The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-12
MRS. TiN COTT's NEW WORK.
She Advocate. Total Abstinence In Her Ea-
thusiastic Manner.

Probably the largest temperance mass
meeting held in this city within the last twenty
five years was that which yesterday afternoon,
under the auspices of the American Temper
ancc Union. crowded the hall OF Cooper Union
Nearly every Protestant temperance society In
New York. Brooklyn. and Jersey City was
represented by delegations. An overflow meet
ing was held In Science Hall, in Eighth street.
The remarkable attendance was secured partly
10y special invitations extended to societies but
mainly by the publication of the fact that the
Widow Van Colt would I've one Of the speakers.
An American 6ag was draped on the desk at
which she stood. and revcrently gathering its
folds in her hands. she prayed that God would
speed the time when the star spangled banner
should indeed wave over the land OF the free-a
land Tree from the influence OF such places as
the Tribune. rum shop-a land free from the
When die" continued the widow, i" want to
BE- wrapped up i9 the American flag. want
want to be buried with the glorious stars and
stripes enfolding my dead body-but do not
want to die while the nag is stained with the sins
folds 5 ;! W''neu cream 0''0f' IL" 'H'e'0peo III It's
The Widow denounced In strong terms the
use of wine for communion services in the
churches and said: " was present once when
the wine and bread were passed around. Among
the communic.lItS was an old gray headed man.
who had once been an tnchrlnte, but had re-
formed i watched him to see whether he would
take or refuse the cup. ! prayed God TO save
him from the temmationn. The clergyman
reached the cup TO him. The old man had the
resolution to say. No. cannot take it, and my
heart honored him for his resolution. May the
time come when no preacher in the land Will
put the intoxicating cup 10 his neighbors lips"
The temptation to conduct temperance
meeting on the plan OF a rel ligious revival meet
ing was greater than Mrs Van Colt could with
stand. After she had repeated the poem con-
tanning the words.
"T-l me I hate .he how'll
Hate Is feeble wordi"
she made fcrvent prayer In behalf Of the
Temperance cause Then, in the same manner
with which she IL wont to call sinners 10 re-
" Now want every person in this audience who
loves the temperance cause Ia hold up the right
hand. Now, hold them uphold them uphold
them upl" Thrcc..quartcrs Of the people raised
Widow; so far SO good. That will do Put
down your hands" She looked on the audience
refectiVely for few seconds. as II debating in
her mind the feasibility of her next move.
Then she said: Now. II you please. let every
man. woman. and chi ID who Will pledge To total
cowardly---put them ,upI,up-up." At this point
some OF the assembly dsapprovingly quit the
hall: but many raised their hands. Glory 10
God" exclaimed Mrs. Van Cott and then she
repeated. in n voice more mas 'nlne than frmi-
nine in tone. and with great solcmnty, the
American Temperance Union. adding, Tho
religion Of Jesus and Temperance 20 hand in
hand. Let Ms sing All hail the power of Jesus
name" The Temperance Glee Cluh on the
platform began the hymn. and III" thousands
Of voices in the S"mblage joined in with cpn-
siderably more noise than harmony. Mrs. Van
Coti was greeted with much applause and "a few
hlsses.