The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-15 00:00:00

ST. JuHYS TEMPERANCE MEETING.

Another tea AM public meeting were hell at the Burdon
Hotel Asserulily Room, on Thersdat evening, thin time in
connection with the St. John's branch of the Church of
England Temperance Societe. Mrs. [Redeemer and Miu
Roper had very kindly lent the route, and it was dec ,rated
for the occasion. Between lOU and 500 sat down I.i tea,
and era,e was sung before and after meat.
The Rev. .1. Stephemoo, vicar, presided.
Mr. Ono. ELIOT first ablreued the no .eting on the
edema..s of the asaociation, expreesiug his regret that
many advocateo of temperance were led away by their
enthusiasm on this great question, and it was '4%1114 any
such extravagances the Church 4,1 E.) Oand T.ouperance
Association ennositly eat it, face. It did not come before
them ant say It weal.' make a dishonest man honest ; but
what it desired to do wag to inculcate the thomugh prin-
ciples of teeth...nee. It put before the people right
motives, said a luau in his own strength could dot hope,
could not expect. and suite not expect, to reform his life
wo a• to keep the ple 1g..; hut it pointed him to a higher
Potwar thea tate (con which he might obttin strength
in this important matter, awl therefore the Church of
England Teroperauce Awuriation wai &AMC such a vale-
able awl great work in thu country. It enabled them to
hold out a helpini hand to their friends and neighbours,
and thus they lawled thenuelves together in this goM
cams. There ISM atlil anotb r thing this society strove to
to, and that was helping to form and create nubile opinion
on We topic, and he was exceedingly pleased to say it was
a very popular sign of the tames, ao.I one for which they
ought te fee eery thankful, that puelic opinion upon the
drinking habit.. of the nation WU now altogether different
from that in the time of their grandfather& Mr. Riot
then pointed nit that there was no ..ocasion whatever for
using the argument that men r-qtired stimulants now as
much as in the hit century, and contended that in ramie.
queue.: of the twain work of the present day, man did not
require the use of intoxicating liquor. to such an extent
as was lormurly Ilia clue. He was glad to rind the St.
Johtt's branch ..f the Church of England Temperance
Society wiut in • very flourishing condition, and it wail
moat gratifi lug to thou members who had joined it and
kept faithful to their undertaking It wee Also encon rag.
inc to hear this met daneerowt sea.son of Christmas time
' bad been passed throogh with so little that eao discourse-
! lug in regard to internee rate habita. But they must
' remember although the picture appeared to he bright,
the battle had n y. :t been w.m. They had only just
commenced the tight, cii there ...en a great deal more yet
to be .lone. Ss long a. human nature was what it is there
would be the temptation and a chance of falling, and
therefore there would be great need for watching and
a mitethening themselves ; so thee saw this amociation
not only in Weymouth but also throughout the length
mei breadth of the land, MO yet • great work to accom-
plish. Mr. Eliot referred to the horrible and dreadful
scenes attributed to int...xi-UM: drink, as depicted in the
organ of the United Kingdove Alliance under the heading
"Fruits of the Traffie. conclusion lie urged his
bearer, to he up end doing, and not to remain satisfied
with what they had aceirup.i.hel. iio long . there was
a useful work to he done let them be ready to hold out a
helping hand. (Applause.)
The 1t... J. Segelthesoe seid there was nothing like
bating medical testintiny on this temperance matter, and
he was glad to SOS present that evening, not oily their
respective active secretary (Dr. Lush), to whom they
were deeply indebted for his great exertion, but also
another Leslie-4 gentleman in the person of Dr. Simpson,
whom be called upon to address the meeting.
Dr. Sthescoi mad 12 menthe ago he addreeeed • Similar
meeting in this parish, and then divided this great
t mamma question into two distinct claases—the glass
who did Out know when to stop drinking and the class
who did. He purposed that evening recapitulating what
be had before stated, and giving them the tame advice,
which wee this—that those who did not know when to
