Prohibition in Vermont by R. J. Bryant

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 30, 1916

Prohibition in Vermont

By R. J. Bryant

PROHIBITION being a State-wide issue in Vermont this year, it was decided that our people should carry on a strong campaign in the interest of the temperance cause.

After due consideration and the formulation of plans for a strong work, the writer, accompanied by a corps of workers, visited Barre, Montpelier, Burlington, Rutland, St. Albans, and several smaller places. We planned to put a copy of the Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor into every home in these cities, besides delivering lectures in the largest auditoriums that we could find. In this campaign we were greatly assisted by Elder C. S. Longacre, of Washington, D. C.

Before going to Barre we had written to one of the leading ministers of that city, asking for his cooperation. He placed the matter before the ministers' association, and they voted to ask us not to come to Barre. However, we felt impressed that we should work there as well as in other places, so we secured the large opera house and sent our corps of workers out over the city to place a copy of the Youth's Instructor in every home. When this was accomplished, we visited the ministers and found that the prejudice had been removed; and we believe the impression created by the work with the Youth's Instructor is a lasting one for good, as the ministers themselves commented very favorably on our work. The evening meeting in the opera house, where Elder C. S. Longacre spoke, was well attended by an enthusiastic audience.

The word had gone to Montpelier ahead of us, and our workers found that people were ready to receive the papers, and the ministers were ready to coöperate with us. One of the leading ministers of this city offered prayer from the platform at the beginning of our meeting, which was held in the large city hall, one of the finest halls in the State of Vermont. Our audience was made up of the very best people of the city.

In Rutland we held two meetings in the Shrine Theater. These meetings, like those held in the other places, were well attended by a very enthusiastic audience. Here, too, our workers placed a copy of the paper in every home, and we received favorable comments from the ministers of other denominations, as well as from the leading people of the city.

In Burlington we met with excellent success. Here a large gathering attended the lecture in the Majestic Theater. This last meeting was held on Sunday night, after a big temperance rally of the Flying Squadron Foundation had been held in the forenoon. Without any request from us, these workers announced our meeting which was to follow at night.

We were sorry that we were unable to secure the city hall in St. Albans at a price within our reach, but we sent our workers there with the Youth's Instructor, and we believe that much good will be accomplished. These workers are also visiting a number of smaller places in the State. Altogether nearly 15,000 homes have been visited, and more than 30,000 circulars have been scattered. Besides 14,000 of the Youth's Instructor, we placed 2,000 of the tract “Drunkenness and Crime” where they will be read.

Everywhere we went the newspapers were open to us, and good accounts of the lectures and of the work with the Youth's Instructor were published. Especially was this true of the Burlington papers. We feel that this was in the providence of God, because the Burlington Free Press is the leading paper of Vermont, and is read in most of the homes in the northern part of the State.

At the time of this writing, the election has not been held, but already we can see splendid results from this campaign. Thousands of people thankfully accepted the papers, and we know by the attendance at the meetings and the visits made to leading clergymen of the State that through our temperance work a great deal of prejudice has been broken down, and everywhere we heard remarks to the effect that the Seventh-day Adventists were doing a good work. It was our privilege to meet some of the leading business people of these cities, and, in answer to their questions, to inform them concerning our people and work as a whole.

We feel grateful to the Southern New England Conference for donating 3,000 papers for this work, and sincerely hope and pray that God will add his blessing to all that has been done.

R. J. BRYANT.