The Portland daily press., 1872-09-25

discreet degree above all the exciting. ant
restless, and disturbing issues of the time
Here we lind politicians of all parties, ant
Christians of all faiths, harmoniously blending
and sympathizing with your grand movement
All stand shoulder to shoulder, and keep locked
step to the music of your triumphant march.
Mr. President and gentlemen, in extending
10 you words of welcome l assure you it ex
presses the sentiments of all classes of the
citizens of Portland They recognize with me
that your single wOrk-perS0nG reform of the
fallen-dvested of all collateral questions
wisely, efficiently, and perseverngly carried
out, must bear glorious fruit
AT the conclusion of Mayor Kingsbury's adj
dress, report of the doings of the State Reform
Club by the President, was called for. In
response Mr.. Osgood made an informal state
ment. He said the State Club was organized
without clear idea of what was needed, and
it had met with obstacles, but in his own ex-
perience as a lecturer he had had the pleasure
of grasping 1000 reformed men by the hand in
New England. The temperance cause never
was in SO good condition in Maine as now
There has been a number,of new clubs 'organiz-
ed. Everywhere have the reformed lecturers
been listened to. They have never sought
large audiences but have had enthusiastic
meetings The chief obstacle the State Club
has met has been the lack of funds. There
has also been want of proper arrangements
by men who are generally instrumental in get
ting up public me tings, and but for the gen
erous support of two earnest brothers in
Augusta we would have had to abandon this
field. Men earnest in their love for temper
ance are glad to have reformers visit their
towns and think the reform movement I'M
assisted Will sweep away every vestige of rum,
and that the laborers can live on air. These
mistakes we hope to rectify during thslconven-
ton. He closed his remarks with the following
recommendations: That an Executive Commit
tee of seven be raised who shall have the gener-
al supervision of the work and the management
of the organization; fix the compensation of
officers and lecturers: and decide on all modes
of raising and disbursing money, &c.
That said Committee appoint business
agent of the organization, to transact business
for the State Club Under the direction of the
Committee ; that the Executive Committee,
together with such as they may wish to add to
their numbers apply to the Legislature for a
charter. That the Executive Committee be in
structed to apply to the Legislature for an
| appropriation to be expended by them for the
prevention of panperism and crime He also
recommended the calling of Mass Convention
at Augusta some time during the session of the
next Legislature. -G
Rev. o. NJ. Cousins of Hallowell, was chosen
| Secretary pro tenn.
Messrs. ID. T. Wright of Lewiston, G. E.
| Brickett of Augusta, H. M. Bryant of Lewis
ton, Alonzo Parsons of Gardiner, and Francis
Murphy OF Portland, were appointed Commit
tee on Credentials, and later in the session they
| reported that ten clubs in Maine were repre-
| sented by 40 delegates, and representatives were
| present from East Boston, Portsmouth, Law
| renee and Providence. The report was amend
| ed by the addition of the names of other dele
| cations from other organizations in the State
| and elsewhere.
| On motion of DIR. Brickett, the Presidents of
! all Reform Clubs in the State were made dele
| gates er oticio; and all temperance men in the
State were invited to participate in the business
| of the convention. .'
Mr.. j. Horace Kent of Portsmouth, N. H.,
| gave an account of his reformation four months
ago; and in connection Herewith related
| his experience in the Washingtonian Home in
Boston. Portsmouth, he said, is to form Re
| form Club next Saturday night.
| On motion of Gen. Nickerson, Messrs. Brick
| EFT of Augusta Parsons and James Robinson
| of Gardiner, were made committee to prepare
| programme of business for the convention.
| The chairman (Mr. Osgood, who had been call
| ed to preside by the Presidency was added to
| the committee
Gen. Nickerson of Searsport, DR.. Brckett of
Augusta, and Samuel Marshall of Farming
dale, were appointed to nominate an Executive
Committee.
Mr.. Spinning and Rev. Mr.. Conant of Provi-
dence, favored the audience with some excel
lent music; and after the report of the Com
mttee on Credentials was received, Dr. Brick
EFT moved that any member of any Reform
Club in the State be received as an authorized
delegate; and the motion carried.
