. l believe, however, that nine
out OF ten who oppose our order In any
way, do so without any knowledge of it's
real purpose. few thoughtless bows
may be noisy after the meetings or during
recess, and the lodge is reproached as a
disorderly gathering. once on time
sister of the order had bottle of Yeast
and dropped 1t from her carriage near the
hall, and straightway there was a great
complaint that the lodge members were
breaking their pledge, for bottles were
found round the hall
| Well, supposing our members are not all
as faithful and true as they should be, the
whole should not be condemned for the
faults OF the few. But it is not only those
outside who injure the lodge, or any 9TH
er society. We must have something done
TO keep up the interest of the meetings,
| so much to do and no time. No doubt we
all have something to do at home but sup
| pose each one of US who belong to the
lodge should spend fifteen minutes prepar-
Ing to entertain at the meetings; who
would miss that time and what an interest
there would be; but if two or three have
to do the work of twenty or forty or fifty
fhey may well complain that it takes too
much of their time. But, says one, Il pay
my dues, and | can't go to the meetings
only when there is union meeting or
something of the kind, and can't help on
the enter tainment." Well, what if we all !
paid our dues and only went to union meet
ings and did nothing to help the entertain
ment then-is there anything absurd in !
that view of the case.
Then there is the Temple How many |
Of the parents of those Juvenile Templars |
know whether their children are being |
taught good or evil at the meetings? They |
let the little ones go, perhaps in season. |
more likely late, and they take no interest |
= - 'hNeHNi tiASy NbJpS blS HltclluSS VI |
not; If you don't believe this ask almost |
any of the parents if they have ever visit
ed the Temple; they will probably say
f"'' - ~ ..-y -~->~i- know
ledge the parents have been invited ssv.r
al times to visit the meetings at the install. |
iation OF officers or similar occasions anu |
the little ones have been pleased with the |
idea of havin. company, but not soul ac-
cepted the invitation. | asked a young |
lady once on time why she was not at
the Temple at certain meeting. co." |
said she pathetical!y, If you only knew
how much had to do you wouldn't ask"
Very well, hare some faint idea that there |
is something to do on Saturdays, but then
there is the Temple to be sustained or
dropped, and if it is to be kept up some
body has got TO work for it at the expense |
of little of the home work and why |
should one or two be Obliged to do it all?
But these are only examples; the same
feeling of listlessness and coldness extends |
to all branches of society where anything
bat sheer amusement is required. Now
why not take the idea right home that none
OF US are exempt from some responsibility
towards society ard that we have duty
to perform in that direction as much as at
home? | do not say neglect home duties
for public ones, but as one of the soap ad-
vertisers says, Don't be clam" Don't
get into shell and stay there. You have
got out this evening, come again; and next
time, those OF you who have listened now
come prepared to do something or to say
something for the rest to listen to. If you
like to be entertained so do others, come
and help. If you don't belong to the lodge
come and join US, we won't hurt any body
and if not the lodge, go to church, help
there, sing If you can; help the Sunday
school, there is need enough of it; help
any way and anywhere for the good of
society, and see how much better you will
feel than If confined to one steady drag at
home. These things are all educational,
help them, and if one lodge member is un-
faithful or one Sunday school scholar
does wrong, or one church member does
something that goa wouldn't do, don't con-
denim the whole, just join in and set such
a good example that others can't help fol-
lowing it. r. s. W.