The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-07
Citizens Temperance Meeting at Com
Rress Hall.

L
| large audience gathered at Congress Hall
last evening 10 attend the opening of the citi-
zens' temperance meetings. Mr. G. Rich,
| chairman of the committee, called the meeting
| to order and announced the purpose of the
/ meetings. He said that the committee would
| endeavOr to present some Of the best temper
ance speakers in the country during the series
| of meetings, and earnestly urged the Interest
| and sympathy of all friends of the canse 10 be-
half of the success of the meetings. He an
nounced that all the clergymen of the city
| would be invited to take their turn in opening
| the meetings with prayer. Prominent citizens
| would also be invited to preside from time to
time. Fer this evening be announced the fol-
| lowing officers: President, Hon. Augustus
Stevens; Secretaries, E. Leach and George d
Aver.
Mr.. Stevens assumed the duties of the chair
with brief speech, rendering his thanks for
the honor conferred upon him.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. White, and
sipgios followed by the audience.
ExGov. Nelson Dipgley was then inrod uced
He returned thanks to the citizens of Portland
for inaugurating such a series of neetiugs, the
SoOu l0sulbr VI WulCu Will pOEm6dLo tD6 WlOl6
state. He gave some interesting and most start
liog STATISTICS Of the evil growing out of the
liquor traffic. 1t is admitted that the liquor
traffic is the gigantic ''crime of crimes" and
what remedy shall we apply? He proposed to
notice only the moral aspects of the work this
evening. We should all understand the basis
upon which all true efforts must stand. There
can be no permanent success in this reform un-
less all our efforts are based upon the principles
of total abstinence from all that can iutoxicate
These who believe in moderation and restraint
are the ones he would like to reach, and the
ones who must be converted. The shadowy
line of moderation is SO indefinite that it eau
not be followed, and those who drink to excess
are not aware that they too have passed the line
of moderation and reached the abuse If the
young men taking the first glass could clear
ly see the evil consequences arising from the
first glass there might be sone sense in the ar
gument of moderation, but he does not see
where the first glass may lead lin, and of the
delusive character of intoxic tisg liquors We
are told that ia France, where light wines are
freely used there is but little intemperan but
this would be no argument that The same prac-
tice with the Anglo Saxons would have the
same results.
The appetite for strong drink is an acquired
one and it is not true that God has given man
40 appetite for alcohol or that alcohol is a
good creatprs of God In this effort there
should be but one voice, one purpose, to labor
unitedy to fix the habits of the young who are
SO soon to take our places,-to work through
the church and through EVIL ~ chanpel that will
help educate the public conscience, He made
an esroest appeal to mothers not to neg ect
the educai IN of their little ones upon thi. sub
jet. They have most import ant mission and
when mothers do their duty toward their ii tie
ones, they will find that the ripe fruit will be
such as they and all the world " il be proud Of
Wherever he went be was glad TO proclaim
himself citizen of the old Pine Tree state, so
far ahead of all other states in this reform. A
great work has been accomplished, but much
more is to be done. and we need the help and
Influence of every one to prosecute the good
work to a final triumph
Mr.. Dipgley's remarks were listened to with
the closest attention. He made q most eIo-
quept address and our synopsis falls far short
of doing him justice.
After singing Mr.. R. W. Dunn of Water
vile was introduced and made most elo-
quent appeal for the cause and for the good
work which the reformed men were doing.
The meeting was great success and the au-
dience was composedllargely Of our most iuflu-
entail citizens.
Tomorrow evening tx-Gov. Perham and
others will address the meeting.