Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-08-25
Temperanee Addresses.

o. Monday night last an audience, com
posed Of many q the most intelligent aud APP
preci4tiyo ladies and gentlemen OF Charlcstowu
aud lbs vicinity, assembled at d" Charles Wash
ington Hall 10 hear an Address on this mex
Aaustiblc theme, from Hon Geo o. Daven-
port Of Wheeling. The speaker began bis re
marks BY the statement that 10 Lis opinion a
mistaken idea had obtained as to the cure Of
the great evil. Iutemperance. from which 50
many hundreds Of thousands are suffering 10
this and other lands. lie said that it ought 10
Re regarded as q Sin committed in the sight Of
God and The only remedy was that Of all other
sin, The blood Of Christ. Only by repentance,
towards God and faith 10 Ills Son as The a.
touemeut flr bis sin can the druukard be raised
from lis degradation and saved from the aw-
ful consequences Of his crime here and hereaf-
Ter. lie demonstrated by many references TO
liquor laws in various States, and statements
o. their constant and baLi,ual evasion, he Ut
Ter fuiiliiy Of lcgisla,i 70 as a remedial agent
giving Instances Of the most stringent laws in
Maine, Ohio, and our own State being broken
with IMMUNITY, because those who were cogui-
znut Of their violation would not Inform on the
sfeuiers. lie then singled out aad addressed
respectively three classes Of the community
The iabiiual dru1karl, the moderate driuker,
and the total abstaiaer-plsadins with the FIRST
10 seek TIE only refuge f;Jm Lis dreadful hab-
i, putting before the second 10 a strong light
lis responsibility 10 setting to the young
hazardous example, declaring him more dan
gcrous member Of society than the common
stree, druukard on account Of his position as
gentleman and a person Of influence 10 the
community. while the poor sot Of the gutter
serves as a warning 70 the young; and finally
% the total abstinence man % be up and doing,
10 exert more powerful sway over those ex-
posed 20 temptation, 70 jim their societies, sign
their pledges, and try by every means in his
power % lead and assist them 10 the right way.
Al the close Of Mr.. Davenp7rt's lecture, af-
ter I5ul aud continued ;pPhuse, Hon. Z. G.
Cracraft, Of Leeliug, was called, and that
gentleman proceeded to the platform and oc1u-
pied a few minutes 10 a very eloquent ana
lorciJle address, commencing with sketch OF
The remarkable Temperance R.0rmes Murphy
his character and the secret Of his wonderful
success being bis strong sympathy with the
sufferer. AMI mistaken filth 10 tie "possibi..-
ties Of men" lie closed with the rl,oOing
beautiful al,eg5ry used BY the Hon. j. Git
tsuden 10 arguing the case Of client who had
committed a murder w' co under the influence
Of liquor and was on trial for his life: " To the
Eternal Councils q the Almighty, before the
Creation, God called up the three Attributes
who ALWAYS attended the Thr0ne-Tru,b, JUS
tce aud Mercy, aud asked the first Slal.
create man, o Truth q. The answer was:
Create him not. o God, ijr be VIII p5rute
Thy sa1ctuar.es. Thesamc question wa, then
proposed 20 Justice, aud the reply was. Gre
axe him uo,, o God, fJrhe w.l. tample on Thy
laws When at last, Mercy was appealed 70
sl, I'm q. tbe feet Of E.erua, Wisdom. aud
with ewes all filled with tears replied Create
linn. o Father, and viii follow him ia all
Dis paths. aud try to lead him 70 Thee So
t,cuaxim Of The great band Of Temperance Is.
" Malice towards none Charity toa'l"
T.s Euent onoy Of Che speakers was lis
tened to With l-1flal attention, aad called
forth rounds oC applause q, .he clJ.e.