New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-28
SUPPRESSION or VfCE.

PUBLIC NETTING or THE SOCIETY ORGANIZED WITH
THAT OBJECr-RFPoRr or TIE AGENT Alb
DRESSES BY WILLIAM L. DODGE, TIE REV. DIR.
TUtkER THE HON. STEWART l.. wOoDFoRD, AND
oTHEEs.
The New York Society for the Suppression OF
vice held it. first public meeting last evening at ASs0cia
u.nIIall "A large! a.semblage, including Mayor Wick
ham, and many gentlemen prominent IN politics ana IN
commercial circles being present eyious TO this pub
lie mertin the society held its annual business meeting,
AT which Barnes presided The report OF Treasurer
Patton the amount Of subscriptions TO be $50 3D.
and tho bal ance due 70 the Treasurer ~ 295 OIL The
following officers elected for the ensuing year:
samuel Colgate. President A. >. Barnes, h. NJ kng--
ley and s. u. Duryca. Vcc-Presidehts; Anthony Com
stock Secretary: John Patton, Treasurer Tho public
meeting WA, opened by the election of William L. Dodge
~ chairman. and prayer 10y the Rev. Dr. Sabine The
reading OF the annual report Of Mr.. ton+tock showed
the following figures, illustrating the work accom-
plished 10y the society: Arrests previous To
and during 1873. 1913: persons discharged 10y
committing magistrate. II; discharged by Jury, 3;
convicted or pleaded guilty 1886 sentenced, 90; SEN
fences suspended 10 persons absconded. Il; disagree
mcnt. by jury, convicted on second rid IL amount oi
bail bonds forfeited during 1873. $500; total amount
to date. $4,000 total amount OF fines imposed S"3l'o
book, seized and destroyed. l2,l0l; improper pictures
and photographs seized and destroyed, 2Ol.OOO. lhe
report contained many other statistics. including the
statement that Mr. Comstock added. that hye
assaults had been made upon the agents III"
while in the prosecution of his work Oh the persons
arrested % were Iiishncn. 26 En.shnen, 81 Amer
cau. If Canadians IL Germans. q Fr"nrhmen, span
lard, italian African. Polish Jew BaVariah' ana
| SrOtchmi".
Mr. Dod."t then addressed the meeting brief remark
r that II must DO one OF the characteristics of This
that individuals are raised up by Providence look
after particular matters In which. ~ dtl1ens, all
are deeply Interested. and which they have felt pOwcess
to control Mr.. Dodge spoke IN Hattcrns terms of be
devotion this that mad been shown by the agent
IN. sori,ty Mr. Com.tock wherever there il good
Mr. Dodgo said there evil alway-he found lurking
and when engaged in dihu-ing Information
through our literature To the young and inexperienced
the doy crecps after and makes use Of our own weapons
and means We know very well that unless We protect
the foundations OF virtue the whole edihce must tumble
and We are here tonight To AJAX oursey what. as ind
yduil a. parents citizens. ought to do To sustain
This work and II possible to frown down and drive away
those H. the diffusion OF this terrible Literature
The Rev Dr. Tucker wa. the speaker. one great
difficulty he thought las IN the fact that people under
estimate the real practical power Of individual workers
According to the report comparatively small humber
III men Of somewhat less than average intellect abiiy
and energy. had been arr ,cd but When II Was con
-idcrcd how these men mignt put iorlh al
their energies go the circulation ana di'a'mlna
uon Of thousands OF corrupt books and 10 the
influencing thereby OF almost an equal ninbc OF the
youth OF this country, they would be iouhd To De
power huge enough to make the entire community trrm
ole with apprehension. Again. these men arc sng the
very HAT Christians and good people nave
b nj M for tie defense Of society and IT. security Ia tie
ACCOMPLISHMENT of their nrfrlous designs the phbHc
schools, -ennaTirs and colleges To when agents hll
been To procure cddor OF nance, ANA llls make
the way plain for the di-i,uutun among The students o
both sexes of indecent publications.
The Hon stewart |. Moudfurd. being invited 10 speak,
reminded the audience that II WIS no governmental
ag,ucy simply that could would accomplish this great
work. II could not safely be lct To the police or the
nc Al magisiracy cities, Tor the beginnings OF the eva
in its mo. fatal forms lay where they could not tourh
them Nuu must. lac said. pursue those men just ~ on
would rats without mercy. would rather la my hoy
and .rl were brought home tO me c"rpars thIn That
these terrible suggestions OF wrong should enter
tncr boHoms. Applause We must sustain ms
work by practical contribution. Tie cliy au
ihor,tics are likely Ia vote MS very niue
money. Tho brothcls and Yoggeii's lie 600
near the ptiuar aud too close 10 ia" sources Of our
dominant political power IN tins ciiy and III Biook or
H. To poet ncip from them lApptu't Inc CHRISTIAN
men OF NeWYurk must take hold Ia make the Work sue
cc>-iu -.-
Edward Colgate and the Rev Dr. Tying. IT., who came
LATE also addressed tie meeting briefly, t"e lattf speak
ing with especial of his own ministerial tNpcrrnc"
among tarc. where had been terribly injured ana
drbauchrd by the spreading plague ol corrupt KNOW
| edge Dr. Iyng equally lorclplo III MS cans
for subscriptions and successful enough 10 obtain nearly
$1,000 within - minutes. Mayor Mlckham subscribed,
| and being invited step upon the PLATFORM ntht a
.r-e speech which he bore evidence Ia the ihthi-
mes, OF the agent of the society expressed his nearly
concurrence with the objects aud Work Ui tho rot'
and badc u,l--pord In It's efforts MI NOhlNlo'h ne
-crhrd n few ~ the ways IN which indecent literature
| was disseminated and the meeting then separated