The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-10
FRANCIS MURPHY.
His Reception In Wheeling lecture
at Fourth Street Church Yes
terday-His Audience
Suffused with
Tears.

A large number of the supporters OF
the temperance movement composed OF
the elite of the city, were assembled at
the Fourth Street Church yesterday after.
noon. to welcome Francis Murphy, the
apostle of temperance, to the Nail City,
and as that gentleman passed up the
aisle leading to the pulpit, the clapp'n!g
of hands by the audience announced their
approval.
OPENING THE MEETING.
The meeting was opened by the choir
singing. "Ho.d the Fort" at the conclu.
sion of which Mr.. Geo. 6. Reddick, who
led the meeting, announced the Rev
Manchester, who read from First CORN.
thians, chapter Is. Rev. Long followed
in an eloquent and touching prayer IN
behalf OF the cause, after which
the first and last verses of Mr.. Murphy't
favorlte hymn, II Hear Thy Welcome
Voice." was sung
Mr.. Thomas Hornbrook then stepped
forward, and announcing that no intro
duction was necessary to a people VINO
had 80 successfully taken up his work
presented
FRANCIS MURPHY,
who occupied seat near the pulpit
When the loud applause with which he
was greeted had subsidized, Mr.. Murphy
began his address. He was attired n
faultless black, wore the regulation neck
tie. silvery grey hair and very dsrk
moustsche, and was possessed OF very
modest demesnor. The subject OF hi
remarks was Real Life" and ne had moi
proceeded far into the subject before II
was perceived by all that it was his own
life that he was depicting.
aHIs REMARKS.
Mr.. Murphy said that il was a great
pleasure for him to come here and speak
and he hoped he would have the prayers
of all. He was greatly pleased to meet
the gentlemen who were now at work in
Wheeling; they were Christian gentle
men. and had his entire confidence, and
he hoped that God would keep them
near to US. He did not de
sire to denounce liquor sellers OF
liquor manufacturers, but he de-
sired to win them from the
traffic through kindness and love and by
appealing to their manhood; they had
ewes to see and ears to hear, and it was
for the workers in the cause OF temper
snce to enlighten them that they might
see and hear. The speaker then referred
to "Resl Life" which, he said, contained
stranger stories than fiction ever
dreamed. After sketching in q general
wqy the home of his boyhood's days, and
speaking in rather severe terms of the
poverty which surrounded it, be referred
to the custom of drinking at social gath.
erings in his native land; and then in.
forming the audience that he had no: yet
impaired to them the fact that he was an
freshman, he spoke few words in the
genuine brogue Of true native OF the
Emerald Isle, as though to impress il
torcibly on their minds, and was greeted
with some considerable applause and
laughter. The speaker said that he had
first been under the influence of liquor at
the early age of Ii years, and at the age
of 10 he left his native land for America,
"the land of the free and the home
of the brave" Here heidepicted in the
most touchiag and earnest manner posi-
bic his leave taking with his mother
and was himself deeply affected during
its recital, while at least one-half OF his
auditors were sufiused with tears, and
hundreds of handkerchiefs were lifted to
fearful eyes. He first landed in New
York, where he remained for time, but
becoming addicted to the use of strong
drinks, he babe farewell to the haunts OF
the city, aud sought relief IN the life OF a
farmer, but becoming ennu,ed with this
pursuit, he opened hotel at Portland,
Maine. IN connection with which, despite
the prayers of his wife, he also opened a
saloon for the sale of liquor. But he fell
he again commenced drinking liquor,
and in the course of time his friends had
him imprisoned in Jail, and it was
here that he was saved, through
the instrumentalty of the Rev.
Cyrus Sturtevant, of Portland, a
minister who held religious servl ;es at
the Jail, and who converted him, and he
became q total abstinence man.
THE LEAVE TAhlNG.
Mr.. Murphy being informed that the
hour for his departure had arrived, be
slmmarily closed his remarks, and begun
the work OF taking icMvo with his many
friends, who followed him with sorrow
full eyes as his torva passed down the
aisle toward the doorway. During his
passage down the aisle the people rose
with one accord and extended their
hands to the Temperance apostle" and
while the choir was singing, Francis
Murphy probably received the worst
hand. shaking that had ever been bestowed
on him, men, women and children vieing
with each other to get one last grasp Of
of his hand.
CAPT. JACK (J. W. CRAWFORD,
the poet scout tthe Buffalo Bill company
after the departure of Mr.. Murphy was