The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-22
The Murphy Temperance Movement in
Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Mr.. EDIToH.-Your readers have
doubtless, long ere this, been made
aware of the general working of the
so called Murphy Movement" which
has so interested the people in the
western counties of our Common
wealth during the past few months; of
its Inauguration at Pittsburg of the
small body of earnest Christian and
other workers being awakened to the
enormous extent which the vice of
Intemperance had assuined in their
midst, meeting together and resolutely
determining to do all in their power
to aid in arresting its further progress
and averting the many dire evils
which always attend it of their sue
cess in securing as leader in their
work Mr.. Francis Murphy who had
then risen to some prominence as a
Temperance Orator of their first pub
lie meeting and the unhoped for in
terest that was there manifested of
Mr.. Murphy's memorable words at its
| close when he said "Pittsburgh is
ours;' of the great and mighty work,
there commenced being carried for
ward until thousands, yea tens of
thousands, have placed their names
upon the pledge of total abstinence
ard released themselves by one solemn
word from bondage in itself the
most terrible and degrading. Of it's
wide spread influence throughout
Nenahgo, Erie, Butler and Crawford
counties, but of course, this knowledge
can only be general to most of you,
and thinking that few words from
an eye witness to the actual working
of this great reform movement, eX-
planning their manner of action and
at the same time stating some of the
immediate results attained, might be
of interest to your readers, / pen this
hurried article. 1t was my privilege
to be in Titusville, the Metropolis of
the Oil Regions, Mt the time of its
inauguration there, and was permitted
to attend the large mass meetings
which were held nightly in the
Opera House, under the direction OF
Prof. Evans of Pittsburgh, member
of the "Murphy" Executive Com
mittee. The meetings are based on
religious principles although entirely
devoid of sectarianism. Calvinists
Weslyans, Episcopalians and Ro.
manists are together interested in the
great work, indeed, the controlling
and underlying power of the move
ment seems to lie in the three prom.
inent words which stand out on the
pledge in clear bold type. God
Helping me-" The meetings are al.
ways opened with Prayer and Scrip
tural Reading, showing that the lead
ers rest for their ultimate triumph
wholly on the help which may be
given them from above. After tho
opening exercises Mr.. Evans makes q
short pithy address, brimful of love tc
the fallen and degraded and earnes
desire for their redemption, lie pleads
with his whole soul for the cause, a
times almost reaching forward to th'
audience and plucking lost men a
"brands from the burning in the in
tensity of his desire for their rescue
He knows into what depths tn,
drunkafd has fallen and upon wha
dangerous ground the mQderat,
drinker stands, having spent the bes
part of his life as a victim of the fata
cup, and can sympathize fully will
those who now are clasped tightly
with the fearful fetters of intemper
ance closing invariably with an earn
est and direct appeal to all to come for
ward and sign the pledge and whil
some familiar hymn is being sung a
"Hold the Fort" or "Rescue the per
! ishing" the aisle begins to fill will
men and women anxious to be first OF
? the Temperance Roll of Honor, an,
every other moment the house vii
ring with cheers as some poor fallel
) drunkard goes up, with faltering steI
: and with trembling hand, places hi
name to the Pledge. Often, if wei
: known, he is invited on the stage {