.tap should eel, have one time in which to stop, and that
was at once. They most not take a clorle drop, became
he knew as • doctor they had net the power to stand the
temptation. There gnu no middle course for thew. On
the one bawl were hamper's,. prosperity, awl heolth,
and on the other poverty, vice, anti wretchedneas. He as
• medical man had oven this too often, and therefore he
had no hesitation in telling that greet class who tell( too
munch they mire give it up altegather. To the other he
must again repent what he bad before said—that clan
I who were not total ahatainera, but still whe were :
moderate in the mount they
.took—to them he would
any but one word—" Beware," tor thee !nut rementher
they were playing with edged tails. Dr. Simpson then I
narrated several insta.nees relating to drink and its
roesequences which liad come under Lis own special
I notice, and al leeward* asked hie hearer, if they had !
' attended to what ho and Mr. Stephenson told them ice
! year. Had they examined themselves and withateed the
I temptations which had surrounded them? (A Voice:
"Yes.") He Wag gal to hear that voice. and was sere
there were others who c mkt make the same answer. To ,
the. who boil profited by this temperance movement he
I would aly "Do not keep it all to yantiele.... hut Just go
! and communicate it to other people."' Ile hoped weir
of them had done this, be asked them to vise the right
opportunity in which to %peek to the drunkard, and
concluded his remarks, which were repeatedly applauded
by exhorting them to remelts ste olfset to their principle..
; The Hue. J. Vat"DRZT expressed the crest plessure it
gave him to attend notch at intere.tiog gathering Coe.
sidering the very little time that St John's Temperance
Association had been started be thought the present '
I lee., gathering was • teat cheering sign of ita sureas.
The rev, gentleman then rend • touching terupereem
story.
The Rev, .1. UTITRIXSON, an the course '(his speech, '
remarked be was thankful they had such a happy ...gin,.
;He trusted they had one and ell enjoyed themselves, ant
thee must not forget to thank those friends who hia
weetribeted much to their eistertiintnent They were !
deeply grateful to the lady and gentlemen singers, elle I
• vote of thanks was due to Mn,, Madames and Mu.,
Roper for leaving given the room gratuitously, as they '
I always kindly did fm any gathering in St. John's diuirict.
Beached his hearers to rememher they had been brought
together for a very meat and noble purpose : the cause of
tweepereces, woo a greet cause, and he trusted those
present would profit by what they had heard. Ile was
certain they had thoroughly enjoyed theouelves, and in
no place of amusement in Weymouth bed there been so
with reel happiness as in that room. Let them thank
Had this blessed work of temperance had been put in
their midst That night they had heard the voice "Yee
in reply to • question aa to whether they Mid been kept
from temptation, and he was certain there were fumy
Lemons present who &m
biel ull
dm, th.efutrhemalirmatieetr :wee.
:en:Pint might rss.y"be enabled to resist leery) tenoptatitft;
=id within their reach. It was indeed to some of
a metier of life and death, and if they did not ,
altogether abstain they had heftwe them • drankard'• ,
death, a drunkard's grave, and nothing hut destruction
sad misery. By the help of Hon gr.. he treated they :
would he sincere I. this matter. Let them ascribe aft 1
their ',stetted assistance to His mercy and grace that they
ked been kept so far, and might they lean on the thine !
paw that H. who had heron a good work in hem woule
=frill it unto the end. Let tam stand and pull '
this noble work. The rev, gentleman announced ;
It was Intended to start a Band of Hope in connection "
with the with, and asked for the assistance of parents. ;
(A
- Mr. Debenham Mr. B. Oakley, and Mr.
T. Warren sem some part some anus any
plisisicly dabs( the meeting, Mr. 0. Thorne pm-
dab* at the pianoforte, and the audience MO this

part so touch that they loudly applanded. and wore
frequent in calling for ow:Nye.: bat Ur. Cepbenson won
obuttod to rt.,0,..1 thorn ot ciao limits of lila. Even no it
W 3.4. 110 much 41.1 the laroo porty enjoy tie prootoa,Lits
that they &A nut leave tilt aft, ten.