Year: 1866

sS cause Oh 1omPO4oAA~~ IA
TO The Friends Of temperance Of Vermont


The present state Of the Treasury OF
our Society, makes j; imperatively necss-
sary for the Executive Committee TO make
an urgent appeal for funds to aid in carry
ing forward the work during the present
year. AT the Annual Meeting Of the So
ciety, in the month Of December last, 1t
was Resolved That we deem II practi-
cable, and incumbent upon US, TO raise the
sum of $4,000, 10 be used according to the
discretion OF the Executive Committee for
the successful prosecution of the Tempe 8
rance reform in our State"


Immediately after this meeting the Ex-
ecutive Committee was called together to
form their plans for the year. There was
no money in the Treasury, but the Society
evidently expected that large sum would
be realized during the year. If We waited
until the funds should be collected, the
most favorable season of the year would
be lost BY delay. The Committee decided
therefore, to employ an agent Immediately
and TO depend upon the friends of the cause
for the necessary funds. The Committee
on Finance was called together. and Com
lmittees appointed in the different counties
TO collect the money.


More than quarter of Tho year has
since passed. The success Of onr efforts
for the promotion of the cause, has been
very gratifying. A large number Of meet
ings have been held. Town and County
Societies have been organized. The peo-
pie, generally, show an increasing interest
in the cause, and it seems plain that the
present is the favorable time to work.


But the Treasury has not been filled up.
We have not Sufficient funds to carry the
work forward on the present scale OF ope-
rations.


But the Society expect us to do much
more than We are now doing. The work
cannot be carried forward efficiently with
out distributing Temperance documents,
without large public meetings, and the aid
Of prominent advocates of the cause from
abroad, in addition to to the Agent of the
Society. The Committee are prepared to
go forward jus, as far and as fast as they
are provided with the means of doing so.


In this state of things, we lay our case
before the liberal friends of the cause, and
ask them to fill up the Treasury. The
sum Of 5000 may seem large, but il Is
not 1.-THE Of what the liquor dealers are
expending to effect the legislation Of the
| country. 1t is smaller sum than is ex-
| pended by the Domestic Missionary Socie-
| ty of single religious denomation each
| year within this State. 1t is small sum
in view of the work to be accomplished,
and of the agencies which the Committee
can employ for prosecuting 1t. Its small
in view Of the present exigencies Of the
Temperance cause Although its friends
are arousing themselves, it is not to be for
gotten that for some years the tendencies



have been wrong. The young men have
been forming habits, witch, ifnot speedily
checked, will in a few years cover cur
Stale with Incorporate men. The demor-
alizing effects of war have been felt. A
well-informed public man recently stated
that "there never was so much crime in
the State as al present, and most Of It was
due to ntemperance." 1t is within our
power to turn back this tide. We have
the ear Of the people, we have an efficient
probibitory law, which has just been sus-
iained by the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, and the res
possibility rests with the Temperance men
Of the State.


The Executive Committee desire that
the Committees in the various Couniies
will urge forward the collections n the
towns, and that the money, when collected
be forwarded to the Treasurer, Geo. W.
Scott, of Montpelier. i


By order Of the Executive Committee.


b. F. RAY, Chairman.


HARTFORD, April 2, 1866.