Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-11-05
OUR FIELD.

/
on the move.
OUR FIELD.
To the earnest, faithful Good Temrlar
it is an inspiring thought that our field |
is the whole wide world. A vast battle
field on which to win glorious and last
ing victory, field on which to meet the
great enemy of mankind, the curse of |
strong drink. 1t is grand experience !
to be upon the mountain top of glory, |
where all is bright and beautiful; but
unless this supreme enjoyment is won by |
persistent, earnest effort, the grandeur |
of the scene is not appreciated and we
soon lose interest in our surroundings. |
True, the world is the field for the Good
Templar army as whole, lut the mat
ter which should interest us as indivd.
uals most is, Where is my field: The
secretary of the National Wholesale
Liquor Dealers association recently
gave utterance to these words "If we
would continue in business we must
create the appetite for strong drink in
the boys of America" The whole ma
ton shuddered at the utterance. We
who are in the battle front are not so
much shocked at these words. 1t is
simply confession of the terrible pur-
pose of the saloon power. Only an I'M
masking of the batteries which have
been trained on the youth of our fair
land from their birth. The enemy have
been in ambush heretofore, but now
their position is plainly seen. They also
claim the world as their field. And how
will they entice the youth to the down
ward road: By personal effort.
The glass given to the guest at a din
ner party is a source of revenue to the
man behind the bar. The sparkling cup
pressed to the lips in the name of friend
ship starts many a noble life to the dark
waters of despair, They know better
than to send the product of the dram
shop out to do their missionary work.
With hearty, cordial greeting, warm
handshake and a pleasant smile they
seek to lure the innocent into their
| gilded dens of vice. All, yes; they as a
whole look at the boys and girls of the
nation as their special objects of mission
airy effort, and each saloonkeeper seeks
to ruin those in immediate contact with
him. Their strength lies in their never
ceasng, earnest personal effort to ruin
the youth. What then shall we do:
Follow their example in doing more per-
sonal work.
Alas for us. we are too general in our
efforts to defeat the saloon. We are
prone to seat ourselves in easy chairs
and shutting our eyes to all about us
dream of the glorious battles to be
fought and won in our field. the world
Many are too well satisfied with simple
pulpit temperance. You ask a member
of some church if their church teaches
temperance. "Oh, yes, they reply, and
proceed to report their pastors annual
sermon on the subject. Blind man, sat
isfyng his sleepy conscience with the
thought that his poor Over-worked pas
tor is doing all that is necessary TO wiz
the day. But not only are church mem
bers insensible to the danger and need:
of the hour, but the great mass Of tenn
perance followers are in the same con
dition. We depend on our leaders TO dc
the entire work, and it is impossible fol
them to do more than to direct the work
ers. The general of an army directs the
movements of his soldiers, but eacf
soldier must do his duty or victory viii
not come. Don't be satisfied with The
efforts of our lecturers or Grand Lodge
officers. All the eloquence in the worlC
is never az effective as earnest, persona
work. Don't sit idly down and theoriz,
and plan; but up, grid thee for the bat
tie; put aside worldly pleasures and take
up the duty that lies nearest you.
When Joshua took Jericho he com
manded his soldiers that when the wall
fell each man should 90 straight up be
fore him and Stay his man. The salool
says to each of his servants, go VI
straight before you and ruin your man
Soldiers of Temperance, advance, eacl
man of you; go up and save at least on
brand from the burning
Arouse, we sleepers; leave your bed
of ease and Incidence and forth int
battlefield. Behold the day is far spent
the sun is sinking in the west; 500
darkness will cover the world and tn
time to work be past. a new century
dawning. All things point to crisi;
There is a solemn hush over all. God
about to give his commands. Dare W
prophesy that they will be urging, nay
in laundering tones of authority, con
manding his faithful ones to PERSONAL
enter the fight? And does he not Civ
the assurance of victory? Faithful in
little, ruler over much. God speed tn
day when through personal work tn
youth of our nation are saved from tn
awful power of rum; when we, as
people, are freed from the terrible bono
age into which we are being led by il
difference.
j. NJ. Thirdwend of Grosbeck, Tex
thot xxrhop no hos cnal of ipdiua