Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-01
August. Reform olus-L.rse.s xe.,,n. Of the

ana perhaps identity themselves with the or
ganization. The speakers for the evening. tn,
Augusta Band and choir of children from
the Cold Water Temple, occupied the plat
| form.
The exercises commenced with a ferven
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Quinby.
Considerable excitement followed by the
coming forward of large number of the EN-
ployees of the Maine Central Railroad in this
city, headed by Assistant Superintendent Lin.
coin, to put their names to the pledge. Three
hearty cheers were given, on motion of DR.
Brickett.
| The following letter from Hon. A. B. Far.
well, was read by the President, and warmly
received:
AUGUSTA, MAINE, March 26, 1872.
CAPTAIN WYMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE Reform
CLUB.
My Dear Sir From my sick room at home,
thank God, | send you and the "Reform
Club" over which you preside, the sincere
and earnest congratulations of myself and
family for this christian movement.
1t is essentially the Inauguration of an ex-
| tinguishing warfare upon the most relentless
and cruel enemy that ever drew scimeter in de-
fence of infamy. 1t is a source of sincere
| distress to me, that the condition of my health
is such that l cannot personally, at present
participate in your councils, plans and dis
cussions, which cannot fail to be promotive OF
great good, for God is with us in this great
philanthropic movement for the salvation OF
this people from unhappy firesdes, inebriate
husbands, and to break up and scatter the dens
where, nee fear, our young men and boys, If
the impeding and demeralizing stubble is
not burned as with fire, may indulge in
hol,, ell a.. t. l.
since came to Augusta, and to our shame
must 1t be said yes! this "Reform Club, :"
and the Gold Water Templars," "a thousand
blessings on Joshua Nye), are the first and
only organized movements for the suppression
of intemperance, during all this time.
venture to suggest that at the proper time
and when these two efficient organizations
have practically completed their delightful
and christian work, by obtaining the signature,
Jas l earnestly pray the dear Lord they may) +,
Of every man and woman, of every boy and
girl of suitable age,-that when this is done,
the Reform Club and members of the "Cold
Water Templars," and the business men
throughout the city, will turn their attention
to the suppression Of Incidence on the part Of
the poor people. Not voluntary idleness,
to their credit be it said but living life of in.
activity, because they are not employed BY
any command in the word of God more i'm
perative than the duty to feed and take care
Of the poor and needy, and ferventy appeal
to all those who employ men and gangs of
men, to join hands in a resolution to give
competent poor men, especially poor men
with families, the preference in invitation to
labor. Such a determination on the part of a
large class of leading business men and men
of less business, would not only supersede an
enormous amount of poverty, but it would be
the personifcation of christian philanthropy.
/ am so impressed with the assured results of
such determination, that cannot and dare
not forbear pressing it upon the attention of
the public; and at my family altar and in my
closet, shall urge and implore the dear Lord,
my Savior, to impress upon this people the
duty they owe to the poor and unfortunate.
Respectfully, Your obi sev't,
A. b. FARwELL.
Hon. L. II. Hubbard was then introduced,
and said that he scarcely hoped that his words
could add nything to the inspiration of this
great reformatory movement, which was
spreading all over the state and sending joy
and gladness to other states. In this organ-
cation the right methods are adopted to
achieve success, and he hoped to draw from
the spirit exhibited here some enthusiasm and
zeal to carry to his own home. He spoke of
the contending forces of good and evil, that
have their battle grounds in the heart Of ev-
cry man, and their operation on the human
will. Evil works through the passions of
man, until the control of the will is lost and
entirely nullified. He who is tempted by the
thousand devices of sin and seeks to break
away from its power, has no child's play He
needs a strong determination and the support
of all good men. The speaker then devoted
the most of his time to the consideration of
that class known as moderate drinkers, which
he considered the most dangerous enemies of
temperance. Men Of fashion, position and
wealth, who drink with apparent safety to
themselves, are taken as a pattern by those
who drink and are destroyed BY drink. Dan
ger is always lurking in the cup Of the moder-
ate drinker. The only perfect cure is the
pledge of total abstinence. The complete
and bitter misery of the veriest drunkard can
be traced back to the time when he drank
moderately and with no apparent danger.
He thought the way to win men from drink,
was not by threats, but by making the ways
of virtue attractive. He made an eloquent
appeal to those who had not fallen, who had
NJ 'ver known the pangs of remorse, or the ter
rible struggles of many whose names had been
recently put to the pledge-to come forward
and mt heir shoulders to the wheel of this
moral refO, ILL., Leu tuc struggling ODeS reap
the fruits of he sympathies of all good men.
Let us clothe .pstice with mercy and white
robed charity.
The speaker then returned to the consider
alton of the habits OF many of the social cir
Giles, the fashionable c. ub house-the tempta-
lions held out to the weak and erring-the
mighty power of example drew illustrations
OF the power of influence, ant closed with an
appeal to all to band together 20 raise an IN
surmountable barrier against the common en-
envy, and rejoice to see peace f,'wlng into
hearts where once was misery, glad. 'ess ana
JOY where once was sorrow.
During Mr.. Hubbard's remarks quite
number came forward and signed the pledee.
Mr.. NJ. L. Stevens of Portland, who had
just arrived by the 8 o'clock train, was intro
duced and followed in about the same train Of
thought as the last speaker, remarking that
ne-tenths Of all drunkenness is caused by
moderate drinkers. We pattern after those
who are above US, and the drunkard takes his
cue from the moderate drinker. We should
rejoice when drunkards are lifted up, but
should not stop there-moderate drinkers
must be reformed. While looping off the
limbs of the tree we must also strike at its
roots. He drew an affecting picture from
real life, where drunkard was saved by the
a. L. :-I~