The Portland daily press., 1874-09-09

now nave the pleasure or introducing to you an
able and veteran soldier in the war against in
temperance, an advocate whose labors are not
confined to his voice but have the added advan
tages of bis pen and his purse Hon. Nell
son Diugley, Governor of Maine,
Gov Dinsley then stepped forward and in be-
half of the citizens of the state extended a
hearty welcome to the representatives of the
Temperance Reform Clubs of New England.
After referring at length to the Importance of
the object for which the assembly had con-
vened-a cause which knows no limits of state
or even of nations-he dwet upon the fipan-
cial, social and moral evils entailed by intem-
perance While there are few nations that
have escaped the evils growing out of the use
of Intoxicating liquors a beverage, the An
glo-Saxon race seemed to have suffered most,
and the Yankee branch of that race in a peeu-
liar degree in consequence OF the exciting con-
ditions of life in new country, where nature
is to be tanned, futures carved out, cities to be
built, and industries to be established.
Referring to the obstacles encountered, and
taking into consideration the growth of popu-
lation and influence of immigration, the Cover
nor thought that the progress hitherto made
should serve to encourage to renewed efforts to
advance the temperance cause. 1t is less than
seventy-five years since the first temperance
pledge was signed; only slxty-siX years since
the fist temperance society was organized;
only fifty years since the subject was generally
and seriously considered only forty years since
the first national temperance convention was
held and the first public expression given as to
the immortality of the liquor traffic. only thirty
eight years since any national temperance asso-
citation was formed on the basis of total absti-
nence; ard only twenty-three years since the
first law was enacted-and that in this good
state of Maine-which prohibited DIR anu Shops
Practically, the temperance movement is only
fifty years old, and its success in that time has
been truly marvellous.
Referring to the evidences of the progress of
the temperance movement, among other things
Gov. Dlngley said that in this state half CEN
fury since, drinking habits were we'll nigh uni
versal; the sale of liquor as beverage practi-
cally as free and unrestrained as the sale of the
necessareS of life; and drunkenness so common
as to fail to cause remark. To-day drinking
habits have in great part ceased to be fashiona-
BILE; tipping shops are prohibited by law and
outside OF few cities are rarely encountered.
drunkenness is rare in the rural districts. which
comprise three-fourths of the state; and a large
portion of the people are total abstainers; theA
this progress is real that secret driS,
not simply taken the place of open drinKing, is
shown by the fact that an encampment of
nearly a thousand Volunteer State Militia has
been held for four days near one of our largest
cities, and thousands of people have daily visit
ed the grounds, and less than dozen cases of
intoxication have arisen in or near the muster
grounds.
Gov. Dingley spoke of the work yet to be
done, saying that so long as men remain what
they are, temperance efforts would be needed
Just as Christian work always has been, and
will ever be, requisite in promoting religion
The principles on which the great body of the
friends of temperance rely as the basis of tenn
perance work-total abstinence for the individ
ual, and prohibition of dram shops by the
state-are we'll known. The methods by which
we shall secure the adoption of these principles
and advance the cause of temperance will vary
IN To toto too md nd oir
stances. Let every true friend of the cause,
working in such way as may seem to him best,
/. whether through the church. the reform club,
the crusaders, or open or secret organizations,
be welcomed and encouraged in his labors.
After speaking further of work to be done,
Gov. Dingley closed by congratulating one and
all on this suspicious occasion. He said: see
before me men who were present almost at the
birth of this great reform, and who have labor
ed these many years to further cause so close
y associated with that of the religion of Christ
Ii the spirits of the just made perfect ever
come back to this earth, we might feel to-day
that the spirits of DR.. Rush, of Justin Ed
wards, of DR.. Lyman Beecher, of Father Ma
thew and of a host of other WORTHLESS are pres
ent-with this assemblage. May God give you
wisdom and strength to make this gathering a
grand power for good and the means Of inaug-
urating new and more successful era in the
prosecution of temperance work.
Gov. Dingley was followed by Mr.. j. K. Os-
good of Gardiner, the pioneer of the reform
club movement in this state, who made an earn
est, able and brief speech in behalf Of temper
ance. He was succeeded by 'Camp-Meetin g
john Allen, whose good gray head and strong
CHEEKY voice are rarely absent from gatherings
where work for good is to be done.
Mr. Francis Murphy followed in enc Of those
stirring and trumpet-lks speeches for which
he is famous. After few strong words at
starting, in behalf of the Reformed Mems AS
ISOLATION, he went on to make an eloquent plea
for temperance, in the course of which he re-
lated many affecting incidents drawn from his
own experience. The address was an effective
one, and highly delighted the audience.
Capt Cyrus Sturdiuant of Portland, was the
next speaker. In his own peculiar manner he
went on to speak of the evils of intemperance
and of the responsibility resting upon Christian
men and women to do away with them. Not
the least interesting portion of his speech was
the account of the sad cases which had come te
his notice while engaged in the prosecution of
| mission work.
Capt. Sturdivant was followed by the Rev
DR.. Carruthers of Portland, who made an earn
est vehement plea for general adoption of the
principles and practice of temperance, and for
the suppression of the dram shop. AS minis
ter of God he gladly welcomed the new move
ment.
Ex-Gov. Perham then spoke few encourage
ing words, expressing his deep faith in the
temperance movement and his ardent hopes fol
its success.
The exercises of the afternoon closed with an
earnest prayer meeting led by the Rev. Mr.
Ladd of Biddeford.
Yesterday was but preliminary. To-day
the active work begins Representatives of the
women crusaders Of the west are already on the
ground, prepared to start movement like
that which swept over the prairies last spring.
Among them are Miss Emma Willard of Chi.
cago, President of the Women's Temperance
Association in that city and dean of Evanston
University; Mrs. I. M. Denman of Newark,
President of the New Jersey Women's Asso-
citation; Mrs. Mary c. johnson, President of
the Temperance Association of Brooklyn; Mrs.
Mary E. Hart, Secretary of the same organiza.
ton; and Mrs. Moore of New York Accom-
panying them are Messrs. III. w. Adams of
"The Christian At Work. G. W. Mooney Of
the Methodist and advocate" and E. John
son of Brooklyn. These are all earnest work.
ers, and are determined to set on foot move
ment the like of which is not recorded in the
temperance annals Of Maine. Their weapons
are prayer and song and the sanctifyng by
Gods grace, and they prophesy temperance
revival as fervid and marked as any ever set
on foot in the churches in the cause of religion
To-day the beautiful, young and gifted daugh-
ter of Ohio, Miss Oliver. only eighteen years Of
age, will arrive on the grounds to take part in
the meeting She will be accompanied by the
Rev. w. III. Boole, the eloquent mission la
borer in the slums of New York. Large dele
cations, both of men and women, are on their
way from the West, and at noon the Haver-
hill Reform Club one hundred strong, will put
in an appearance.
There is strong representation of the re-
form clubs of Maine on the grounds, and the
State Club holds meeting to-day. The club
wishes it distinctly understood that the move
ment is conducted on the principle of moral
suasion and is entirely free from any political
significance whatever. Last evening prayer
meeting for mutual encouragement was held in
the Biddeford tent, and great enthusiasm was
IL ~