Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-05-19

reform meetings, under the direction
and auspices of Mr.. j. X. Osgood of
Gardner, Maine, and Mr.. J. w. Drew,
president of the Reform Club of Con-
cord, N. H., was held at Union Hall,
Saturday evening. Mr.. L. M Read,
presided This was the opening sur
prise to the audience and doubtless add
ed much to the deep and increasing in
terest which prevailed through all the
meetings. Mr. Read briefly stated that
he had been asked to preside at that
meeting, for reasons which the audi
ence would no doubt well understand
1t is hardly necessary to add that he
was received cordially, and with I'M
bounded applause. After prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Haskins, the meeting was al
dressed by both Mr.. Drew and Mr. Os-
good. Much interest prevailed and $50
signed the pledge to abstain from all
intoxicating liquors as beverage. The
next meeting was held Sunday afternoon,
at 3 o'clock in Union Hall, and was
fully attended, probably by 500 people.
Mr. Osgood also spoke to a full house,
at the Congregational church, Sunday
morning, and Mr.. Drew at the Baptist
church at the same time, both upon
temperance.
Sunday evening, Union Hall was
again filed, the increasing interest bring
ing out some GOO people, and the signers
of the pledge went up to some 500 On
Monday evening the hall was packed
There must have been 800 people pre-
sent, (some estimate it higher while
some went away unable to get into the
hall. So large local attendance upon
an indoor meeting is probably unprece-
dented in this place. Business was
fairly suspended in many places to give
all chance to attend.
The speaking of these meetings has
of course been mainly by Messrs o.
good and Drew. They tell the simple
story of their own experience They
understand all the vernacular of the
bar room and drinking saloons This
is at once recognized by all drinkers of
similar experience, and proves to be
more effective with them, than any
learned or scientific disquisition by one
who has never suffered from, the slavery
of intemperance. Mr. Drew is young
man and also comparatively young in
the work, having been in the service but
few months. Mr.. Osgood is not only
an older man, but has been engaged in
temperance work nearly FIVE years. He
goes down deep into the heart with the
utmost kindness and charity for all, and
this is no doubt what gives him so strong
hold upon the people.
Both gentlemen give occasional sharp
and pungent anecdotes, with appropri-
ate and close application. Their speak
ing is interspersed with hymns and tenn
perance songs, in which the people join
giving much good effect.
The result of this work SO far is, that
of the large number who have signed
the pledge, there are many who have
been habitual drinkers of intoxicating
liquors, some of them up to within a
few hours of the meeting, Saturday even
ing. On Sunday there was a sad case of
abuse in this village, while under the
influence of intoxicating drinks, but
Monday night that man signed the
pledge, and the best results are now hop
ed for.
During one of the meetings, Mr.. Read
made brief appeal, in which he urged
the habitual drinkers to march forward
in solid column to the pledge, and made
good point by giving an instance in the
battle of the Wilderness. They were
charging upon the enemy, when he
CHANGED to be wounded, as he supposed,
in the foot, and thereupon he stopped to
examine the extent of his wound but
only found badly demoralized boot,
and then it was that be had the hardest
work of that terrible day, in going the
distance alone to rejoin his regiment So
now it would be so much easier for him
if Others would promptly come forward,
all march together and thus strengthen
each other the whole length of the line.
The audience received this point with
very strong applause.
4 During the meeting Monday evening,
beautiful bouquet of flowers was sent
to the platform with note from ladies,
which was read by Rev. Mr.. Haskins,
saying that they presented it to the presi-
dent of the meeting, because, by his &C