Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-12
Washinstonian Rally Of the State Reform

| "eeuhS VI TIE state temperance REFORM
Clubs was held at Meonian Hall, yesterday
afternoon at o'clock. The meeting was quite
thinly attended. The President of the State
Club, Dr. G. E. Brickett, called to order, and
announced that half an hour would be spent
in devotional exercises, to be led by Rev. F..
?. Thwing of Portland.
There was singing, and fervent prayers
were offered by Rev. Mr.. Thwing, Francis
Murphy, and Reuben McKenney.
Remarks were made by the leader of the
meeting, on the work of Dio Lewis; and on
the influence of prayer by Mr.. Robinson of
the Gardiner club and Mr.. Mckinney Mr.
Murphy spoke of the temperance work in its
| spiritual aspect, in the State of New Hamp
shire, where he has been laboring. Mr.. Muir
ply said he believed in law-would not erase
line or word of that, but would rely mainly
upon the power of prayer.
The general tenor of the meeting was that
| something more is needed than human nstru
mentalities for the prosperity of the cause.
| The convention then proceeded to business
| DIR. Brickett, the President, stated the OBJ
| Jects of the convention.
He gave his approval of the great motive
power of prayer in this work. He hoped the
| meetings would be the means of revival of
interest in the city.
| In regard to the finances of the club, he
said that there had been obtained by contri-
button at the State House in session of 1873
$3.50, which he had deposited in the bank.
| During the months of June, July and por
ton of August. Mr.. Murphy labored in the
State, and Mr.. J. X. Osgood portion of the
time. After paying these for their services,
and remunerating to Mr.. Bryant for past SER
vices, and other expenses, $50 remained in
| the treasury. A summer excursion to raise
funds was improvised, but it was losing VEN
| ture. Circulars were sent out to all the
| ministers in the State, asking that they preach
temperance sermon and make collection
| for the club. No funds had been received
| however, from that or any other source than
| the one he had mentioned. 1t seemed as
though the movement did not have the SYM
patty of the clergy. A glorious meeting of
the club had been held in hockland during
the year.
The chairman appointed the following
| committee on nomination of officers David
| Potter of Gardiner, Reuben Mckinney, and
| O. NJ. Moore of Augusta.
| The committee reported as follows
| President-Francis Murphy of Portland
| Vice Presidents-H. NJ. Bryant of Lewis
ton, Cyrus Sturdiyant of Portland, David
| Potter of Bath, Z. w. Stetson Of Damaris-
| Gotta, G. o. Payson of Rockland, Sidney
Perham of Paris, Frank Kendrick of Skow-
| hogan, d. p. Foy, of Bath.
Charles Hewins, Augusta.
Secretary-E. p. Thwing, Portland.
Chaplain-James NJ. Robinson of Gardner.
I Reports were had from various clubs.
Mr.. Thwing of the Portland Club, reported
7l2 names. Meetings have mot been held
| the past year, but the prospect is good for
| future usefulness; reorganized March 9th.
Mr.. Robinson of Gardiner, for the club in
| that city, reported prosperity. Successful
public meetings have been held every Sunday
evening. The Sunday School and Ladies
Aid Society have helped the club amazingly.
Mr.. Nye reported that the Augusta Club
had 1900 names on its pledge book How
| many have violated their pledges, he could
| not say. Have held weekly meetings during
| the year. The meetings are at present sus-
| pended; the officers for the present year have
| not yet been chosen. The club had done great
good in Augusta, as had also the Cold Water
Temple, to which the most Of his temperance
efforts were devoted.
Mrs. Fitzgerald of Brunswick, reported the
| club in that town in low condition. Many
| had fallen-even the chaplain of the club.
These failures show clearly the necessity of
consistent, steady and persistent effort.
Mr.. J. Edwin Nye of Hallowell, reporte
strong temperance feeling in that city.
There is no reform club there at present,
but the people seem determined to have
rum extermnated from the place.
| Mr.. Hodges made some remarks on the
general aspect of the cause.
| Mr. Charles Hewins of Augusta said he had
faith in prayer, and he had faith also in man
God made man and pronounced him very
good. If effectually appealed to, there is
enough in him to lift him out of lis sins 10 Z
true manhood. The rumseller is bad enough,
but if we class him with murderers, and
thieves and housebreakers, let US be consis-
tent and not associate with them, and treat
them as gentlemen. Our acts should cores
pond with our words. He thought that
drunkenness in high places should be assault
ed
| Capt. Sturdivant of Portland, who made
his appearance in the hall, said the work is
sure to triumph. God is for US, and who can
be against us? 1t is terrible enemy that we
are fighting. He expected that through the
efforts of the newly organized club in Port
land, the 'critter" would be entirely exter-
minated from that city