The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-30

Great Temperance Meeting i'm Boston.
PRESENTATION TO DIR. MINER AND HON. WIN. b.
sPooNER.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The several Temperance organizations held
their anniversary meeting in fremont Temple
on Monday evening. The special object of the
meeting was the presentation to Rev. DIR. Mi
ner and Hon. VIM. b. Spooner, of testimonials
of the feelings of the friends of Temperance for
their efficient labors before the Legislative
Committee upon the subject of a License law.
A large and beautiful Dore Bible was present.
ed to each of them. The Temple was filled to
its utmost capacity, large number OF promi-
nent persons connected with the various Tenn
perance organization, and friends of the Pro-
hibitory law occupying the platform.
b Hon. Henry Wilson, who had been announce
ed to preside, came upon the stand at twenty
minutes past eight accompanied by the vari-
Gus speakers of the evening and other gentle
men, and was received with hearty greetings.
Mr.. Wilson on assuming the duties of the
Chair, expressed his gratitude for the hearty
welcome and the honor bestowed upon him in
being invited to preside over the meeting. He
the pleasure it afforded him to return once
more to his home in Massachusetts,. He re-
joiced in coming to parcipitate in paying this
tribute of respect and gratitude to Mr.. Spoon
er and DR.. Miner .or their unwearied efforts in
behalf of Prohibition and against License
law. 1t was not surprising that, under the in
fiuences of vitiated tastes and depraved appe-
titles, and of tho vast pecuniary interest in
volved in the rum traffic, a mighty effort had
been put forth to repeal the law of Prohibition
and to enact License law. Mr.. Wilson be-
lieved the House of Representatives had ex-
pressed the sentiment and opinions of Massa-
chusetts, and that upon this as upon another
great question Massachusetts takes no back
ward step. The question may be carried from
the present House of Representatives to the
people. Mr.. Wilson deprecated any such
struggle and did not choose to make it; but if
made, he would meet it promptly, and if the
appeal be desired while the friends of Prohibi-
ton will be the last to enter the contest, they
would be the last to come out of it, He then
called upon tho Rev. Mr.. McCurdy of the
Methodist Episcopal Church to lead in pray
er. .......l...... g..
Rev. Mr., Mallalieu, of the Bloomfield Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, in very happy
train of remarks made the presentation of the
Bible to Mr.. SpoOner, who in accepting the
testimonial, expressed his deep sense of graft
tude to the friends of Temperance. He briefly
alluded to his labors at the State House. He
knew that exGov. Andrew was to go up there
and make little speech, but had no idea OF
the mighty contest that would be made. DIR.
Miner had rendered most efficient service in
this work. The people had reason to thank
DR.. Miner and Gov Andrew for the result
The Governor had told the truth and con-
fessed that he came there to support the liquor
interests of Boston. His speech was an argu-
ment in favor of drinking liquor.
Rev. DIR. Marvin in an appropriate speech
made like presentation to Dr. Miner, COM
plimenting him upon the esteem in which he
was held by the friends of Temperance for his
efforts in aid of the cause. In reply to this
speech of DIR. Marvin DIR. Miner rendered his
sincere acknowledgements for the honor bes.
lowed. He alluded to the invitation extended
to him to take part in the tolls and share in the
honors connected with this contest, and to the
signal triumph in the House of Representatives
in which a majority of nearly one hundred
votes had been secured against the repeal of
the prohibitory law. .+ .. a .. IS
Other addresses were made by Rev. o. T
Walker of the Bowdoin Square Baptist
Church, Mr.. E. III. Uniac, and Rev. James
B. Dunn Corresponding Secretary of the
National Temperance Society, when the
meeting adjourned to meet in the Park Street
church on Tuesday evening. au o
..f OCCASIONAL