Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26
The Temperance Lecture.-Th

Congregational Church was crowded
almost to repletion last Sunday evening
to hear the Temperance talk, 1t was a
union meeting the two churches join
ing hands in the fuftherance of the
good work At much earlier hour
than is usual for an audience TO gather
the church was full, and chairs were
brought into the aisles for the accom-
mediation of the increasing multitude.
The two choirs too, Joined their forces
and rendered the stirring anthem,
"Here we Raise our Banner" with
excellent effect, after which an earnest
prayer was offered by Rev. r. NJ. Web
ster followed by patriotic glee, Land
of our Heroes :" BY this time the
church was crowded to It's utmost ca
pacity. Rev. Jesse Cole made an ad-
dress full of excellent PORTS and so
forcible in its conviction that only
those purposely blind could fail to
denounce the whiskey traffic as the
greatest bane cf our national prospect
ty. He depicted the curses arising
from the sale Of Intoxicating liquors.
in such manner "a 10 force conviction
it would seem upon the most skeptical.
Mr.. G. occupied an hour after which a
hymn was sung. when Mr.. Philieo
read an extract from the \. \. Eve
ming Post giving statistics OF the
whiskey business which must have
startled the audience, for such an ar
ray of facts, deplorable and damning
were never before gathered, After
the reading a vote was taken in refer
ence TO the question of ''License" or
No License, nearly the whole con-
gregation voting in the negative. 1t
was then suggested that those favoring
license as the more proper and polite
course to pursue, arise. Two only
arose, though we presume there were
others present whose honest convictions
were that it were policy to grant licen-
Sc rather than declare for strict pro-
hibition. Rev. Il. NJ. Webster closed
the exercises with powerful address
in which he earnestly advocated pro
hibition. We think his argument con-
elusive and irresistible though others
widely differ with us in our opinion.
The meeting closed by the choir sing
ing d" America, " in which the congrega-
ton joined heartily. Take the meet
ing all in all it was the most powerful
temperance meeting ever held in Grand
Rapids. 1t were plain to observe that
great tide Of public sentiment is set
ting in against the unholy traffic. Our
people seem to have caught the enthu-
siasm prevailing in the great states
south, east and west of Us, and King
Alcohol begins to tremble upon his
throne builded of desolated hearth
stones and bleeding hearts, lest his en-
emies here shall catch the infection of
the gigantic movement that is being
prosecuted elsewhere with such earn.
estness that his gods are being over
whelmed and utterly discounted. It
is claimed that prohibition will prove a
failure, and that more liquor will be con-
sumed if no licenses are granted. Even
if this be true, which we connot be,
Ieve, we say ''no license" A wrong
cannot be made right. If it is right
to legalize murder and incendarism by
the agency Of whiskey. then it is right
to license limited number Of rufians
to murder with cold steel. Such logic
cannot be otherwise than lame.
Ta d .rD1 NoraI )i+b 1914