The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-06-19 00:00:00

BLUE RIBBON GOSPEL TEMPERANCE
UNION.

A meeting of the above was held in the British
Schoolroom on Mon lay last. The room was not too
lull as ou many occrid as, but still • large number
ears present. Mr. Houeybun took the chair, in the
el:mance of Mr. Unheard, who was to have been
choirman for toe evening. Alter sioging hymn "0
Thou from wh..m all gifts proceed," Mr. CLaine, of
D.rchester offered prayer.
After a few remarks from the Csetantant, Mr.
Cleats was called on to address the meeting. lie
o .munniced in the usual way, and said he always liked
1.. hear one or two speak before him, but as he was
called up a be would try and say sconething, an I the
God th.t hod made 04 would our arage him. Hs
said it was six mouths since be was here, hut he weri
peered to mos bow well they were getting on at
Swaney., and sail s often saw their reports in the
rekgrain ; tner did not know the pleasure it rave
hint to read it, sod they bet no idea what god their
rep.rts did to them who were interested in the go 'd
c.use; it hal helps It.. stimulate him week aft-r week.
He was glad to be oble to c 'me and ad tress such •
meeting as was before him that evening, and he hoped
to be able to do so eel ag as hie voice and lungs would
allow him. He said he would be like "Floppy Jos"
in Corn wall, who, when earthing pleased
would shout halleluj t o the top of hit voice. 031
day his minister edged why he did it, as it rather
annoyed him. Joe told him it was because he 4•1111 10
' bevy when he did hear the good tidings. Then the
minister promised him • pair of boots if he would
promise not to shout wain, hat the Vert 041 It Sunday,
In the midst of the service, Joe said "B rots or none,
I mast cry hallelujah." He spoke of the war at Tel.
elAilebir, &a., and said they were a Blue Ribbon
Army, and how they ought to fight with that
deadly foe the drink. As Christian soldiers they
should say ea General Havelock did to hie
non—" C .me and see how a Christian can die.'
He went on tour that upward. of 60,000 were dra:csd
down to perdition every y-ar by Id.. drink, on.l eh,
were going to help if they ddl not? Noa if (hat
number was dying yearly through the Blue Ribboo
Army what a cry would he raised by the other party.
Now don't let us be like John, who when the bear
came in the house ran upstairs and shouted out to
Betty" Hit him; hit him again, Betsy," and after She
had killed it came down and said "flow well we did
that, didn't we, Betty?" A lot can do the shouting,
but the beet thing was to put their hands to the wheel,
muster up c mrage, and come up on the pls.-form he
asked them to try it next time, and assured them he
would like to listen to the youngeet of them. He was
glad to say the Blue Ribbon had found its way among
the postmen, as well as all other ranks of society. A
party was trying to stop the postmen wearing it; they
sent to Mr. Fawoett, Postanaster•Geneial, and his
reply was—" Let them wear all the colour, of the re"'
bow if it will do good." (Hew, hear.) He then told
how a landlord was once taken lab. pinning the Blue
Ribbon en • drunken man for a lade ; the next morn-
ing the man asked the landlord it be dM it, and he said
yes; "Then," the man said, "111 stick Is it." Be
then told of one who was given to drink, sind be made
up his mind to see what he could do for him; in the
end he gut him to sign the pledge, and also another
with him, ant the same day two old soldiers, so that
in one day be had made four, which was more than
they got at the Whit-bio..day's meetings. He deo
spoke of the good that bad been done by issuing tracts
on smoking. There were now about 5.000,000 teet!)-
tellers in the United Kingdom, bat there were still
20,000,000 left. But the movement is donne good. and
they In Swamps did not see the drunkenness that
used to be. ("No.") He urged them to keep up thins
meetings, and send report.' to the Telegram, for he we.
sure they would be pleased to publish it for the gooe
it would- to. (Applause.)
Mr. bilmarkain then clime [inward, and after •
hymn and a few opening remarks, said he had there
• little tract that was put into his hand the other day,
and there were oase or two little texts be wished to WWI
out, as it may lea I some astray. Here is ..ne—Paul
was told "• one occasion "My gram is sufficient foe
thee," but the grace that was sufficient for Paul is not
deemed sufficient for such a sort of Christian as finds
himself in the ranks of the Blue Ribbon Army. ll'.
he must supplement the grace of 0 d by signing •
solemn Pledge, and wearing a Mae ribbon COO.
spicuously on his breast. Let Blue Ribbonists take
cars that they do not commit the sin described by eur
Lord in Matthew xil., 3. He then explained to the
beet of his ability the nature of the bleapbeadui
mentioned, kn., and then continued the second text.
The man who pats on a Blue Ribbon dwell
sere to the world' I keep all God's commands, I am
good and holy, I drink or do anything wicked."
and this reminds one of the Pharisee whose Merse
I. given In Luke grill, 2. He stands upon mc'e,•
treacherous grounds ; his righteouaness is very neer',
akin to that of king scab. and ph/aim.., now
known by the term self.righteousnesa, and which we.
more fiercely condemned by Jesus Christ than &Or
3030/ sin. Such a man is, according to the Saviour'
teaching, much less likely to be saved than the poor
publican who was so overwhelmed with a gene* of his
guilt es So b• 0017 able to say " God be martial's! to