Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-23
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
ICos1RIpurEp ny THE EWouvs'sTExPERAscEU UNION. J


THE TEMPERANCE NOhh-
Miss Francis Willard, in sour Union
"gives some account of Francis Murphy, and
the wonderful work he has been doing In
Pennsylvania. "In November last she
saws: by invitation of Chancellor Woods, OF
Pittsburgh, Pa, Mr.. Murphy went to "the
smoky city, where he has now been hold
ing meetings about twelve weeks. 1t IS safe
to saw that never, in L history of the tenn
perance reform, has s. much been achieved
in so brief space. One hundred saloons
have been closed for want OF patronage one
| hundred husbands and wives, separated
through strong drink, are reunited. sixty
thousand (mostly drinking mem have sign
ed the pledge, and sixty per cent. OF these
have become Christians. The movement has
included all classes. Lawyers, manufac-
turers. business men, mechanics, laborers
have all taken their stand on the common
platform of a blessed deliverance. Immense
crowds gather nightly in the thirty different
meetings held in the twin cities of Pitts
burg and of Allegheny and their suburbs.
The noon prayer meeting, numbering twenty
four hundred. is thronged-persons coming
as nearly as 10 q. m, to secure seats. The
meetings are all earnest and spiritual.
Prayer, Bible Reading. Gospel Songs, and
Testimony" are delightfully."- intermlngled.
Mr.. Murphys favorite-hynn is, 81 hear
Thy Welcome Voice." and blessed is,the in
spiration as these great audiences of newly
redeemed souls roll out their chorus
81 am COMM. Lord!
Coming now to Thee"
In presence of scenes like these-partici-
pated in by all classes-taking place in
United Presbyterian and Episcopal churches
as naturally as in any others-we are sure
to ask, Nv hat is the secret of this abound
ing lite where all was dead beiore?" Well,
first of all, the presence and power Of Gods
Spirit. And, after that, upon the human
plane AN explanation is found in the fact that,
though, as an individual believing in pro-
hibition, Mr.. Murphy, as reformer, deals
purely in moral suasion, and urges only
religious motives. He says: II feel
that it is my mission to first break up
the soil and plant the seed. We must do
this before we can have blossoms and fruit.
So We must first get mems eyes open and
Een's heart tender.
On every pledge he offers, Mr.. Murphy
has printed with malice toward none /;
with charity for ALL" This is the key note
of his work.
lie is not a remarkable speaker. There
is great room for improvement alike in his
logic, his rhetoric, and his grammar. But,
through the gentleness of Christ given him
in answer to constant prayer, he has, be-
yond most persons whom We meet
"a heart at leisure from itself
To soothe and sy mpathizo."
lie believes in people-trusts thcm-loves
them. For each and all alike-for the dirty
little arab of the street, the old negro, the
red-iaced rum seller, the gifted lawyer, the
elegant lady-Mr. Murphy has a kinly
smile, friendly hand, a brothers heart.
The same paper contains an article relat- |
ing to the Reformed clubs lately formed |
through the efforts of DR.. Reynolds in
Michigan. These Reformed Clubs" are
entirely of men, all over eigh-
teen years Of age, and all having drank to
greater or less extent. Hundreds, besides |
these, sign the same total abstinence pledge.
Men, women, and children, by scores, doing
this at every meeting: but the "Redribbon
men" compose the Reform Clubs.
When DR.. Reynolds came to Michigan, he
was known to very few, and our people
nave been so often deceived that they were
slow to receive him; and his first month
was time Of patient waiting and some
rial after coming from the full tide of sue
,ess in Massachusetts.
But this was not long. The story of the
work at Adrian, Monroe, and jackson, as
we'll as some lesser towns, went over the
state and now, the opera houses and halls
'annot hold the throngS who meet him as he
,oes from city to city.
1t is impossible to give figures, for there
re additions every DAY Of hundreds in the
state, and the climax of enthusiasm is by no
means reached in any town while DR.. R. is
here.
In jackson, Sabbath evening, February
lth, two months after the organization of
he Club, Union Hall was so packed tLat
he galleries settled and were cleared, and
hundreds could not gain admittance.
As the result Of ten days work in Saginaw
'alley at the three cities-Bay City,
saginaw City, and East Saginaw, the clubs
lumber about three thousand men.
From there DR.. R. went to Lansing, our
yapital, and at the first signing, 245 joined
he Club, which is far up in the hundreds
ow.
The last and greatest victory is Detroit.
'low, critical conservative, staii, not-any-
Detroit.
Friday and Saturday night there were
rowdet houses. Sabbath afternoon, .
90 men together, and club of 345 formed
abbath evening, no room could hold the
,eople, and the club reached nearly 900.
t is safe to say to-day that thousand men
D the CITY of Detroit are wearing the red
ibbon"