The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-30
NEW SUPT.O ANTI:
SALOON LEAGUE
IN TOWN
Spoke Twice Yesterday at Sec
Ond Church
APOSTLE OF TEMPERANCE
Rev. c. H. Smith Appealed to Reason
and Desire to Improve Conditions
Of Human Life.

Rev. Clifford H Smith, the recent
ly chosen head OF the Vermont
branch of the ant-saloon league
made his first appearance in Ben
nington Sunday and delivered two
addresses here at the Second Con-
gregational church In the morning
he preached at the regular morning
service while in the evening he ad
dressed a large audience at a union
service.
At the morning service Mr.. Smith
took for his text Gen. 1892, HE
said, | will not destroy 1t for the
tens sake" He said in part: Sod
ON was a VIGOROUSLY wicked city,
doomed to destruction for its degen.
eracy But there was one man who
had faith to pray for its salvation,
and he received the assurance that
it should be spared II ten righteous
men should be found in 1t. Ten
righteous men could have saved even
Sodom.
There is no town in Vermont as
contrary ours is a state in which
the people as whole are clean,
temperate, wholesome men and WON
en-. But in every town and city OF
Vermont there are influences at
work, and tendencies which lead
straight toward Sodom's condition
and Sodoms doom. This is no pes
simists cry. no wall OF discourage
ment It Is simply recognition OF
one Of the plalnest facts of human
nature.
1.-TWO forces are always in mortal
conflict within us. One is OF the
earth rooted in a long history OF
development, the other is an aspira
ton and striving for something bet
ter If the striving ceases even for
a little while there is immediate and
rapid deterioration. My neighbor
has garden which ordinarily bears
splendid crops of edible vegetables
But this year he went way and left
1t to itself, and ! never saw such q
| growth of every kind of noxloui
weeds. Human nature Is a fertile
soil, and will surely bear some kline
of crop. Vermont has upon hel
honor roll. the names of men who
have done great things for the worl(
but she also has roll OF dishonol
upon which are names that we d.
not willingly mention.
Now the salvation of a community
depends upon constant resistance /,
these evil influences and tendencies
And IL usually depends upon a llttl'
group OF earnest minded, self sacri
fcing individuals to lead in the fight
We are apt TO think we must have
majority before we can accomplish
anything. But II we wait for
majority to declare themselves OF
the side Of righteousness we shall
wait long. What we have to do 4
TO provide a nucleus around whicl
others may rally, until the minorit,
becomes the majority. This LITTLE
group, these ten more or less upol
whom so much is to depend, mus
be thoroughly In earnest, courageou
persistent and wise. Above all the
must learn to work together. Wit
such qualifications they can accom-
plish almost any conceivable good.
1T is to find or develop such littl
groups in the several towns OF tn
state who win stand for temperate
and good order and civic decenc
that the Vermont Anti.Saloon Leaf
lie exists.
1T believes In Vermont and 4
Vermonters. II asks them to co-oJ
crate for the salvation OF our belol
ed state from the foes that threate
It, And II believes that the te
righteous men can be found. Tn
work will not be done In day, bu
1t will surely be done"
AT the union service In the ever
ing Mr.. Smiths subject was 9TH
Better Vermont" He said in part
Il am a confirmed optlmist,. an
n thoroughbred Vermonter. an
proud OF the Green Mountain stat,
and | love her people. | believe tha
she has a future as we'll as a pas
But Vermont is not perfect. Their
Is a shady side to the picture. An
as long as this is true II is the bus
ness Of every Christian and {
every loyal citizen to labor for
Better Vermont
But all who seek this end al
sure, sooner or later, and usual
sooner, to come up against one grel
hindrance to the success OF their e
forts,--that double headed monst,
which for lack Of better name v
call Intemperance say 'doub
headed because there is on the OF
hand the craving for stimulal
which leads a man to the use OF q
cohol, and on the other the greed Il
money which makes another ms
sell the stlmulant to him. The spe
ial work OF the nti.Saloon Leagl
Is to fight against this double hea
ed evil, or in the language Of It's co
stitutlon, TO discourage the drir
habit and suppress the sale OF
toxlcating liquor as a beverage
Its method is, On To encoura
total abstinence. We say that tot
abstinence ls perfectly safe
every one. that indulgence ia We
dangerous for some, and that no o
knows beforehand who those a
for whom II is dangerous. CD
seek a no.license majority In eve
town and city at the March meetll
We believe that the liquor saloon
always and everywhere curse.
lcripples legitimate trade, II imp,