Francis Murphy, Cyrus Sturdivant and VIM.
II: Hobbs were appointed Committee on Enter
tanment.
Gen. f. T. Nickerson of Searsport addressed
the convention, suggesting that the Executive
Committee should be composed of one member
from each county. He referred to the great
good accomplished by the reform movement,
and trusted the Legislature would grant the re-
quircd financial aid. Brief remarks were also
made by Messrs Osgood, Fitzgerald and Stet-
son. Rev. o. M. Cousens offered resolution
expressing the sympathy of the convention to-
wards Mr.. Stetson of Damariscotta, in the Sc
we're affliction which he has recently experience
al Ia Il.
ed by rising vote and the convention adjourn
journed by singing the Doxology.
EVENING.
The convention assembled again at half-pa
seven o'clock to listen to addresses from several
gentlemen identified with the Reform move
ment both in this ard other States. From
some cause or other, the audience was by no
means as largo as might reasonably have been
expected, the hall being scarcely half full. The
meeting was called to order by MIR. j. X. Os
good, President of the State Reform Club, who
called upon the Rev. o. M. Cousens to invoke
the divine blessing. After Messrs. Spinning
and Conant had favored the audience with two
of their stirring songs, His Excellency, Cover
nor Perham was introduced the presiding
officer. The Governor on taking the chair pro-
ceeded to address a few remarks to the audi
ence referring to the evil effects of intemperance
in all the phases of life, and stating that the
habit of ndulging in intoxicating liquors was
the principal impelling cause of all the terrible
| crimes which so often starte society. There
are those who tell us that as much rum is
drunk now as in former years, but this is not a
fact. The truth is there is very small guam
| tity of liquor drunk now, comparatively speak
inc o,,I Ton
| to see this In looking over the field, am
| certain that we have reason to take courage. /
can remember the time when everybody drank
| rum Ministers of the Gospel offered it to
their guests and partook freely of the social
glass at every visit to their Pensioners. Now it
| is different. do not know of single clergyman
| in the State of Maine who would accept liquor
at the hands of any one. Several incidents
were narrated to prove the general use of liquor
| in the past. When we look back to the public
men of our country, great change can readily
| be seem In Washington it formerly the
custom to tender the intoxicating cup at al
most every public reception, but now it is
| every member of Congress INDUCED in this in
sidious custom, now over one hundred Congress
| men have signed the pledge of total abstinence.
| ] suppose that not more than one-half of our
| adult male population in the State of Maine
4
| we have gained one-haif have we not abundant
| cause to rejoice? The Christian religion has
not as yet accomplished in as favorable ratio
| its great mission, but who dares to- venture the
| assertion that it should be abandoned? The
| practice of social party drinking was denounc-
| ed by the Governor causing more sorrow
| than all the other species of drinking combin-
| ed, The speaker then alluded somewhat in de-
| tail to the glorious results of the Reform move
| ment in the State, and closed with an earnest
| appeal for the continuance of the labor so aus
| piciously begun.
| Gen F. S. Nickerson of Searsport was the
| next speaker He regretted 1.-THE small attend
| ance and thought that there must have been
some misunderstanding in relation to the con-
venton. Surely the good people of Portland,
| he said did not know of the existence or work
| of the State Reform Club which now numbers
| over L, 600 members, not so of whom have
broken the pledge. All should be interested in
| the good work of the organization, for its OBJ
iect is to benefit no political party or religious
| denomination, but to extend helping hand to
| those who are struggling to free themselves
| from the terrible evil of intemperance, and thus
| to benefit the whole people. We have charity
| for all and malice towards none. Every man,
| no matter what is his business should be inter
| ested in our work. believe that the hand of
| God is in it, and that it will prove q great sue
| cess Gen. Nickerson closed by thanking
| Governor Perham for his presence and inf1u-
| ence and hoped that the time was far distant
when any Governor would refuse to aid such
worthy cause.