Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-03
MFR. O,Brien,s Lecture.
Large Meeting of the Irish Temperance
society-l3G Take the Pledge-Tbe Ladies
March In a Body TO the Platform-A Very
Successful Meeting aud Much Enthusiasm.

n Large Meeting Of the Irish Temperance
Society Take the Pledge-The Ladies
March In a Body TO the Platform-A Very
Successful Meeting aud Much Enthusiasm.
On Thursday evening of last week,
Mr., James w. O'Brien Of New York,
gave a lecture on temperance under the
auspices of the Bellows Falls St. Pat.
rlck's Temperance Society. The meet
ing was largely attended by the Irish
population of this village and included
delegation of seventeen from Spring
field, who certainly showed good pluck
and faithful interest in the cause to come
so far that cold night. There were pro-
badly over 400 present including few
American people. who ought to have
been out in much larger numbers, as it
certainly would have done them good.
The members of ST. Patrick's Society
entered the hall in body, in regalia,
making fine appearance, and carrying
very splendid silk banner which was
placed on the platform.
The lecture by Mr.. O'Brien was very
excellent and well adapted 1t was the
appeal of kindness throughout and car
ried conviction to his audience, and tow
ard the close, as he depicted the slavery
Of intemperance, it was fine and patri-
otto specimen Of Irish eloquence.
The most interesting scenes of the
meeting however followed the lecture.
Mr.. Q Brien is very earnest worker
and having closed his lecture, he began
short and pithy appeals to the men to
come forward and take his hand of fell
lowship as member Of the temperance
society. A few Immediately responded
going to the platform and were received
with hearty cheers from the audience.
He continued his appeals but only
scattering man went forward, till at last
it appeared like a dead lock when he
suddenly turned to the ladies, and call
ed upon them to shame the men, where
upon they marched up to the platform
in body amid enthusiastic applause and
cheering. This had the desired effect
and the men then came forward in twos
and half dozens till some 40 had re-
sponded, making with the ladies some
1876 for the evening.
The most earnest work on the floor
was the appeals by the members of the
society. In several instances three of
them surrounded and were appealing
to one man at the same time and in
most cases their appeals were apparent
ly effectual
In this temperance work by the Irish
people, of this place, all pledge them
selves to abstain from the use of intox-
icating drinks, though all of course do
not become members of the St. Patrick
Temperance organization, which gives
benefits and aid to the members for sick
ness or other cause. This society is the
main working element and is doing great
good among their people, And they
are more in earnest now then ever be-
fore. Up to the meeting of last week
they had 70 members and with the ad-
dition Of that evening they will now
number ITO. They have a reading room
occupied also as place for their regu-
lar meetings for which they pay rent,
and their annual expenses paid as bene-
fits or aid to members are considerable
They have fine silk banner for which
they paid last season some s125 besides
the cost Of their regalia, and their ex-
penses for the meeting and free lecture
given last week were $50 It. will be
seen that they are live working order
and they have become so strong that the
good influence of st. Patrick's Temper
ance Society cannot fail to be felt in
this community outside their own peo-
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