The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28 00:00:00

A NEW TEMPERANCE CAMPAIGN.

In London on Tuesday night, an audience numbering
about 7,000 people assembled in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, to give a welcome to Mr. J. B. Gough, the
American temperance lecturer, who twenty-five years,
ago made his first essay before the London public, and
was successful in attracting listeners. Under the
auspices of the National Temperance League, he has
again visited this country, and so great was the desire
to hear him that not only was the large building
crowded long before the time Mr. Gough was announced
to appear, but numbers of people were outside anxious
to purchase the tickets of admission. When, accom-
panied by Sir Charles Reed, the chairman of the even-
ing, Mr. Gough appeared he was greeted with deaf-
ening cheers, which were again and again tenewecl.
The long period which has elapsed since Mr. Gough
left England has changed his appearance somewhat,
yet his vigour and force of expression have, if any-
thing, gained, since his first appearance a quarter of a
century since
Sir Charles Reed, in opening the meeting, congratu-
lated all lovers of temperance upon the vigour with
which Mr. Gough was setting forth on this new cam-
paign, and remarked upon the work which had to be
done in that cause in the face of the discouraging fact
that the Registrar-General had declared that "the
moderate use of fermented liquors is conducive to the
health, the happiness, and mental activity of the
human race." Sir Charles wished that the
Registrar-General had gone further, and had esti-
mated the value to the population of the total
abstinence class. There was however, encourage-
ment in the fact that the most eminent mem-
bers of the medical profession were now teaching
that alcohol was not necessary for healthful enjoyment
of life, and that the children in the Board schools of
London were taught the principles of temperance.
We had, too, the examples of the evils of drunkenness
in our streets, so that he looked forward to the future
with hope that the changes in the habits of the people
would be markedly on the side of temperance. He
next speke of the course adopted by the Premier in
interfering with the propoced police registration of
publichouses.
Mr. Gough then stood for ward to speak, and again
received a hearty greeting. After acknowledging his
reception, he said he stood there to advocate the old
theme, that which he had advocated first in England
from the platform of Exeter Hall, and he had nothing
new to bring to them in support of it He then entered
into some lively American anecdotes illustrative of
people's desire for new things, and, passing on to the
first attempts of the first American legislators to com-
bat the evils of intemperance, he related that a law was
passed inflicting a fine of 25c. upon every person found
intoxicated, except such intoxication should occur on
the 4th of July or any other legally appointed holiday or
general muster. These legislators were the iconoclasts
who attempted to break down the images worshipped
by men's _appetites, and they were opposed and
derided, as were those who first attempted to put
down the slave property. In the course of an hour's
oration he dwelt upon the evils of drunkenness
and the best methods of lessening these evils. His
view wac that intoxicating liquor should not be
used as a beverage, and with roazd to a Chriatian'a
duty he urged that though the Bible might not
order a man to abstain from drink, any more than it
ordered a man to abstain from a number of evil pur-
suits, yet, if the example of temperance would lead
others to abstain, that example ought to be given.
Speaking of the reclamation of people who had fallen
into the habit of drinking to excess, he declared that
there was no hope of such people, except by the accept-
ance of the total abstinence principle. The; lecture
throughout was illustrated by anecdotes of grave and
gay character. The illustrations were drawn from
prisons, lunatic asylums, and poor-houses, while child-
hood, youth, the prime of life, and old age were made
to furnish examples of the evils of drink. Mr. Gough
said he had travelled 420,000 mike, and he had never
yet heard a man of 60 who had never tasted alcohol
express. regret that in his youth he had not experience
of it, and he drew a terrible picture of the young men
ha had met who cried out that they were lost, the ter-
rible appetite for drink overcoming all restraint.
Mr. Gough resumed his seat amid loud cheere, On
the motion of Professor Clifford a vote of thanks was
given for the use of the Tabernacle.—The Times.