The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-23

| awakening of the public conscience to the ne
| cessity of procaimng holy war against this
| threatening public foe and summoning all the
forces OF society to the contest-these are the
ways of promise.
Once more bid you welcome. May this
session of the Grand Lodge, in which you are
participating be marked with enthusiasm and
harmony and ever be pleasing memory to me;
| trust that you and all who are embarked
with you upon this errand of mercy, may
sweep on in strong, steady and confident
| course and come into port grandly, or sail the
seas with Cod
The choir then sang selection, after when
Ex-Governor Sidney Perham welcomed the
representatives in behalf of the order, of which
Grand Lodge of Maine. He commenced by
speaking of the honor conferred the Grand
Lodge of the state by the visit of the body
present. This order is the largest temperance
organization known in the world. Our banner
waves on every continent in the world ana
many islands of the seas. He then spoke OF
the advanced state of the cause of temperance
in this state. There is much more to do, but
the outlook is very encouraging. Public sentl-
ment is with us. The pulpit in general gives
no uncertain sound. The press in general is in
favor of the movement Once temperance
politician was looked upon with doubt, but now
they stand all the better fer that. Now man
who is to be candidate for Office first assures
the people that he is all right on the temper
ance cause. The prohibition law was once
repealed, but the people at the close of two
years adopted it Prohibition is now one of
the fixed laws Of the state, and it is found as
easy to enforce it as any other law. There are
no open bars in the state and if sold at all it is
in very quiet way. In seven-eighths of the
state it cannot be procured at ALL except at the
agencies This result is due to all means COM
bined. The Reform Clubs in the state have
done great work in the past two years. All
the great movements in the West have been
inaugurated by Maine men.
The audience then arose and sang the hymn
beginning "We are living, we are dwelling in
a grand and awful time"
Col. John j. Hickman, the Right Worthy
Chief Templar of the Grand Lodge of the
World, responded to the words Of welcome
which had been extended. This is, he said, the
first time we have been welcomed by prohi-
bitory Governor. 1t seems that there are too
many prohibtory Governors and ex-Governors,
and wish could take some of them to Ken
lucky. In this state there are no stains upon
the statutes which for the sake of money allow
men to deal in poison to their fellow men. We
are welcomed here by those who are chief in
the affairs of the state.
An original poem was then read by Miss
Mary E. Erwin of New York.
Brief ive-minute addresses were then made
by Rev. Mr. Todd of England, Hon. Samuel
D. Hastings of Wisconsin, Tim Needham of
Kentucky, and Rev. Mr.. Patterson of Ireland.
The exercises closed with the singing Of the
welcome hymn by the audience and the
benedictiop, which was pronounced by Rev.
Mr. Winter of Connecticut.
RECEPTION.
Last evening the representatives were ten
dered reception at the parlors of the Falmouth
Hotel by the friends of the order in this city,
Refreshments were served and a very pleasant
social time was epioyed