Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-23
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benefits of temperance, the blessings
which follow in the train of a lire
regulated by the %precepts and prin-
ciples taught in our lodge rooms.
ut is our duty as Good Templars,
as members of that great family upon
whom (to use E%ngland's proud boast
the sun never sets, who are of many
land and many tongues, but all unit
ed in one common bond of sympathy,
striving in harmony to attain the
same end, to put aside all thoughts
of self and endeavor at all times to
extend the order and its teachings
until there remain none outside the
pale of it's influences. | mean by this
we should embrace every opportunity
to secure new members for our
lodges, gaining new material to re-
place the old, building and streng-
thening our ranks, gradually slipping
the work and it's responsibilities from
the shoulders of the old to those OF
the young, keeping our lodges and
membership ever up to that high de-
gree of perfection which means
strength and success.
"To do this we must have system
and unity. We must emulate the
example Tin this respect, at least) of
our powerful adversaries and go
I, about the work in a businesslike
manner. When / look about me this
afternoon and see the faces of those
who have taken the Solemn and sa-
cred obligation of our order, note
the earnestness and zeal with which
each c~ountenance is glowing, | real
ize that here is a force all-powerful
for good, which will successfully ac-
complish whatever work there is to
be done.
81 want to say to you, and it Is my
/ hope and prayer that you may each
take it to yourself personally, that
YOU have a work to do that cannot be
done by any one else, that you cannot
place the responsibility for what you
should do upon other shoulders. You
must go home from your lodge rooms
out into the world and labor there
for the reformation and redemption
of your erring brothers and sisters;
show them by precept and example
4 the joys, the blessings, the happiness
to be found around the altar of the
Good Templars' lodge. There is no
, one, no matter what may be his or
a her station in life, but what possesses
an influence which can be either
welded for good or evil, Therefore
in our journey through life we should
as Good Templars, looking to the
growth and prosperity of our order,
endeavor to use, that influence in per-
suading the young and easily tempt
ed to join with us in Ntighting the
evils of intemperance, get them inter
II ested in the work, and set their feet
firmly and securely in paths leading
, to virtue and sobriety. Not only is it
our pledged duty to look after the
young, watch their ~faltering foot
steps, guide them with loving care,
contentment, but those who have sue
cumbed to the tempter, no matter
what may be their age or position,
should. receive at our hands that for
bearanee and solicitude which their
condition demands. We should en-
deavor to lead them with gentleness
from the snares of the tempter, and
surround them with loving kindness,
prove by our actions that we have a
deep and abiding interest in their
welfare, and would help them in their
struggles to free themselves from the
shackles of drunkenness, and aid
them in regaining the position lost
by Yielding. to. temptation. This Is
the work for which our lodges were
instituted, which was contemplated
by the founders of our noble order,
and we would most. lamentabiy fail
in our pledges and duty If we would
sit idly down and make no effort to
reach out and endeavOr to rescue the
perishing and save them from the
disgrace of a drunkard's grave.
"Thc friends of temperance and
morality should feel greatly eneour-
aged by the steady growth and spread
throughout. our state. and, in fact
the union, of sentiments in favor of
curbing the evils of the drink traffic.
Pressure was brought to bear upon
our legislature which resulted in the
enactment of what Is known as the
bishops BILL" which although much
changed from what it was when first
introduced, has already resulted in
much good. Although only in opera
tion two weeks, yet the beneficial eff
feet is a%pparents to the most prejudi-
cial observer. Less drunkenness, and
as a consequence less noise, less
fights and less arrests are directly
due to the observance OF this law. II
the people had not been aroused by
the fragrant violation of the excise
laws, by. the bold and -insolent atti-
tuae of the saloon keepers, this law
would have never been passed and
placed upon the statute books. There