The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-18
The Great Reform.
The National Temperance Camp Meeting
The Tents ut Old Orchard-Openiux
Day-Enthnsiasm and Numbers--Gov
Dingley's Address.

The opening day of the National Temperance
Camp Meeting at Old Orchard was certainly
not to be commended in respect to weather,
though in all other respects it was great and
unqualified success The clouds leaked all day
and the mist would have dampened the zeal of
people less enthusiastic than those who pioneer
the temperance. reform. But with admirable
consistency the leaders of the reform clubs and
the apostles of the new crusade did not com.
plain of an over-supply of water.
If the ten days meeting does not prove
success it will not be because of inadequate
preparation. Ample arrangements have been
made for the accommodations and comfort of
thousands. Cottages and tents are to be Sc
cured on application to those having the camp
in charge, and the boarding house has facli-
ties for boarding all who come. The beautiful
as we'll as the useful has been attended to-
The speakers stand is draped in the national
colors, bunting creeps up the pillars a profu-
sion of flowers almost concealthe reading desk
and baskets of rare plants depend from the
latti ,e work which borders the canopy. Else
where through the camp bright colors relieve
the monotonous white of tent and cottage.
Three o'clock, the hour set for the opening
exercises, found at least 5000 people seated in
the auditorium. The flower decked stand was
occupied by Miss Willard, Mrs. johnson, Miss
Hart, Mrs. Wittenmeyer and others of the
heroines of the Ohio and New York temper
ance crusades. While awaiting the arrival of
the speaker of the occasion, some of the ladies
started one Of those hymns sung in the streets
of Western cities by Western women during
their heroic attempt to do away with the cause
of intemperance.
A few moments past three o'clock Governor
Dingley, escorted by the presidents Of the re-
foIm clubs of Maine, made his appearance on
the stand, and was greeted with hearty ap.
plause. Here he was met by the eminent tenn
perance advocates from beyond the borders of
Maine, who have been on the grounds several
days, awaiting the formal opening of the meet
ing.
Despite the unfavorable weather motion to
adjourn to the tabernacle was rejected The
resolution was scarcely wise one for drizzly
rain at Old Orchard is anything but agreeable
under dripping foliage. Indeed, there is hut
one thing more disagreeable than a cold day or
the camp ground, and that is,-a hot day.
Very soon the audience found occas' on to re.
consider its determination, and to proceed to
the great tent
The service opened with the singing of the
hymn, "Nearer my God, to Thee" The Rev.
DR.. Allen, president of the State College, fol-
lowed with prayer. After the reading of the
XIV Psalm by the Rev. Mr.. Williams of Hav-
erhill, Mr.. Francis Murphy, president of the
National Temperance Association. stepped to
the front, and, addressing few warm words
of welcome to the audience, introd need as the
speaker of the occasion, his excellency, Gov.
Dingley. Gov. Diugley was received with
loud and long continued applause.
AT this point of the proceedings an adjourn
ment was made to the tabernacle. Arrived
there Gov. Dingey, amid the closest attention,
interrupted only by frequent applause, spoke
substantially as follows:
After expressing his qualification of toe in.
auguratIon of series of meetings, having for
their object the promotion Of the cause of tenn
perance, he extended hearty welcome to the
temperance representatives. who had come
from many other states and from the Domin-
ion of Canada to unite their voices and efforts
on Maine soil in behalf of cause coextensive
with humanity. Aside from the cause of
Christ, to which that of temperance is closely
allied, no moral and reformatory movement Of
the age approaches in importance this one
which is designed to breath the chains of sla-
very which brushes not only the bodies, but the
minds and souls of millions of human beings.
AS Christians, as patriots, as statesmen, as
scholars, as philanthropists-as one or all of
these-we may we'll feel a deep interest in the
warfare against King Alcohol, for there is not
material, social, political, intellectual, moral
or spiritual interest of man which the soup of
devils has not oppose, nor community which
it does not blast.
Gov. Dingley referred to the drain which in
temperance makes on the national resources of
this country-a drain much greater than all
financial burdens; to the crime. poverty and
insanity of which it is the prolific source; to
the misery which it brings on hundreds of thou
sands of households; to the moral, intellectual
and spiritual degradation which it imposes, to
the long procession of hundred thousand in.
ebriates annually passing down to a drunkards'
grave in this country alone,-and asked
whether such alarming facts ought not to
awaken the interest and stimulate the zeal of
every good citizen in every means calculated to
mitigate so fearful an evil
In devising ways and means to promote the
cause of temperance, the Governor said expe-