The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-02


TY CHURcH.-Tbere was grand tenn perance
demonstration at Trinity church night be-
fore last, which was presided over by DR..
William j. Points, Grand Worthy Chief
Tempiar. The meeting was under the au-
spices OF Trinity Lodge Of Good Templars.
The exercises were opened with singing by
Trinity Church choir, under the leadership
OF Charles P. Radg. and prayer by Rev. a.
C. Bledsoe. DR.. Points said: AS the chief
executive of an association now wor king in
ding over this meeting. Eight years ago
the Order of Good Templars was first insti-
tu.ed In this State. Twenty-three years ago
it started in New York with only handful !;
now it, numbers over one million men,
bers: In nearly all the European countries
lodges are now fourishing. The object is
to advance the great cause Of temperance.
The pledge is life.pledgc.
Mr.. Theo. N. Ramsey, State Lecturer Of
North Cirolina, then addressed the meeting
in very eloquent and deeply impressive
manner. He said be was glad to be able to
stand before the people of this city and say
u word for a cause that stands inseparably
connected with the prosperity of our civil
institutions. Man is q glorious image Of
God, and all things were created for bis good.
but intemperance destroys this good image.
Thousands of bright and shining lights are
sacrificed every day. It even destroys the
soul, for Satan finds no filter weapon than
intemperance. 4 man with thousand
tongues could not begin to tell Of all that the
fell destroyer Alcohol has accomplished.
He has transformed the noble man and made
him beast. He has dethroned mighty intel
lects, and filled all the lunstic as! lums OF the
world, to say nothing of the prisons, aims
houses, and early graves. The fire Of Chi
cago entailed suffering on one hundred
thousand persons, and great was the lamen-
tatiou; but the six hundred thousand souls
that are destroyed by alcohol seem 10 excite
no word OF condemnation. This ought not
TO be so.
He concluded by urging all members of tt e
Christian Church TO rally to the support Of a
cause that has the sanction and command of
the Bible.
Mr.. Ramsey is quite young man, but in
q short time has risen to a welldeserved po.
sition as one of the ablest temperance speak-
ers in this country.
Rev. A. G. Bledsoe then addressed the
meeting, enforcing the claims of the temper
ance cause on the audience present. He said
he was specially interested in the cause of
temperance because of the great damage it
was doing, principally to the young tnen of
this city. 1ntemperance is the fist step to
the destruction of tie moral character of
young men. He made an earnest appeal to
the young men to give up the use Of intoxi-
eating drinks, and take 4 step upward and
onward in the right path by stunning the
way of iDtemperance.
DR.. Points then explained the distinctive
features of the Order Of Good Tempars is
compared with other organizations oil tempe
rance. 1t has no associate members, but takes
in all-young and old, male and female-and
all are active and useful members. The
pledge is lifetime pledge, and no one is
admitted unless willing to take this pledge.
There are progressive degrees, showing the
proficiency of the membership.
The thanks Of the lodge were rendered to
Trinity Church temperance choir for the cX.
cellent music contributed on the occasion.