Daily Kennebec journal., 1874-09-09
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH
9aily Eent1sbee 9onrnal.
Temperance Campmeeting at
Old Orchard.

Portland, Sept. 8. The great Temperance
Campmeeting commenced here to-day at
o'clock this afternoon. The weather is fine
and there is fair attendance for the opening.
Large delegations arrived from the Gardi.
ner club, David Potter president, Fryeburg
club, DR.. Fowles president, Augusta club,
DR.. Brckett president, Brunswick club,
postmaster Crawford president, and the Port
land club, Capt. Cyrus Sturtevant president.
Among the distinguished temperance men
present were Gov. Dingley, J. Horace Kent
of Portsmouth,, president of the New Eng
land Reform Association, Francis Murphy,
president of the Maine State Reform Clubs,
j. Colen of Boston, Henry Wordsworth of
Providence, Hon. j. Gallagher of New Haven
and Horace Hildreth of Natck, Miss Emma
Willard, president of Womads Temperance
Association in Chicago, Mrs. l. NJ Denman,
president Of New Jersey Woman's Temper
ance Association, Mrs Mary C. johnson,
president of Brooklyn Womans Temperance
association, Mrs. Mary Z. Hart, secretary of
the same, Mrs. Moore of New York, Messrs.
II. w. Adams, editor of the Christian at
work, G. w Mooney of Brooklyn, E. E.
johnson Of Brooklyn. Rev. w. H. Boole,
and Miss Oliver, the Ohio temperance orator,
will arrive to-day.
j. Horace Kent, President, called the meet
ing to order, stating that the meeting was
held conformaiory with a suggestion made by
president Murphy of the Maine club at the
annual meeting of the New England club in
Providence, August lst, for the purpose Of
weeks interchange of views on the subject
of temperance. He then called upon the
Rev. l. Luce to lead in prayer, after which
hymn was sung. a committee was appointed;
Gov. Dingiey was then introduced. He vel
coined the representatives to Maine, spoke of
the evils of intoxicating liquors, causing sut-
tering to the Angl Saxon race, especially to
the Yankee branch. He thought the progress
hitherto made in suppressing it should serve
to encourage to renewed efforts to advance
the cause. It is less than seventy five years
siINS tiiS o. piCbSC was elkueQ, ODIy sixty
six years since the first temperance society
was organizad, only fifty since the subject
was generally and seriously considered, only
forty since the first national temperance con-
vention was held, only twentythree since the
first Maine Law was enacted, so that practi-
cally the movement is but forty years old,
and its success in that time has been truly
marvellous.
He said that half century ago drinking
habits were almost universal, the sale of liq-
uors as unres;rained as necssaries of life,
and drunkenness so common as not to cause
remark To-day drinking has ceased to be
fashionable, tlppling shops are prohibited, and
outside Of a few cities rarely encountered
Drunkenness is rare in rural districts which
comprise three fourths of the State, and a
large portion of the people are total abstain
ers. That this progress is real, that secret
drinking has not simply taken the place Of
open drinkins, is shown by the fact that an
encampment of nearly thousand volunteers
of State militia has been held within a few
days near one of our largest cities for four
days, and though visited by thousands, less
than a dozen cases of intoxicrtion have arisen
in or near the grounds. He spoke at length
of the work necessary to be done, saying
that temperance work will always be needed
just as christian work is; that it must vary
with the different states and different circum-
stances. Let all work be encouraged, wheth-
er through the church, the reform club, the
crusaders, open or secret organizations.
Gov. Dingley was followed by Messrs. Os-
good, Camp Meeting John Allen, Francis
Murphy, Capt. Sturdivant, Rev. DIR. Carru-
theirs, ExGov. Perham, and Rev. l. Luce, in
short and spicy speeches, interspered with
singing, then season of prayer, aud closed
with benediction.
A meeting was then held to make up pro-
gramme for the remainder of the session.
This evening a meeting is being held in the
Biddeford tent, for prayer and pledges, and
for any general business which may arise.
Speaking Tomorrow will be by Mr.. John
son, Mrs. Hart, Mrs. johnson, Mrs. T. r.
Lawrence of Boston, Ex Gov, Perham, Rev
DR.. Nichols of Biddetord, J. X. Osgood Of
Gardiner, and Rev. Mr.. Luce.
The Haverhill reform club one hundred
strong is coming tomorrow morning.
Pledge books were circulated freely, and
many signatures were obtained.
PORTLAND,