The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-09-06
Brief J0tlingn.

our market at Sc ton. Many are OF the opIn
ion coal by October will be still lower.
Among the witnesses before the grand jury
yesterday was an old lady aged 80 gears.
The Mercantile Library Association have sole
$40 tickets for the Centennial excu sion.
Both the Grand Trunk and Maine Contra
Railroads are making arrangements to rur
large excursion trains to this city Thursday
night
The Grand Trunk advertise tickets to Mon.
treal and return for the low price of S..
Yesterday was a true autumnal day.
The International Steamship Company have
declared div dend of per cent
And now Sargent & Dennison announce that
they bought 10000 tons of coal at the great sale
IN New York.
Uucie Ohver leaves his post today to attend
the Holiness Camp Meeting.
The CascO street clock needs attention sadly
The National Holiness Camp Meeting open.
at Old Orchard this morning aud continues ten
days.
There are yet few articles exhibited at the
State Fair at City Building. The owners are
requested to call on the City Messenger aud
take them away.
Convention of Reform Clubs.
The Reform Clubs of this state commenced
their sixth quarterly session at City Hall yes
terday morning President S. F. Pearson of
the Portland Club called the meeting to order
at 10 30 and the Invitation Song was sung, fol-
lowed by the reading of the scriptures and
prayer by Rev. O. S. Perkins of Casco street
church, aud singing "Hold the Fort"
A temporary organization was then effected
as follows:
President-W. M. Dow, Dry Mills.
Secretary-W. A. Barker Rock land.
Wee Presidents-S. Mccarthy, Lewiston !;
Abel jackson, Lisbou; James M Robinson,
Gardner; s. F. Pearson, Portland; j. +.
MONTGOMERY. Bangor; Pierce Burt, Bath; S.
G. Bicktord, New Gloucester; J. W. Lake.
Richmond; Joseph Anderson, Webber Mills,
j. M. Libby Dry Mills; e. q, Mcguire, Union;
) Rolf, East Ray mond; Ward, North Cor
BAN; Withiusto Buck field; q. L. F. Hoar,
Norway; W. J; German. West BETHEL; Levi
Seavey, Kniehtsvlle; E. A. stetsop, Bucks
port; E. Hilton, Thomas,on; G. d. w. Shaw,
SebaPo Lake; John Plunkett, Yarmouth j z.
Keudall, Freeport; L. Il. Dillingham;, Rock
port; j. b Brown, Rockland.
The following committees were appointed:
Order of busip ess aud speakers-G a. Lee
favor, Portland; c. Wilmington, Buckfeld; s.
u,
ner; A. Klmbail, Brdgton..
% resolntioDs-S. f. Pearson, Portland;
Wal er Clark. Minot Corner: W. M. Dow, Dry
Minis; E. Hills, Thomaston; 9. d. e. Howe,
Norway.
L cation of next couvention-G. A Merry.
Portland; Jordan Raud, Lisbon; S. M. Parch.
er, Lewiston.
There were 26 clubs represented,a nd quite
number of ladies from the city were in attend
ance.
AT the afternoon session the temporary or
ganization was made permanent with the ad-
dition of the following presidents: w. T.
Eustis, Dixfield; B. G Dorsey, Winthrop; T.
II. Baker. Birmingham; E. A. Mari, Gray;
B. P. Higgins, South Berwick; j. S. CushmaD,
Wiuuegance; T. e Grath, Augusta; Geo. A
Haynes, Auburn; Walter Clark, Muot Cor
ner.
The question of forming state organization
referred from the last meeting, was taken up
and discussed at some length and with much
warmth II Was at last voted down almost
unanimously.
The reports from the various clubs were re-
ceived, and we've very favorable. The number
of names signed to the rolls of the various
clubs is estimated at from coo to $4,000.
In the evening fair audie zee gathered at the
Hall. The American Band of Turner's Islaud
furnished music. The President, w M. Dow,
called the meeting to order and stated that ten
minutes would be allowed each speaker. A
rallying song was sung. Capt Sturdvant read
a portion OF the scriptures aud offered fervent
prayer.
The first speaker Of the evening was Mr..
Smith of Skowhegan. Mr.. Smith, who was
formerly resident of this city, Invited his for
mer comrades to follow his example and quit
the Intoxicating cup. He gave very encour-
aging account of temperance meeting 10 No
Arson recently, when the proprietor Of one of
the hotels signed the pledge, much to the sur
prise and qualification of all.
Mr.. George Merry Of this city, twas next in
troduced. He Thanked God for the Portland
Reform CLUB, an organization which had been
instrumental inssaving him from drunkard's
grave. He said that be was we'll known here,
and he hoped all who bad been with him 10 his
drinkng career woule not desert him now but
come up and sign the pledge. He stated his in
tention hereafter to live life of industry and
sobriety. He said that reformed men had
overcoming them they were strengthened to
keep their pledge. His remarks were listened
to with marked attention.
Mr.. Lake of BrdgtoD, was the next speaker
BE said he was too full for utterance He was
formerly rum seller in this city, and had been
hard drinker for many years. He was the
son of clergyma and learned to drink while
absent from b ONE, aud went from bad to
worse until be brought up as proprietor of
wholesale rum-shop. He was reformed through
the influence of his family. He made a strong
appeal for support for the clubs.
Mr.. Crun of the West Bethel club, told
woefu experience of his past life. He had
spent over half bis life in prison on account of
the use of liquor. He was but short time
since released from the Massachusetts, state
prison, where he served out sentence for
stealing, but since he was released he had led
a different life The Reform Club had saved
him, and be wished to give them the credit
The clubs were banded together to save their
fellow beings from the fate they had esca ped.
He thought the people Of Portland did not give
the Clubs the support they deserved for the
work they are &C ,omplishing. He invited
moderate drinkers ana all to come no aud sign
the pledge.
Mr.. Howe of the Norway club gave terrible
experience of crime cansed by rum drinking
He SAID he bad drunk up two farms and all the
proper he possessed aud he wondered be had
not drunk himself up. He had occupied a con-
vets cell, but low he fCuud a better way OF
living. Two years ago his attention was ar
rod bu A L tI.,H
She met him while he was walking 10 the field
and told him there was something worth living
for in this world. He needed her words of
warning and instruction, and as a result is now
a reformed map. He said that he knew The
meaning of the expression that words are load
equate to describe the evil rum has done in
this country. He closed with strong appeal
for drinking men to sign the pledge.