Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-09


Temperance Convention in Blackstone.
The Worcester central district temperance
union had a quarterly session in the Congreea-
tioual church (Rev. Mr.. Edwards in Black
stone yesterday. VIM Mecorney of Worcester
presided, and S. d. King of Sutton was secretary.
Prayer was offered by Rev. T, C. Bscoe of Tx
bridge. Mr.. Mecorney, on taking the chair,
briefly addressed the convention, saying he
thought there never was more need of earnest
work than at present, He urged the import
ance of temperance men taking holder stand
upon the question of prohibition, if we ever
hope TO succeed. He announced, as there was
no one of the committee on resolutions present.
he would 6ppoint the following as business
committee for the day: Rev. Mr.. Norton of
Northbridge, Rev. Edwin Thompson of Walpole,
and DIR. NJ D. Southwick of Blackstone
A. A. Putnam, Esq, of Blackstone, was called
upon to say something in regard to the state
of the cause in that town. He said they had felt
for years that they were grossly behind the
times. They had the largest per centage of for
egners of any town in New England. Being on
the line of state where the license system is in
full force, all efforts for prohibition had been
rendered futile. There have been lodges here
for some time, but recently they had formed a
society called the Blackstone temperance ALI
ance. The Catholic priest who had recently
come there was doing noble work among his
people. He had addressed them upon the sub
Ject and obtained 200 signatures to the pledge.
J. c. Scott, Esq, of Millvile, said there had
been serious lack of interest felt among the
American citizens; because the foreign element
was so large they had become disheartened. At
the national lodge he was cheered to find that
the whole of the great west was moving in adj
vance of us, although they gave Massachusetts
the honor of being the leading state in reference
to this reform. This was not merely the cause
of the country, but of the world.
Rev. Mr.. Thompson of the alliance said when
you convert Blackstone you will convert a large
portion of Ireland.
The business committee, through Rev. Mr..
Norton, submitted a series of resolutions, which
were laid on the table for discussion and action.
After remarks from j. C. Scott of Millvie,
Rev. VIM. T. Briggs of East Douglas, Rev. MIR.
Norton, Rev. +. Thompson and others, in favor
of the general principles embraced in the reso-
lutons, and Il comparison of the past with the
present state of the cause, indicating progress
on the whole within the last thirty or forty
years, the convention, at y O'Clock, took re-
cess for one hour to partake of a generous col
lation provided by the ladies in vestry OF the
church.
The afternoon session was opened with prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Briggs, after which the resolutions
were taken up, seriatlm, and unanimously
adopted, in the following form, after an extend
ed discussion:
Resolved, that, while we are grateful to God for
the success of the temperance in the past,
would show our gratitude to him by increased
efforts in the future
Resolved, that, while we would not relax our
efforts to save the drunkard and restrain the moder
ate drinker, feel that the work among the young
should have the especial cooperation of the tenn
perance men and women of our state, and we pledge
our hearty support to the circulation of the pledge
in the Sabbath and public Schools the organization
of Juvenile temperance societies, and all other
efforts necessary to instruct and the youth of
the commonwealth.
Resolved that while we recognize the impor-
lance and duty of employing every moral agency to
advance the temperance cause which God provides,
we believe that the suppression of the traffic in
liquor, as beverage by the prohibtory law, is in
dispensabe.
Resolved, that, to be consistent temperance men,
It is necessary to be total abstainers and prohib-
ihonists, and active workers for general temper
ance REFORM
Resolved, that it is the duty of the friends of tenn
perance to enlighten the people on the subject of
temperance, and especially to encourage the tenn
perance press.
Resolved, that in the opinion of this convention,
it is the duty Of churches to abstain from the of
intoxicating wine at their communion.
Interesting remarks in favorof the resolutions
were made by Rev. VIM. M. Thayer, secretary
of the state alliance, Rev. Edwin Thompson,
financial agent, L. H. Hutchinson Of Sutton,
Rev. VIM. T. Briggs of East Douglas, Rev. IL.
W. Conant of the Rhode Island temperance
union, Rev. Mr.. Babcock, state agent of the New
Hampshire society, VIM Mecorney Of Worces
ter, S. d. King of Sutton, Geo. w. Hobbs of Tx
bridge, DIR. NJ. d. Southwick of Blackstone, and
Rev. Mr.. Norton of Northbrdge, the latter and
Mr.. Thayer, among others, particularly favor
ing the exclusion of fermented wine from the
communion service. There was some difference
of opinion as to the extent to which political ac-
ton shonld be carried. The second resolution,
favoring the circulation of the pledge and other
labors among the children in the schools, was
also particularly commended.
Rev. MIR. Thayer, in explanation of the labors
of the alliance during the last eight mo nths,
which had largely exceeded those of any other
equal period, said, 254 sermons and lectures
had been delivered, 50 Sabbath schools and 316
public schools addressed, 100000 pages Of
temperance tracts distributed, and Is new town
total abstinence societies formed. The number
of pupils in the public schools addressed was
about 1 900, over 1000 of whom adopted the
pledge. In the schools in Worcester, Franklin,
MiddleseX, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties
about "a per cent of all the scholars addressed
had signed the pledge. To perform this work
during the last eight months eight clergymen had
been employed, six of whom labor in the schools.
On motion of Rev. VIM. I. Briggs, Messrs.
Briggs, E. H. Hutchinson of Sutton, Hon. L. w.
Pond and VIM. Mecorney of Worcester, were
appointed committee to cooperate with Mr..
Thayer in reference to the circulation of the
pledge and other work among the schools.
Messrs. Scott, Mecorney and Hobbs, were APP
pointed a committee to confer with committee
of the Rhode Island temperance organizations
in reference to holding a union temperance meet
ing in WoonsOcket at an early day.
After vote of thanks to the friends in Black
stone for their hospitality, the convention adj
iourned to meet in East Douglas the second
Thursday in September next, the business COM
mittee therefor, being MeSsrs. G. w. Hobbs,
Rev. VIM. I. Briggs and Jas. W. White Of Graf
ton.
There was grand temperance rally last eve
ming in the church, at which eloquent addresses
IL