River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-10-09
Good Templar Influence.


miring listeners.
The rowdy who can spit at knot
and hit it, is looked upon by the
boys as a champion whom they
must emulate. A circus comes TO
town and the youngsters are 1asso-
ing each other, and one must be
careful if he wants to escape being
caught in the moose himself.
Let company of militia parade
our streets in uniform with guns on
shoulders and led by a band play
ing martial airs and instantly boys
brlgades are formed, old attics are
ransacked for guns and relics of
war. The musical talent of the
street gamin put to the front and
we have squads of soldiers doing
valiant service.
If we are led unconsciously TO i'm
itate others, it shows their influence
is affecting US. If the character of
our pattern is bad we will be pulled
down to his level and unless we stop
we do not know to what depths we
may be drawn.
On the other hand if we associate
with persons of high ideals and
choose our companions among
moral, industrious, temperate peo-
pie we cannot help but be elevated
and strengthened.
This brings me to the subject at
the head of this paper, namely,
Good Temp1ar Influence. We that
belong to a Good Templar lodge can
do great deal if we only know it,
| am afraid we do not estimate the
order of a lodge in a community.
Why, the saloon keepers become
aware of it as soon as lodge is or
ganized, all churches know it be-
cause of the increased attendance
by a number they have not seen
there before, for about the next step
a drinking man does who has join
ed the Good Templar lodge is to at
tend church. He cuts loose from
his old associates and forms new
ties which lie on higher levels.
The community at large is pleas
ed TO see the change and makes
comments as follows: That is the
work of the Good Templars.
A lodge of Good Templars should
be so much alive that every man,
woman and child in the town should
know where it is located. Not only
should they know there is lodge
but each member should make ii
his business to let them know he
belongs Get the people to talk
about us and compel them to take
sides. 1t will set them thinking to
try to decide which side they favor
We should be identified with the
Order not only by attending the
meeting but by holding up the
banner of Good Templary in all the
walks of life. We should publish
to the world our aims, our princi-
pies and exemplify them in
our lives and we will not only con-
quer Ourselves but succeed in con-
quering others. Already we have
accomplished very much and the
good work is gaining daily.
An employer always prefers a
strictly temperance man and his i'm
portance is becoming more and
more pronounced. Corporations
are beginning to draw the lines
pretty closely and many of them
will not place man on their pay
roll whom they know to be even a
moderate drinker. Insurance COM
panies that do not formulate their
rules on moral grounds or for SEN
tin1ent, have put the teetotalers in
their most preferred risks. In my
opinion the time is coming when
they will get better rates than they
are having now, in fact special rates
will have to be formulated for them.
Now do you suppose these conclu-
sions are arrived at by skillful ar
guments of teetotalers or that the
friends of temperance people have
been able to influence legislation
in their favor2 No, the fact that
drunkards die suddenly all around
US, that they contract diseases very
easily and often battle the skill of
physicians is the reason why drink
ing men are not desirable risks.
These facts seems to me should
help to solve the liquor question.
They are merely the money side of
the question it is true, but the fnan-
cial side is being studied now in our
body polite as never before. | am
quite sure the statesmen of our
times see it, in fact they can't help
but see it and if only they will begin
to proclaim the truth to their con-
stituents a change might take place
very soon, God grant that the time
may soon come when we can rid our
fo;r 1o,J from tho cfrao%acf c1oxrar4Y