Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-14

he bad mingled IN good society and ct the thresh.
hold Of life met with good success. In high
toned society he learned to drink. When young
man goes out into the world he Is liable to fall,
Notwithstanding the hesthful atmosphere of home.
The only son Of Henry Wilson filed drunkard's
grave, ard Henry Wilson was one of the truest
men that ever stood for the right in the halls of
legislation.
In his own strength and all alone he had tried to
leave off drinking, but failed repeatedly. He at
last found out that he must reform or die; and
when the Auburn Reform Club opened its arms,
he gladly came into the fold. He had also learned
to look up to God, and obtained help from him,
and since then he had sustained. He thought the
most hopeful feature of the reform movement, was
its religious element.
lie then directed few words to the Christian
people Of Augusta-to his own people the Con-
greg ationalists) especially. The reform move
ment cannot be success without the aid and In
huence Of the christian church. When you work
in this cause, you serve the Master; shall we con-
s'der ourselves above the work he did! Our peo-
pie (the Congregatonalists) are Little stiff on
this subject, and considered it STOPPING too much
10 conquer. There are men here whom q kind
word will save. by going to them in the spirit Of
Christ you can rescue them. Let the Christian
church come forward and lend :heir moral support,
and you will have no difficulty in sustaining re-
form club here.
Mr.. y. Laverty related his uulkeness to the prod
igal son, in that while "tare" he came home,
half frozen, and plunged among two fattening
hogs, designing to lie in the middle; but the crea-
lures fed from him in disgust. That's where
liq ior places man. lie may begin at the top
round Of the ladder, but before he IS aware of it
he descends rapidly that even the pigs won't
sleep with him. When be was drinking man he
made good many resolutions to leave oil, but
broke them. He had no one to back him up At
ais mothers death-bed he had solemDly promised
to leave Oft, forever; but in two and half hours
Ne drunk. But with the help Of the iron Clad
pledge and the sympathy Of the brother. Of the
Auburn Reform Cub he had been sustained.
MIR. Ii. f. Rice Of the Auburn club was intro
duced. He said we have lime upon line, precept
upon precept," but still rum is sold. lie
Knowledgen that he had drank to his sorrow. He
tod of the hallowed influence, of his home and
moh.rs love. Breaking ava, from them, he bad
ushed into the dram shop. lie had not drank
wllliully, he knew there was something in the re-
form mov9men ut different and more touching than
anything ne had ever come in contact. though he
christian. He related his reformation
after he came under the influence of the kind
ness of the members. He knew that those who
never drank could not sympa hize with drinking
men-there was no bond OF union between them.
When he signed the pledge, he promised God tba.
every morning on Bonded knee, be would ask him
TO sustain and keep him through the day, and he
had been aloriously sustained.
Mr.. d. S. Kelley, President of the Winthrop Re-
form club, WAS called upon. He made it a practice
to do as be had done when drinking man-al-
ways to respond when JuH Living butten miles
from Augusta, there were many in the hall whom
be knew. Macy time had he come to this town,
and gone home-not b. S. kelley-but disguised
with rum. He had gone home drunk often,
weeping wife and anxious father and mother.
But in the expiring hour of the year 1873 he had
asked God to help HIM and sustain hun in dashing
pieces the cup, and from that time had kept the
pledge and lived the life of q sober man. He
thought on the third time after returning sober
from Augusta he could stand most any temptation,
and not fall The reform club of Winthrop had
been great help to him, and he was laboring ear
nestly as q member. He had thrown away twenty
years of the best part of his life and he urged the
Young men present not to be as foolish as he had
been.
The pledge was then produced. and while the
club and congregation were sing ing and eShorting,
drinking men and those who have drank but re-
Gently, and even those who never drank, and
ladies, came forward and signed the pledge.
Cheers upon cheers were given, and revival songs
sung, until the whole affair assumed the aspect
of q revival with men terribly in earnest. Name
after name was added to the pledge, and the meet
ing continued until about five o'clock. Among
those who signed the iron-clad pledge was Bap-
fist deacon and Methodist steward. Their friends
are no longer solicitous in their behalf.
During the afternoon, at the suggestion Of Mr..
Penney, q collection was taken up to pay some of
the expenses of the meeting
1t was announced that the evening meeting
would be held at Granite Hall, the of the hall
having been kindly volunteered by Col Osgood.
In the evening, the meeting was held in Granite
Hall. On one occasion only has the hall held
such q crowd-when Bishop Simpson preached on
the Sabbath Of the meeting of the Maine Confer
ence in this city, several years ago. Not only
the seats and sisles all packed, every foot Of
space being filled, but We should judge that four
hundred were turned away. After singing, and
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Tden, q few cheering and
enthusiastic remarks were made by Mr.. Tsintor.
He was followed in . most effective and telling
speech by G. D. Barnum. c. c. Frost, Esq, was
then introduced and for three quarters Of an hour
held the undivided attention OF the vast audience
in most eloquent speech, giving particular At
tcntion to the class that drink only moderately,
and whose influence is really on the side Of rum.
After few remarks from Mr.. Mckenzie, an invi-
ta,ion was given to all who desired to sign the
pledge, I'D then began a scene of much interest,
as one after another, some Of them hard drinkers.
came forward and signed the pledges. At the
close of the meeting it was found that lO4 had
signed the iron-clad pledge, and between three
and four hundred the general pledge. A reform
club will be organized next Tuesday evening. The
Auburn reformers must feel grstifed at the mag
nitcent results of their meetings. They have
commenced work, which if carried forward will
lead TO grand results.