Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-04-24
Anniversary Of West Hate.viIIc Reform

Anniversary Of West Wase.viIIc Reform
Club.
The first anniversary Of the West Watervle
Reform Club commenced, on Sunday morning
last with praise meeting, at nine o'clock, opened
by prayer by Mr.. Savage of North Anson, follow.
ed by a grand experience meeting, which was
made veiy interesting by the following speaker:
Opening remarks by IL. ii. Nickerson, President
of the club, and the reading of letter from Mr.
Mccartney, first President of the club, regre tting
his inability to be present at the anniversary; still
he was with them in spirit, and felt more deter
mined the good effects of Temperance, and his
ability to keep the pledge, with Gods help j. II.
Higgins of West Watery lille, said he but
year old as far as the temperance pledge is con-
cerned. 5. A. Nye of Fairfield, President of the
Fairfield club, said his club were earnest and de-
termined in the work. 1t can only be carried on
successfully by signing the pledge and standing
boldly for the cause. Let us all sign the pledge
and 90 GU. in love for the fallen and shall feel
better every day. lie had never felt so well as he
had since signing the pledge. lie had suffered
Sufficiently from the effects of rum to make him
eligible to the iron-clad pledge. Mr.. Gahon of
North Anson, said he had been kept from the evil
effects of rum by the efforts of kind friend in
his early days. lie should always stand for total
abstinence. Frank kenrick of Fairfield, reioced
with the club on this their first anniversary.
Stephen Bennet OF North Anson, hal formerly
the fences than to walk the distance. lie signed
the pledge year ago, and with the help of God
he would always keep il.
The afternoon meeting was held at two o'clock.
| and opened by prayer by Frank Bodish of North
Anson. 5. Is. Iutchings of North Ansop, made
a humorous speech, urging the grating in of all
the scions represented by the temperance organ
izations until the life should be sapped out of the
old tree of intemperance. Calvin Sawyer of
Madison, had kept the pledge. Mr.. Harris of
Euir rfolA ha1 1sltr hn MI ,ltra siy
and enjoyed keeping it. Would always be true.
lie was building a house, few years since, and
| after he had dug the cellar and stoned it,
night he lost it. Some day he would explain how
the thing was done. John +. Clary of Embden,
| said that twenty six years he had most severely
felt the power of rum; had taken more comfort
since he had signed the pledge than ever before.
Mr. Walker OF Embden, thought it was the duty
| OF all men to put their names to the iron-clad
pledge. Mr.. Baker of Norridgcwock, said that
IN his drunken life he had got drunk that there
was death, an inquest and a funeral in the house
before he had walked up. He compared those days
OF misery with the present days OF pleasure. MIR.
Nickerson of West Waterville, related a circum-
| stance that occurred in New York, OF man who
| had po food for two days, and who had begged
| ten cents to buy rum, instead ti food. Nj. i.
| Hale OF Morn dgewock, sa d that forty or fifty
years ago Norridgewock had Rum, Religion and
Law-which had been her curse: but now look
| out for her club, which was bound to be the ban
ner club. Mr. Crosby, President of the Norridge-
| wock Reform club, charged his brethren to hold
| fast, and let seek out the fallen and induce
them 10 sign the pledge. He compli.nented the
ladies of his town for the part they had taken in
| the work. Mr.. Berry of Winthrop was very hap
| py to be present. The Winthrop club has six
| hundred names on both pledges. and is the banner
club. Warren Cole of FAN field, had signed the
pledge year ago, and was proud to say had kept
| it, Had hard time coming out of the woods,
bat had finally triumphed. Z. McIntire OF
| Fairfield, glad to be present and
express himself in favor of temperance reform.
Z. NJ. Lpce of AnsoD, had saved one man by
| taking him into his family and kindly caring for
| him. Augustine Simmons of the Fairfield Re-
| form Club, said that our duty to others rsqures
| that we sign the pledge, and we cannot do our
whole duty without identifying ourselves with this
great reform. lie urged activity in behalf of the
| downfa,len, in imitation of the Ssviour's exam
pie. Define your position by putting your name
| on the ron-c lad pledge, and pleasantly greet and
take your brethren by the hand. lie made
strong appeal to the people to sign the pledge and
keep it.
| MIR. Nickerson said the West Waterville club
was organized year ago by the Fairfield and
North Anson cl ubs, with forty names on the il on
clad pledge. Since that time l0I have been ad-
ded. Some have broken the pledge and some
have gone away, but on the whole the club is in a
prosperous condition: When talked of at first it
was said there were not drinking men enough to
| fill the Offices. But they soon found enough for
very respectable club. All honor to the ladies