Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-15
Grand Temp rance Rally of ,he Reform

1
| Club.
The first large meeting of the season under the
auspices Of the Augusta Temperance Reform
Club, was held at Granite Hall, yesterday after
noon. The ladies of the Christian Union mani
Tested their deep interest by taking seats upon the
platform. large number being present. The
hail was well fl He'd.
| There was singing by the choir connected with
the club, at intervals during the exercises.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Adams, after
which President Frank Gaslin made few re-
marks, hoping that the meeting would lead to a
| revival of interest He could say for himself
that he had found great benefit in signing the
| pledge.
Billy German Of Boston, was then introduced,
| and proceeded to relate his experience, which
was simply dreadful in many of its phases. lie
| had received the education of the streets, and
| knew from bitter experience what fum could do.
HIS parents were fore gners, habltuated to the use
of intoxicating liquors. They thought it no dis
grace to drink. His father was tailor in Gal
way, Ireland, and from thence came to New
Iotk city, where Bill ~ was born. His father came
| to Boston, to find foothod, and located IN that
| Infamous den, North street. There be was reared
and came up from early infancy. At the age Of
| seven years he was intoxicated in the streets of
Boston, and arrested for insulting people, and put
| into the station house. His father used to drug
him, and spend his time in gambling hells, al
| though he had said when sober that his children
| should never suffer from his drinking habits. lie
and his mother and sister slept IN little attic on
| straw. With basket on his arm he used to beg
| from door to door. Often meeting with repulse,
| and tainted with being drunkard's son, he re-
solved not to beg any more, but joined an assoc-
| alton of criminals as an assistant. lie was edu-
Gated in the principle that the man who stole the
most money, was the best fellow. AT the age Of
| 8 IL years he sent TO Deer ISLE and was two
years there, Had drunk Immediately on CON-
ing out. His father died, and this followed
by old-fashioned wake. Ills fathers body was
laid upon the floor, and Billy, blnd drunk, laid
| down beside the corpse; and the poor mother
| in Jail. The loving mother is now living, and
has signed the non -clad pledge, which she faith
| fully keeps lie became connected with an asso-
| citation of pocket thieves formed in Boston, for
breaking and entering stores. In his high hand
| ed career OF crime, he was arrested for highway
robbery and attempt to kill, and sentenced to five
| Yeas in the State Prison. He related the good
| mpres received from the advice and entrea-
| ties of convict who died IN prison, and who had
| previously been Billy companion in crime. He
| signed the pledge in prison, on the 22d Of No
| vember, 1874 and, by the help of God, had kept
1t. lie soon walked forth from the prison, free
man, with determination to earn an honest living,
but under great discouragements, as people didn't
want to hire a Jail bird. People had prayed for
| him, but they refused to help him. AT last he
va. taken up by an old maid land he would say
| Thank God for old maids!') who gave him
| home for year. Ii surprised people that she
| trusted Billy German, but she said that "some-
| body had got to try him., and moved right for
| ward in her christian duty. He had come ont in
to the glorious freedom of temperance, and want
| ed all to experience its benefits.
MIR. German told his story IN vivid manner,
| that greatly moved his audience, who roundy APP
| plsuded b i'm at the close.
Mr.. Eustis of the Faneuil Hall Market Reform
| Club, formerly OF DIXfed, spoke next. for ten or
| fifteen minutes For more than twenty years he
bad drank intoxicating liquors. The habit had
taken from him position, friends and wealth. But
| IN a town IN Oxford County he had signed the
| pledge, and the greatest blessing that had ever
come to him, had come through the keeping of
that iroD-clad pledge. There came constantly
yelling up from his heart, thanks for the infll-
| ence of those who had led him TO take the step.
When the end OF life came, he trusted it might be
said of him, ole kept the pledge lie urged
fathers and mothers to exert correct home in
tluence, to rivet principles that will endure.
There are sweet and tender lines, which read
"Down in the human heart,
| Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by loving heart,
Weakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more"
So he would urge all to strive and save the fal.
len, and restore the image of manhood that had
been lost. Mr.. Eustis is an impressive and logi.
cal speaker.
After several had signed the pledge, the meet
| ing adjourned TO evening.
The hall was crowded to its fullest capacity In
| the evening. PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr..
Dearborn. Mr.. German continued in the relation
of his experience. lie was followed by Mr.. Es-
| tes After this Mrs. Quinby and Mrs Haskell OF
| the Christian Union, made some pointed remarks,
| the latter urging mothers to do their duty Mr.
b. 5. Kelley OF Winthrop, an earnest laborer and
| effective speaker in the temperance cause then
addro ssed the meeting at considerable length, and
| to great acceptance The hearts of the members
| of the club and others were rejoced 10 have
names attached to the pledge, and to see some
who had once signed renew their obligation.
Everything orderly meeting on Sun
| day evening at any of the church vestnes. The
meetings were highly successful in every respect,