The Portland daily press., 1876-08-14
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE CAMP
MEETINSs
Saturdays and Sundays Exercises-Fhe
Programme To Day, etc.


Mass, Reform Club, which was gratefully &C.
cepted. Five cars of excursionists came and
the reform club was well represented,
The meeting was full of interest, being car
ried on by men who have had experience in
the bondage of intemperanee.
. Francis Murphy called the meeting to order
and introduced Mr. J. B. SWEET, President of
the Haverhill reform club, who presided dur
ing the remainder of the day. Mr.. SWEET said
he proposed to conduct the meeting in the
same manner as they conducted them in Hav-
hill.
Rev. Mr.. Dinsmore of Haverhill read a pas
sage from the scriptures. He was followed by
Mr.. Williams, Chaplain of the club, who offer
ed prayer.
Mr.. SWEET thee made a few opening remarks
He briefly traced the history of the Hayerhill
reform club. Two years ago it was organized
through the influence of Mr.. j. K Osgood of
Gardiner, Maine. To-day it numbers $780,
When it was first organized there were 200
rum shops in Haverhill. Now Haverhill is
the only eli ty in Massachusetts, which has a
temperance government. Our influence has
been felt from one end of Massachusetts to the
other. The Massachusetts licence law, he
said. was disgrace to the state. There was
day when he felt proud of the Old Bay state,
now he felt Inundated and ashamed of state
which would take blood money in the form of
license. He remembered that there was
Bunker Hill, Lexington. and Concord, and
he felt assured the state of so MAN. revolution
airy scenes would next year wipe Ibis infamous
10 frnn thn ofufa hnn1 I,s
received with great applause.
Brief remarks were made by Mr.. H A. Kim
ball, Mr.. Foster, Mr.. Marble. Mr. Lewis and
Mr.. Hardy, members of the club. These gen.
tlemen were reformed men. In very feeling
manner they related their experience with the
rum bottle. Their remarks were peryaded by
true Christian spirit and were. listened to
with marked attention.
A little girl named Bond then recited in
graceful manner, temperance piece.
While the different speakers were addressing
the audience one old gentleman whose zeal
overcame his discretion, kept interrupting
them by questions as to what they thought of
tobacco. His impertinent interrogatories be-
came subject of general comment and one of
the speakers intimated to him that it was none
of his business.
After few remarks by Mr. Parsons and
Rev. Mr.. Dinsmore, both of HaverhilI. Mr..
Drew of Concord, n. H., spoke. He dashed the
inquisi tive old fellow in manner that con-
vulsed the audience with laughter and made
that gentleman wish he was bundled miles
away. 'We are LIABLE" he said, sin our zeal
for minor things, to overlook and injure the
great cause for which we work." He said that
while on lecturing tour in New Hampshire
one enthusiast would not sign the pledge be-
cause it did not prohibit eating onions, another
because it did not contain something relating
to pull-back dresses. Mr.. Drew made one of
the most powerful addresses of the day. He
has host of excellent s.orIes which he relates
in an;immitabe manner. He strongly re-
minded one of John B. Cough.
In the afternoon about 1000 persons assem-
bled-the smallest afternoon audience of the
camp meeting. Prayer was offered by Rev.
d. G. Babcock of Haverhill, fter which short
speeches were delivered by Messrs. Bond
Sherwood and Boardman, members of the
club. Mrs. Bond of Haverhl then spoke a
few words. She believed in the efficacy of
prayer, the Christians breath. She then said
something about men, and told the audience
that her own husband was better than any
other man she ever knew, a statement which
seemed to please those present immensely.
An original poem of much merit was then
delivered by Mr.. Lewis of Haverhill. The
poem was dialogue defining the position of
reformers by showing the pretensions of those
who p1ofessed to be Christians. 1t was of a
humorous character and was well received
Mr. Noyes Of the Reform Club then arose.
He felt proud, he said, to be an animal in Mr..
Swett's menageris. We are not like other
animals, because they never drank LIQUOR; we
had.
Rev. Mr.. Mllen of Haverhil delivered a
formal address in behalf of the Haverhill
Reform Club. He spoke of the demoralizing
effect of liquor upon the country. By it the
world is robbed of a spiritual, intellectual and
physical force which would be of wonderful
power in the cause of right. The followers of the
wine cup trample under foot everything that is
good Misery, ruin and desolation follow in their
trail. The liquor traffic sends annually 100 900
souls to perdition.
Mr.. Millen's discourse was replete with valu-
able information, and evinced much care in its
composition. AS an argument against the
liquor traffic, it was among the best we have
ever heard.
He was followed by Gov. Perham and others,
who made brief addresses
The m Getting Sunday was adore :sed by DIR.
Reynolds, Rev. Mr.. Boole, Miss Willard and
Mrs. Woman.
To-day is Childreu's day. A large number is
expected.
Tomorrow is Massachusetts day. DR., Rev
nolds, the eminent reformer, will preside The
platform will be decorated in handsome
manner.
To-day's meeting promises to be very large
and of unusual interest.