The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-23
GRAND TEMPERANCE RE.UNIoN
A LARGE CROWD PRESENT.
TIE TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES WELL
REPRESENTED.
Speeches Of Eminent Divtnes.

The Twenty-second of February was
celebrated by our various Temperance AS
sociations last evening, in pursuance of no
tice, by.a grand reunion at the First Bap
tist church.
At the appointed hour the Representatives
of the following organizations, in oil about
two hundred, assembled in the basement oi
the chureh-viz., Springfield Division, Wes'
End Division, Shockoe Hill Division, Marion
Division, Fulton Division, Fidelity Divi.
sion, Stonewall Council, and Temple of II
and T. We were pleased to notice among
them number of soldiers from Camp
Grant, and q more orderly or soldier-like
looking body we never saw.
formed in line under the direction of Chief
Marshal Glenn and his assistants, marched
into the church, which was filled with q
large number of ladies and gentlemen
Music was furnished by an excellent choir
under the leadership of Mr.. V. L. Fore.
Upon the stand were Grand Worthy Patri,
arch Z. Trent, NJ. D., who directed proceed
ings; Right Rev. DR.. Doggett, who pre-,
sided; Rev. Drs. Burrows, Edwards, Peter.
kin, Baker, and Dashiell, Of Richmond
and Rev. Mr.. Jones, of Lexington.
The exercises we're opened with prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Dashiell, and Bishop Dogget
delivered the opening address. He alluded
to the fact that this meeting was one of the
integral parts of magnificent programme
now being carried out in vast national
theatre, and to the interest with which the
occasion was fraught, being the birthday
of George Washington. The anniversary
Of his birthday was fit occasion for sucl
celebration as this. He then spoke gene
rally upon the great and growing evil
of intemperance and the yigorou
efforts that must be made to checl
them. He thought that concer
of action in the temperance cause wal
absolutely necessary, and that in ordel
to promote its success it should receive
more Of the sanction Of the Gospel-tha
more of the Christian element should b'
introduced, and that religious men and re
ligious women should lend their persona
influence and exertions to its advancement
He alluded to the original Temperance Re
formation, and rejoiced that the presen
demonstration gave hope of its renewal
He asked the blessings of God upon thi
new epoch of temperance, and trusted
that He would cause the happy influences
OF the cause of temperance to be spreat
over the entire country.
He was followed by DR.. Burrows, VIII,
began by an allusion to Edgar Poe's pros'
composition on the Imp Of the Perverse.'
lie asked the question, Why would mer
drink when it was distastcful, DANCE
rous, and detrimental and said tha
the reason could only he found il
the doctrine of mans perversity. Th
Doctor continued in his argument upol
this point, and then gave number of fact
and statistics which were interesting al,
startling. He showed that the annua
amount expended in drinking in this coun
try per year was 81 900 000. 900, or one
third of the national debt: and that Ne,
York city expended annually for religion
purposes s12,OOO,O0Q, for legal purpose
$4,000, 900, and for rum $l7D,000,00O.
had been said that cotton used to be kin
in this country, but from statistics OIL
would Judge that rum was king now.
DIR. Edwards next spoke, and commence
by playful criticism upon the remarks
his predecessors, saying that as the
had taken his speech from him he wou
have to gather his material from ther
The Doctor spoke with great earnestnc
upon the occasion and effects of intemp
rance, and made strong appeal in beha
of the good fight that is being wage
against it.
Rev. Mr.. Peterkin made the closing a.
dress, and spoke upon the causes, the +
ality, and the remedy. His remarks we,
forcible and practical, and elected mut
interest.
After the singing of the doxology oil
benediction by Bishop Doggett the meetil
adjourned. The proceedings were high
pleasing, and showed an increasing int
rest in the temperance cause.