St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-06-22

| The commissioners be required not
| only to prosecute breakers of the law on
evidence submitted by private citizens,
| but to investigate and themselves secure
evidence of such lawlessness where it
exists, the state providing for the
| expense of such work.
| The second class license be abolished.
| The fifth class license be more thor
| oughly guarded to conserve its proper
| purpose; so that the genuineness of
| physicians liquor prescription, as
prescription for medicine, be no longer
| tested by the physicians willingness to
| to incriminate himself"
| The introduction of this report pre-
| cipitated the most animated debate of
| the entire convention. 1t was opened by
| Rev. 6. Glenn Atkins of Burlington who
said the essential principle of the report
| was an intelligent and constructive
patience. The other alternative is to re-
enact the prohibitory law. It is mi
| nor consideration and we could not get
it if we wanted it. The major considera-
ton is the permanency of legislation.
The people of Vermont are not in a state
OF mind looking to permanency at this
time. Two years of waiting is not too
| great price to pay for permanent legis.
lation that some of us hope to get. We
may get the model system of temperance
/ legislation IN America.
| Rev. F. A. Poole of Barre thoroughly
believed in further investigation and
| hoped the committee could be continued.
| The original draft of the report con-
| tanned recommendation that prisoners
serving jail sentences for drunkenness
or other infractions of the liquor law
| should work out their sentence on the
public highway. This was strenuously
| opposed by Rev. Mr.. Wallace of Mont
pelier who thought this savored of vim
dictiveness instead of patience. Owing
| to the objection the committee withdrew
this from their report, though DR.. Beard
of Burlington said he believed it was the
best thing for criminals to labor rather
than languish in jail. He also elected
a round of applause when he said he
4 belived it was the first duty of the Chris
| tian or the church to purify politics or
better mans social condition.
| Rev. J.L. Sewall believed that the una
nimity of the committee was prophetic
of Congregational sentiment in the
state. c. S. Ranney of Newport believed
nally read would be interpreted as an
endorsement of the license law. He
especially objected to raising the fee of
second class license to that of a first
class. In response to- this objection.
both by Mr.. Ranney and others the
committee withdrew that clause in their
report and recommended the abolish
ment of second class licenses. D. M.
| Camp of Newport wanted the legislature
of 1904 to settle the problem and not
| have this body forestall public sentiment.
| Rev. c. L. 'Carhart, Rev. E. G. French of
| Johnson and Rev. W. c. Clark of Lyndon
| spoke along the same lines as Mr. Camp
| and Mr.. Ranney. DIR. Atkins introduced
an amendment to the first resolution
which removed much of the objection of
| the previous speakers and the first reso-
| luton passed with hardly dissenting
| vote, and the second resolution passed
unanimously.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS SESSION.
Wednesday evening "The Spirit of Rev
| erence" was considered in three phases:
Its place in the lite of the home, by II. O.
| Wheeler, Esq. In dealing with this point
he expressed the belief that the changes
| which have taken place, showing some
| what of lack OF this spirit in the home,
are due to the general condition of society.
| The feeling OF profound respect, awe, and
affection depends on the conception of
the home, which is a holy place insti-
tuted by God, with sacred family rela-
tons. He drew picture of an old New
England home which was full of rever-
ence, and in which the Bible stood alone,
and where Gods providing care was
always in mine, not only in the morning
and evening, but at all times of the day.
He made strong plea for revival of
the spirit of reverence in the homes.
The second phase, It's place in the life
OF the church, was spoken of by Rev.
Herbert J. Wyckof, who considered rev.
erence in the church as the factor of all
labor of men and women, and that like
charity it should begin at home. The,
pulpit and pew must produce perfect
harmony, and reverent congregation is
the greatest help to any minister. He
believes that the bulk of the matter rests
with the pew, as the pew leans harder
on the pulpit than does the pulpit on the
pew. This. too is a matter that seems to
be losingits hold, and were church attend
ants to be asked their reasons for attend
ing, various would be their answers.
The third phase, Its place in the life of
the state, was considered by Rev. John
Barstow of Manchester. The excellence
OF his address, coupled with the fact that
he was St. Johnsbury graduate and
former teacher Of that institution, lent
additional interest and the address is
given in full in next weeks CALIFORNIAN.
CLOSING SESSION.
The first paper of the morning was by
Rev. Evan Thomas of Essex Junction,
upon 1.-The Ultimate Source of Au-
thority." He said it was found in the
rational and floral nature of man; in the
immediate perceptions and great afhrma-
tons of the human soul. The source of
final authority reduces itself to this, it is
found neither here nor there, but within
man. Every man is a law unto himself.
The paper was briefly discussed by Rev.
DIR. Barnes, Rev. ]. L. Sewall and others.
| DIR. Barnes elected a round of applause
when he said, 1.-THE ultimate source of
authority is the voice of God. Mans
reason introduces us to this"
The closing paper of the convention
| was by Rev.. T. Stocking of Bellows
Falls upon "Christianity's Challenge to
Men" He said the first appeal was to
| produce something that is more essen
| TALLY masculine. Reason, emphasis on
| the practical and love of action are char
| acteristic of men rather than xomen-