Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-04-03
FAsT-DAY IN A OW-sTORM
GOOD CITIZENSHIP"

What It Is and How to Promote It, as
Discussed at the Union Services this
Morning
This mornings April blizzard was conduc-
/ i've 10 humiliation If not 10 fasting and
prayer, but it did not impel 10 a crowded
attendance on the public religious services
appointed for the observance Of this time
/ honored New England day. An audience
Of about one hundred gathered at the town
/ hall. however, at the hour appointed for
the union Fast day services.
! A printed service was arranged for the
/ occasion, opening with the familiar hymn,
/ Come thou Almighty King This was
/ followed by the ten commandments, read
responsively prayer, and another hymn.
/ The theme Of the meeting, Good Citizen
ship" was then briefly outlined by Rev.
| Mr. Phalen. who had the exercises in
charge The first address under this
general topic was by Rev. Mr. Parry on
THE Individual
Each individual in the state, Mr. Parry
said, is part Of a mechanism, so inter
dependent in its different parts that the cog
Of its smallest wheel and the cord Of its
obscurest pulley is necessary TO the well
being and well-working Of the whole. As
we consider today the factors that have
made and the forces that promote good
citizenship, ] think we will see that none
are greater than for the individul 10 be IN
his true relation To- the citizenship Of the
/ state Indeed the state is nothing other
] than the aggregation Of individuals. The
/ guard and bulwark Of our national preser
walton Is the character Of the individuals
/ who constitute the nation. Mr. Parry then
showed the scope and sphere OF the indi-
| viduals duty ia enforcement Of the thought
/ that every individual is bound hv the very
nature Of the relationship 70 a faithful
exercise Of the political duties OF citizen
ship
! Mr. Sprague, speaking upon Social In
/ huences showed their deep and lasting ef-
] feet on the citizen The laws aud customs
/ Of the state the sentiment Of the locality
/ the character Of existing organizations
/ and Of the men who are IN power all mould
/ the citizen tor good or for evil Organized
society. " hich is the state has beset cit-
zenship behind and before, but what is
called the tyranny of the state is "A mis-
| homer Restrictions on the individual must
be made or society would become social
chaos Without the levy Of taxes the march
Of civilization would speedily stop The
present freedom e. stay away from the
polls and b. AVOID other duties of citizen
I snip ~ q peril u Lnt state ne llIueUNt
Of prosperous business men is necessary ~.
day a. never before To promote good
citizenship the reputation Of the citizen
must be protected 1t Is for the interest
Of the state to keep alive the love of social
appreciation In the present remarkable
development Of the field of the newspaper
such protection Is often difficult and re
dress is even more difficult and uncertain
under the plea Of the privilege of the
press ~ Good citizenship is too much at the
mercy Of every forging villain Too often
these violate the right Of privacy. iisinter
the dead. and maligu the innocent and
pure. Papers guilty Of this should be put
under the ban OF social discredit There
must be efficient and certain protection for
the citizen good name IL We are 10 have
in places of public trust men who value
their reputation, and are willing a. stand
for office IN political contest
The address Of Rev Mr. Webb was upon
The Family The home plays the most
important part ia good citizenship. said the
speaker. Character Is made mp Of faith
fulness IN small things, aud the backbone
is made at home society is often surprised
at the downfall Of men 10 responsible places
but the beginnings are generally IN small
swervings from truth and honesty at home
The home Is the workshop for turning out
good citizens In 1t the golden rule must
bs taught and practiced In the cultiva
ton of the corn-felds the flower gardens
must not be forgotten
To Mr. Day was assigned the topic The
School, but this was omitted on account of
his enforced absence from home
Rev Mr. Phaen, IN speaking upon
Politics, defended the right and duty of
minister 10 participate IN politics Dis
cussing the nature and meaning Of citizen
ship, the speaker said there can be no citl-
zen outside Of free state. a citizen Is IA
sovereign lie helps to rule, and II things
20 wrong he is to blame Politics is the
application Of morals TO public affairs Pol
itics is the science Of citizenship and gov
ernment Hence the Importance Of apply
ing Christian principles TO all the problems
Of the state
The singing OF America, and the benedic-
tion pronounced 10y Rev MIR Webb closed
the exercises.