Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-04-23
The Wyoming Pa. yalley. Father Hunt and his
Temperance ReeOllections."

ed some account of the material wealth and
attractions of Pennsylvania especially of one
of the fairest and most historic valleys in
the State-that of the Wyoming on the
susquehanna in the central part of Eastern
Pennsylvania. But as g nan is better
than sheep" or an iron-mine as a beauti-
ful spirit is the lairest of all the Creator s
works, 50 the active, brave, and good men Of
that Valley are the most worthy of notice :
And of all, none more so, than the Rev.
Thos. p. Hunt, of Wilkesbarre, who from
his age and experience and the confidence
and precedence given him among his equals
is now better known as g Father Hunt
Father Hunt, though a minister in the
Presbyterian church, and eminent as a lead
er in every department of Evangelical and
church work, is better known as leader
and successful worker in the temperance
cause. Earlier in the field than Hewitt, Ed
wards or Beecher, and the Oldest, as he
claims, of all the living public advocates of
temperance, in all the clements that 90 to
make up an attractive lecturer, a public ad-
yocate and thorough worker, he has proba-
bly, never been surpassed i'll our country, if
he has had any equal. \ combination of the
physical, mental and moral fits him for this
Office. lie is 4 man of close observation,
quick perception and clear analysis and
judgment hump-back of low stature
keen, piercing eye; prominent nose, high
forehead, large mouth yet all forming a
most kindly and attractive face face from
which. when lighted up by clear thought
and deep feeling, as it often is. one turns
not easily away
Father Hunt has been from the first
leader, and most bold. Ie>i>tent. self
sacrificing and successful worker, as the
facts in the case show lie wrote, as he
says. '' The First Total Abstinence Pledge,
and organized Tie First Total 4bstmnce
Soa.ty." This he did in 1880 From this
time, and years before, he has advocated
total abstinence everywhere, in public and
private in every assembly, ecclesiastical
and religious and in every gathering, politi
cal and social. la fact noas>embly of which
Father Hunt IS a member can expect to get
of without facing the temperance ques-
ton.
Besides this r,rl roce advocacy, this apos-
tie Of temperance has been hardly less earn
est and ardent with his pen, scattering, as
on the wings Of the wind, truths, facts ar
guments and stati>,ics-woris all burning
and glowing with the Light and heat of his
own life and feeling on this subject Among
his numerous works. pamphlets. tracts and
newspaper articles, can note only these ::
80 Wedding Days of Former Times, "' Jessie
johnson, '' Death by Measure, " = 1t will
not Ipjure Ne, ,"'' Liquor Selling a System
of Fraud"
Father Hunt took the lead in exposing the
poisonous nature Of the potions sold and
drank, under the speeious names the liquor
sellers and manufacturers attached to their
fiul mixtures His" Liquor Selling a Sys-
TEN of Fraud appear in the - Journal of
I the American Temperance Union' Of 1899,
and aroused wide circle of readers, ex-
citing both Indignation and alarm. The
better to prepare himself for this business
] Of exposing the poisonous compounds of the
/ liquor manufacturers and sellers, and so
often fraud and yillainy of the whole basi-
ncs.. this keen-scentel advocate, sent TO
| London in lS3S, and. at much expense of
time ami money and labor, obtained % The
/ Brewers Guide, " The Distiller ; and Wine
/ Makers Receipt Books" From these au-
, thentic documents, he spread abroad the
whole internal machinery Of the traffic.
Aiming himself thus early and completely,
be has ever waged war to the knife against
the traffic, and use a. a beverage. of these
drucgcd liquors. '' There are few men liv
ing in our country says DR. .Iewett in his
Forty years Fight with the Drink De-
| mon. - who have considered the whole sub
ject 50 thoughtiully and earnestly as this
/ early a1vocate of oar cause. His visit to
! me, and the long, earnest discussion we had
in relation to the various phases which the
enterprise then presented (this visit was in
1880 constituted an era in my life, as an
humble worker in the cause His personal
influence was more potent with me than any
other mani had almost said of al other
nen-in inducing me, at a later period. to
abandon my profession, and devote myself
| to the public advocacy of abstinence from
Intoxicating liquor" The late secretary
/ Marsh. also well known for his indefatga-
bic labors in the cause, pays Father Hunt
an equal tribute.
Father llupt, now over four score years.
his eyes not dimmed and his natural force
bat little abatei, has been publishing, dur
ing the year past in one of the temperance
papers of the State OF New York, - Ten
/ rerance Recollections, "a kind Of auto
/ biography Of his work in the cause. The
following, from his own COPY of these Re
/ collections. gives some idea of the unique
manner of both his private and public treat
i=ent of the subject, as times and occasions
presented it. The same Is also found, with
some additions, in d" Jewett's orty Years
| Fight" lt il the recollection of part of
| hls lecture-the introduction-at the vii
lage of Apponaug, in Warwick, r. |. Of
this lecture, DR.. Jewe.t says. IL only re-
gret that with the words | cannot give his
appearance before the audience, the express
7ion Of his eOuntenance, especially of the
eve, than which few keener are ever set in
haran heads, and the tone of his voice. at
once rery peculiar and impressive"
=. |. ldies and gentlemen last evening
| delivered discourse at Washington Factory
| Village at the town of Coventry. As WIS
| quite at leisure during the afternoon pre-
ceding the lecture, proposed to walk out
for n little exercise. \ friend suggested
| that might do some service to the people
| of the village, perhaps, by calling on Mr..
! Capwell, the keeper of the hotel, and hay
! inr talk with him He was represented
to me as 4 very clever sort of man, good
ratured, not at all inclined to be abusive and
it was thought my words might be of ser
vi ,e to him. | called upon him, introduced
IN j'self as the person who was to speak on
temperance in the evening. and found him
| disposed to listen to me with patience and
candor told him had been informed
that he was the possessor of considerable
real estate in the village. and assured him
that whatever shoald have the effect to lessen
the intelligence of the people, and lower
the standard of public morals, as | was quite
sure his traffic would do, though he might
not intend it, would most certainly diminish
the value of his real estate, as it would rem
der the village less desirable place of resi-
dence. And suggested to him that, in the