The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-05
TEMPERANCE.
Mass Meeting In Independence Square Yes
terday-Speeches - Poem Interesting Pro-

Mass Meeting In Independence Square Yes
terday- Speeches - Poem - Interesting Pro-
ceedings.
Yesterday afternoon at o'clock temper
ance mass meeting, under the auspices of the
Temperance Blessing, was held in Independence
Square. A large audience was in attendance.
The exercises were of the most interesting de-
scription throughout. The proceedings were
enlivened by some excellent music which was
performed at intervals by Hassler's band.
The meeting was called to order by the Chair
man of the Temperance Blessing, Mr.. Charles
Heritage, in the following remarks:-
Ladies and Gentlemen 1t becomes my duty
on this occasion to appoint chairman for this
meeting, and l am glad that it is my privilege
to select for that purpose one who has ever been
a friend of the temperance cause-I refer to the
Hon. Robert Foust, Past Most Worthy Patriarch
of the Sons of Temperance, who will now take
the chair.
Upon the conclusion of the prayer the Decla-
ton of Independence was read by Colonel
Maurice, who closed amid loud applause.
The Chairman then introduced the Rev. III. s..
Cleveland, who made the following remarks:-
If we should take a moral census, we should
be obliged to make new classification OF free
men and slaves. Men who boast of freedom
are frequently pressed down with burden
worthy OF the veriest slave. They ale subjected
to the cruellest of masters, who, although they
do not intiict blows, yet infct sad wounds and
bind most fatal chains on both body and soul.
Of all forms of slavery that curse our race in
temperance is the cruellest and most degrading.
1t increases poverty, crime, and misery, and
crowds almshouses and jails. But poverty and
suffering are also found in the ranks of temper
ance and virtue. The great evil, then, is an
inward evil which blights genius, dethrones
reason, and obliterates the beautiful image of
| God. 1t brutalizes men, violates the divinest
sanctities andinvades the domains of conscience.
Let nation be freed merely by striking off
its fetters and defeating its foes, and nothing
| else done, it amounts to but little, and so with
| the victim of intemperance. He wants culture,
| development, sympathy, self-balance, determi-
| nation, personal power to resist and endure,
divine help and all the inspirations of religion.
| Go to the victims of vice and tell them OF
their degradation, and of the dignity of their
redeemed state in the sight of God of the sub
| lime possibilities of the future, big with posi-
| BILE glory, and you reach the ear of the lowest
| sunken. | am not nmindful of the energy of
the human appetite, but l have confidence in
possible virtues and humanity, and also in God
There is however, much to encourage us to
| 60 forward in this work with faith and determi-
nation. We have allies in the intense longing
| of human nature, in the sorrows of the human
heart, and in the spirit of an all-good God. Let
| us not faint or grow weary, but learn to labor
and to hope. Our cause shall triumph 1t mus t
triumph The gratitude of widows and orphans,
and the approval of conscience, and the smiles
of Heaven shall be our present and everlasting
reward.
Mr.. Cleveland was succeeded by Professor
Adams, who recited an original and lengthy
poem by Mr.. John Hickey.
The report of the Temperance Blessing was
then read by Father Heritage, the founder OF
the organization.
From the report it appears that the number OF
those who have signed the pledge book is 1850
The Blessing has also distributed 10000 tracts
The expenses since last report, March s. 1870
have been about 1926. The donations during
ency in the receipts for 1868 -9lwere $273 40
Deficiency up to March s, 1870, $100S. De-
ficiency at meeting at Horticultural Hail. Feb
ruary p, 1870, Gil 80, making a total deficiency
81, fho acf nf ~, IaGo
present meeting, 80, the expenses of the
Blessing, over receipts from all sources, amount
to the aggregate of $5l4'10.
Addresses were subsequently made by Rev
Mr.. Snyder, of Camden and Mr.. William
Mullen, the Prison Agent at the conclusion o.
which the large assembly dispersed.