The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-06 00:00:00

TEMPERANCE FETE AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.

Under the auspices of the National Temperance
League the jubilee fete of the temperance movement
was held at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday. The
Palace and grounds were thrown open at nine o'clock,
and early trains brought down large numbers of people,
intent on enjoying themselves on strictly temperance
principles. In addition to the ordinary attractions of
the Crystal Palace special entertainments and amuse-
ments were provided, including a cricket match
between two temperance eleveris, instrumental con-
cert,,, juvenile athletic sports, a special performance
on the great organ, a concert of 3,000 adult voices, a
balloon ascent, display of the great fountains, and
hand-bell ringing and other entertainments in the
theatre. There were also several meetings put down
in the prognrume at which the assemblage was to be
addressed by many well-known lea ;era of the move-
ment—Mr. Gough, Mr. Babes, Mr. A. Sellivan,
M.P., the Rev. Calaoll Ellison, and the Rev. Dawson
Burns being among the speakers. The formal pro-
ceedings commenced with a conference in the Opera
Theatre, over which. Mr. Bain ea presided.
The Chairman, in opening the conference, said that
they met on an occasion of deep interest, the jubilee
of a movement to deliver the nation from the yoke and
bondage of intemperance. The inauguration of the
movement was not, however, due to Great Britain,
but to the Rev. Lymau Beecher, of the United States,
who, in 1826, preached a series of sermons against the
vice of intemperance, From America the movement
quickly spread to England, and in 1829 the first tem-
perance society was established in this country. Since
that time steady progress had been made. Every town
in the kingdom had its society, and millions, both in the
upper and lower classes, had been incalculably benefited.
There had been almost as much difficulty to convert the
clergy and ministers of religion as to convert the pub-
licans and brewers. For two sufficient reesons
Government had not been able to do all for the move-
ment that temperance men required, but some small
concessions hasi been made. Public houses had been
closed on Sundays in Ireland, after the plan had beau
successfully tried for years in Scotland. A similar
boon would be conferred upon England and Wales if
the people only did their duty. In addition to the ad-
vantages conferred upon the public at large, the his-
tory of our Army and Navy in recent wars, Insurance
statistics, and the testimony of numbers of grey-
headed teetotallers proved that total abstinence was
the correct principle to adopt, and that alcoholic drink
was by no means essential to health, strength and
happiness,
The Rev. Canon Ellison read an account of the work
done by the Churah of England Temperance Society.
The Rev. Dr. Burns, Mrs. Burns, the Rev. Dr. ValPy
French, Captain H. D. Grant, C. 8., Dr. Norman
Kerr, and Mr, Michael Young also addressed the
Comerence on the work done for the cause by different
branches of the league and individuals interested in its
work. . _

..___
While the Conference was being held vast crowds of
people perambulated the palace, while thousands took
advantage of the glorious morning to avail themselves
of the many amusements provided in the grounds.
Here, too, proctsstons were organized in which brass
bands and drums and fifes, preceded by banners,
played a conspicuous part.