Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-12-02
HOW BECAME A SOBER MAN
The Temperance Meeting Sunday
Evening, November %.

Evening, November %.
IL is only occasionally that tenn
perance movement becomes popular
The cause is usually a heavy load
and drags along, compared with Other
movements, as the laden OK with the
light and swift footed horse on the
race course. One of those occasions
in which it moved ahead cheerily and
at a lively rate, was witnessed in
Lancaster on last Sunday. Three
weeks ago it was announced that the
Hon. James Ross would return to
Lancaster on Sunday, November 2s,
for the purpose of organizing lodge
OF Good Templars and that Prof.
John Brindley, principal of the Lam
caster high school, would preside on
that occasion, and Mr. SiIas G..
Harris would address the audience.
The last named gentleman is known
in Lancaster as a reformed man. He
first came here in condition which
showed plainly the devastation of a
course of intemperance. He quit
that course and has pursued differ
ent one. Appropriate to such a
change he took for the subject of his
address, "How | became a sober
man" The exercises were held in
the Congregational church. The par.
tition which separates the main audi
ence room from the vestibule Of the
church was thrown open, and all the
seats, gallery included, were occupied,
thus indicating the interest attached
to the occasion by this community.
Rev. Mr.. Tunison opened by reading
from the Bible and with prayer. Mr..
Brindley made a few spirited and ap.
propriate remarks, and Mr.. Ross, with
more thar usual energy, spoke to the
point for fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Harris was then introduced.
He stated plainly that he was pre-
pared for the occasion, and told his
story in half an hour. he represent
ed that fifteen years of his life had
been lost by intemperance painting
the hideous ways of such life in
colors that brought tears to the eyes
of many who attentively heheld the
picture. Then he accounted for his
changed habits, as dating from the
visionary intercession of departed
loved ones. The degradation Of the
past life became too detestibe for en-.
durance, and the beauty of temper
ate life appeared so full of bright
hope as to be craved above all else.
The substance of Mr.. Harris address
was surprisingly interesting, and the
ease and eloqnence of his delivery
was also surprising even to his init.
mate friends. At the conclusion, the
auditors forgot they were in church
and heartily applauded with both feet
and hands.
After him Mr.. Ross again let loose
his enthusiasm, and charged right and
left, regardless OF where he struck or
when he quit.
The choir interluded these per-
formances with music selected for the
occasion.
Mr.. Ross and Mr.. Harris, before
the audience was dismissed, took the
names of persons who would become
members of lodge of Good TEN
plars. Most of these remained and
were initiated into the workings of
that order. What was done by them
will be found in another column, over
the signature Of Mr.. Ross. The
meeting was altogether one of deep
interest and abundant success. The
temperance work would be necessarily
successful if at all times and all places
carried on with equal vim.