The Portland daily press., 1872-09-25
TEMPERANCE.
Mass Convention at City Hall.

A mass convention of de, gates from the
several Reform Clubs of tt State, and the
friends of temperance nera began two
days session at City Hal vest, lay afternoon.
The attendance was quite mall; not more than
seventy-five per ms bein in the hail. and
those were chief from abroad. The mallness
of the audi nee as accounted for by one of the
officers on ound that suffice publicity
to the call inot bee given, and hat friends
in differen .rts of t State, on whose inter-
est muchr nee was laced, had made no eff
forts in their own 10 alities to secure delega-
tions Massachusetts,, New Hampshire and
Rhode Island however, were well represented
by such men as Rev. d. w. Waldron of East
Boston, Rev. H. w. Conant and Mr. Spinning
of Providence, r. l., Maj. j. III. Brown and
George r. jackson of Lawrence Mass, and j.
Horace Kent and John s. Rand of Portsmouth.
Among the well-known temperance men in
Maine were Gen. f. S. Nickerson of Searsport,
Rev David Boyd of Rockland, Hon. Henry
Tallman, Joshua Nye of Augusta and Maj. f.
E. Shaw of Paris.
At 800, j. K Osgood President of the State
Reform Club, called the meeting to order in
few remarks. Prayer was offered by Rev. l.
Luce, pastor of the Chestnut street NJ E.
church.
The Chairman stated that Gov. Perham had
accepted an invitation to preside over the con-
vention, and introduced him to the audience.
Gov, Perham assumed the duties of the posi-
ton with the following address,
1t is no cross to me to be in a temperance
meeting. For thirty-seven years have been
practical temperance man. For thirty -four
years, ever since was old enough, have earn
estly labored, with all the powers God has
given me, to promote temperance, and it is
gratifying, that ,although so few in numbers,
this assembly has gathered to devise measures
to carry forward still further this great reform
1t is a pleasure to meet these new men, who
have been living in this and other States in this
cause. It is a credit to any to be q Temperance
man; but a greater credit to be men with the
moral courage to break away from the bondage
of their cups. do honor them for the work
they desire to accomplish. / am happy to greet
them and propose TO assist them in their work
do not propose to trespass on your time, but
will introduce gentleman who always speaks
to the point, and to whom all will gladly listen
have the pleasure of introducing His Honor
Mayor Kingsbury.
Mayor Kingsbury said:
Mr. Chdirmdn.-The duty of extending to
this convention of the State Reform Club the
official welcome of the city, is one of rare pleas
ure.
am not aware tnat any state gathering OF
this peculiar kind has ever been held in Maine
before-a gathering of men from all sections of
the State, who having, by the force of their
strong determination, struck the chains from
their dominating slavery to appetite now stand
upon their feet free.
The wonderful results of the movement on
the shores of the Kennebec valley are patent to
MS ALL One solitary man, while standing at his
0ata at the midnight hour, intoxicated and
5enniless, there soemnly declared in.the stiffness
of the night looking up to the everlasting stars,
that his last glass had been drank. From that
time he has not only kept his promise, but up
and down that beautiful valley, by, precept
and example, stirred the hearts of hundreds
and thousands of Others, until, like grand and
Yesistless prairie fire, it has spread over the whole
State. -.. -.
Our fathers assembled in convention al
PHILADELPHIA and declared the country theJ
represented free and independent of foreign
tyranny. which unrighteously taxed the people
and gave to the new born nation nag emble
matte of the liberty they had thus acquired; :,
You, gentlemen to-day have assen9ien u
Independence from another tyranny, whleh no
only unrghtously taxes the fruits OF labor, Du
puts its burning hand upon the nerves ana SIN
ews and conscences of men, paisies their brains
dren, and helps to supply the aims houses
jails and prisons
In recognition of this great object of yonl
body, have caused the American flag, with
and stripes, to float at the dome of this build
ing, as the symbol that your cause is nationa
in its ends; your aim the highest good of oul
from the iron-bondage of frightfui evil: and
your faith, trust in HimSwho guided Ethe mer
Of the revolution. That flag win not be- lower
ed until your convention shall have finali,
concluded its deliberations
NJ. President, it is well in these busy times
when thought piumes itself for fresh fight
and is ever on the wing; when politics jar an,
jostle each other; when religious creeds com
In constant contact and sparks of fire fiasl
out from the attrition; it is well, | say to An
here and there points of attraction calculate
to draw all right hearted men into true rels