Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-04-05
North STAFFORD, y. III.

At the last meeting OF the ". 1. / I.
the retiring president, Mrs. Ella Willard
Rowell, made very stirring address to
the members, and the same is published
at the earnest request OF many interested
in the good work.
Ny Dear Friends:
As this is the last regular meeting of the
Union at which | shall be present, the
time of my departure being near, | feel |
must say a few words TO you in parting,
1t has touched me deeply that some OF
YOU have found me worthy OF the hlgh
calling that came to me, tor it IS high
calling my friends 10 which we have been
called. Nothing can be nobler than the
work of reformation. 1t has for its basis
the foundation that underles all GoD 5
work-the strengthening OF the weak, the
uplifting OF the fallen, the enlightenment
Of the ignorant, and the training and ed
ucation OF the young. There can DC moth
ing more worthy OF accomplishment than
this. Some OF YOU have SAID there was no
need of temperance work here and that !
was too much in earnest and too anxious
TO do too much at once. You desired to
wait until the DAYS heightened and more
see If the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union that was launched i'll this town in
| January had been built by shIpwright,
and would prove herself seaworthy IN
these anti-temperance waters, or whether
| she was a mere pleasure craft, built ioT
sunny DAYS and doomed TO shIpwreck at
the first winds of opposition. We have
waited two months, the wlntry days
have merged into spring, and with the
| springtimc has come new duties, new
tasks; the vessel has proved hersei
worthy OF the line she represents, and We
are still calling for able and willing sea
men. | am in earnest am III a hurry
The time to apply a remedy is when tht
need calls, and if there is no call tor II
now hope | shall not be here when there
is call for it.
Is it not a too frequent sight on our
streets to see men Keeling, staggering
along. folio we'd by crowd OF hootIne
bows and accompanied by an officer TAX
mo them to the lookup? Is that a Sigh
Tor your children to profit by: You turf
from it in disgust. You can help 1t; yot
are not to blame for it! Oh! no; II /
disgusting tolook at yet if you will paus
to think moment this poor drunkei
man. this miserable wretChed creature II
whom YOU can scarcely see enough =
make YOU remember he was made i'll tn
image of GOD, this man was once httl
lchld, a baby on his mothers breast, a
dear to that mothers heart as your bo.
IS to YOU and my boy is to me. You hea
the wells of drunkenness around the vi
iage and know that some drink maddenet
man is on his way home to abuse his VII
and children; you can hear these sound
and see these sights and then tell me al
too much in earnest! We see young girl
about our streets at night with no pre-
tector but he who cares no more tor tn
ruin OF a Young girl than he does for tn
bruisng of a wayside flower; and whe
one falls BY the way which one OF us Wi
stoop to extend helping hand to her
which one of us will give her the KIN
word and try TO lift her back into lii
of no further harm? They tell us til
vast army of drunkards and women of i
fame is never decreased. Are our sor
and our daughters to fill the ranks Chi
dren as carefully brought up as ours hay
fallen; and until the sentiment OF maj
kind is raised into something higher an
. nober than it now is it will be SO. An
that, to instil into the minds and heart
Of our sons and our daughters high'
y ideal OF purity and virtue is a great, a
E important part ofour work.
] Do you ask what can we do here
North Stratford? The bible tells us thu
centuries ago there was a call from &c
for all cities and towns to go forth t
war against a common enemy. All r
: spondcd to the summons save one sma
remote village, far off among the noun
+ aims. They did not obey an | go forth
. war because they thought they could