Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-29
DIR. GEORGE e, BRIcKETT

!
! was called upon to preside. He expressed his re
grets that Col. Dewitt was absent, but assure
the people present that his sympathies were wit
them. He saw all about him members Of the oil
club, some of whom had broken their pledge
either in spirit or letter. Let the old cub 60, an
come forward to night, and sign the pledge anew
and organize it again for the benefit Of those VIII
drink. He urged ministers and christian peopl
to give the new club their countenance and sup
port. He remembered that under the influence
Of the old club much liquor drinking was stop
ped
Mr.. OsGooD
took the stand. He said that his cheeks hat
tingled when he had beer told that Augusta hat
no reform club, but he was encouraged in looking
into the faces of this immense audience. HI
knew that in the midst of thirty or more rumshop
in Augusta, men and women are in danger
These shops are manufacturing beggars, robbers
thieves and murderers. Rum had
ROBBED his CHILDREN
OF their education and of the benefits Of Christian
training. Gold untold would never buy the peace
of his family, but rum had robbed him Of it. W.
hear Of a murder, and Of a terrible accident on 9
railroad occasioned by rum but this is not droI
in the bucket of the doings of rum. The chic
sorrow is found in the family sitting in sorrow
The great public do not know the secret sorrow Of
the family smtten by rum, robbed of every earthly
joy. Now every one can do something in thu,
work. lie asked all to sign the pledge, not only
for their protection but the protection of theil
fellow men. lie hoped to see powerful reforma
ton here.
REV. Mr.. ECoB
was the next speaker. He said we often speak Of
Uork, but what do we mean by it We say to
men, "come up to the great work" The person
first entering upon christian life, enquiries "Whal
can do ;" We do not appreciate that when one
commits himself to a great cause, that is work
He has set himself over in the totally of his man.
hood to the right side. Perhaps he has done i,
simply by few words. In our revolution, when
we were oppressed by the mother country,
PEOPLE BEGAN TO TALK.
and soon the whole nation was moved as one man
to throw of the yoke Of the oppressor Wetalked
against slavery; but it was asked what good will
talk do-there slavery stands But talk filled the
mines, the explosion came, and bowed slavery tc
atoms. This audience is like box of cups that
make up galvanic battery. Connect them by
talk, and you get shock; an influence goes out
and these men and women became vast power
SO might, every man that
PUTs HIS NAME ON THE PLEDGE Book,
enrolls himself on the right side. Under this in
huence, these dead laws against liquor selling
may again throb with the pulsations OF life. Sup
pose it should be found that the kennebec bridge
was weakened, and that two or three men were
injured; the whole city would be in q blaze of ex.
element. But the souls and bodies of scores and
hundreds are being mangled IN these hells of sin
come here and establish an arsenic mandatory
and under the influence Of the arsenic vapors car
ried in the air, our children and ourselves should
sicken and die, should we need much of a rerira
to stop that business He asked every christian
in this matter, to stand upon the side where We
think our Lord would stand were he present.
REV. Mr.. PENNEY
spoke in behalf Of the men that had fallen. They
had made good resolutions, but did not possess the
power to keep them-thcy had met with strong
temptation, and had fallen. He would ask their
to sign the pledge again, and begin anew. Better
make your life struggle to the end, than &C
down in despair. lie plead for sympathy and 6
helping hand to those who needed so much The
saving power Of the pledge. lie spoke further OIL
the
TERRIBLE EVILS OF INTERFERENCE,
that had come under his observation. He had
been informed by DIR. Harlow that from 40 to 81
per cent. of all the inmates at the Insane Hospita
came there on account of intemperancc.
A few remarks were made by Mr.. Reuben Nc
kenney, and then the new pledge book wa:
brought forward, bearing already the names Of
gentlemen invited to come forward and sign the
pledge. The invitation met with noble response
and for half an hour names were aided to the
pledge book, until about
Two HUNDRED NAMES
were enlisted These included the names Of some
who have been counted hard cases, who Joined the
old club, fell from their first estate, and were now
determined TO renew their covenant vows. Sev
eral Young men, who have been drinking hard
also signed and on the whole, the results OF the
meeting were indeed hopeful. The speakers were
all applauded, and considerable interest and Gu
thusiasm manifested. The permanent organization
of the club will be effected on next Sunday even
ing.
We understand that keepan's horse "Biy But.