Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-21
Welcome Home to John b. Cough.
GREAT MEETING IN MECHANICS HALL.
SPEECH OF WELCOME BY THE MAYOR. AM
RESPONSE BY MR. COUGH.


congregated within its walls, on the occasion
of the reception of our former fellow citizen
and eloquent advocate of the cause of tenn.
perance, john B. GoUGH, on his return from
an absence of three years in Europe. The
seats upon the platform were occupied by the
clergymen of various denominations, members
of the city government, and other prominent
citizens.
Hon. VIM. W. Rice, mayor of the city, as
president OF the evening, called the meeting to
order at half past seven O'Clock. After the
throne of grace had been addressed by Rev.
DIR. Hill, he called upon Rev. Horace James,
who read the following address, of which Mr..
Cough was the bearer, from Worcester in old
England to Worcester in New England =
To the Members and Friends Of the Temperance
Cause, and Citizens generally, Of Worcester,
Massachusetts.
Respected fellow laborers in the great social
and moral progress,
1t is with feelings of sincere pleasure and
hearty sympathy that we, the members and
friends of the Hope Temperance Society, and
other citizens OF this ancient city OF Worces-
ter, England, stretch forth the hand OF friend
ship to you, inhabitants Of the younger Won
cester.
We are pleased to call to your recollection,
former times whtn words OF friendly greeting
and determination have passed between the
two cities, and eoice that on the first occasion
when we were visited by your renowned tel
low townsman, Elihu Burritt; and on the Sec
ond OCCASION when were assisted by the
labors of your talented temperance advocate,
+. w. Kellogg such sentiments were inter-
changed as will not readily be forgotten
by us, knowing, as we do, that you
have amongst you many champions for
the truth, and devoted laborers in every
field of social usefulness, we are proud of this
third opportunity of expressing our warmest
sympathies with you whom we may now call
our OLD friends and fellow laborers in the
cause of progress John B. Cough, by whose
hands we send this, was welcomed to this an
cent Worcester very early on his first visit to
this country, and not the less so because he
came from your city, which has the honor Of
being his moral birthplace, to plead with US, in
an eloquence so startling, the great cause of
Temperance. He has made frequent visits to
this city, and has always met with the most en-
thusiastic reception, and now leaves behind
him a large circle Of friends, won no less by
the christian virtues of his character than by
his marvellous talents. In all parts Of the
country his career has been Que of the great
est usefulness. He has demonstrated the
truths he advocates IN circles which had never
been approached before, and has established
for the Temperance movement broader basis
than it has ever previously possessed
Like every great and good man, however,
he has not been free from persecution. Cal
umny has assailed him foul SANDER has tried
to blast his character. But we cannot allow
this occasion to pass without saying, that after
into the whole matter, from beginning to end,
we send him back to you entirely innocent of
the vile charges imputed to him, while to us
his character has shone brightest when viewed
i'll contrast with that Of his slanderers. He
has indeed come forth from the fire of perse-
cution and calumny as gold, thoroughly puri-
fed.
He now returns to his adopted country and
bears with him the good wishes of his numer-
GUS friends, with their sincere prayer that all
his endeavors 10 ameliorate the condition of
his fellow men may be eminently successful;
and in the exercise of an answering faith in
the directing hand of Providence, we know
that "He will defend the Right"
We yet hope that ere long our friend will
see his way to return to this country, and
whenever that may be he will be welcomed,
not only by all who are old laborers in the
cause of truth, but also by thousands who have
been saved already through his Instrumental
ity from a drunkard's grave. And now, re-
spected friends, allow us to congratulate you
on the progress our glorious cause has made in
your great republic, and to add an earnest
prayer, that in our island home, as well as on
your vast continent, the laborers Tor the re-
moval of intemperance, and of every vice that
affects humanity may ever feel a consciousness
of the support and presence OF Him who has
said, 81 will never leave you" and though the
clods of the valley may be gathered over our
heads, are the monstrous evils we seek TO abOl-
sh are no more, we may still be able to appre-
ciate the high honor Of being permitted to la
Dor as pioneers in this holy crusade, ever
trusting in the ultimate triumph of truth and
righteousness.
Signed.
VIM. HAIGH Mayor of Worcester.
RICHARD PADMoRE, NJ p,
Francis John Sharr Wesleyan minister.
Joseph Hurd president of Hope Temperance So
ciety, and many others.
Mayor Rice then proceeded to give the ad-
dress Of welcome to Mr.. Cough, in behalf of
his fellow citizens, congratulating them that
after years of silence they had met again to
hear the great temperance orator, the match
less advocate of this great cause. He expires
sed his thanks that the attractions of the old
world were not strong enough to keep him
away from the large circle of friends at home,
growing larger every day Without consuming
time in unnecessary words of congratulation,
where all hearts beat in unison with his own,
toward the distinguished guest OF the eve:
ming, His Honor introduced Mr.. Cough
to the audience, amid the most enthusiastic de-
monstrations of welcome. As Mr.. Cough rose
to respond, every person in the hall rose,
and cheer upon cheer was given for him.
When silence wVs restored, Mr.. Cough pro
ceeded to make one Of those inimtaby elo-
quent, and imprisoned speeches, for which he
is remarkable. He appears even to have
greatly improved in his style and manner of
speaking, superior as he used to be in
that regard. He is a wonderful specimen
of the natural orator. Mr.. Cough commenced
| by expressing his hearty thanks for this cor
dial welcome home again, for which words
were too feeble to express his gratitude. He
| loved Worcester, and should always cherish
its memory with love and affection to the day
of his death, wherever he might go. lie
stood before them both an advocate and tro
| ply of this temperance movement abiding
feelingly and eloquenty to the old days, eigh-
teen or twenty years ago, when he walked our
streets an lshmaelts, his hand against every
man and every mans hand against him, the
black pail of the drunkard's doom impending
over him. But through the agency Of one man,
now on the platform from which he was speak
ing, Mr.. Joel d. Stratton) he was induced to