The daily gazette., 1878-04-02
FOURI III EDITION
The M. 3. h. A.
PUBLIC MEErING-ADDREss BIZ EDMUND
ID. FRAZER.

PUBLIC MEETING-ADDREss BIZ EDMUND
tAl b. FRAZER.
The usual public meeting of the M. 3
r. A. was held in the rooms Third and
King streets, last evening, and was
largely attended. The feature of the ex-
ercises was an address by Edmund b.
Frazer, Esq, who spoke for an hour in
general advocacy of the temperance
cause.
In his opening remarks, Esq. Frazer
related number of humorous incidents
all of which had come under his personal
knowledge, and most of them illustrating
the benefit of temperance principles
They were well rendered, and created
much merriment
The main portion of his speech was
devoted to an argument favoring the ad-
vocacy OF the temperance cause on the
sound, sure and successful basis of moral
suasion. He showed that the main OBJ
ject of the NJ. s. H.. A., was to induce
men to, sign the pledge, and to use every
honorable means to help them keep it,
So far this plan had been highly success
full, and a strict adherence to it would re-
tain for the Association the respect of
the entire community.
The speaker next referred to the pc
culiar views and expressions made use of
by many temperace speakers, and scath-
ingly rebuked the prevalent custom of
lightly calling upon the Almighty to
bless this, that and everything, in the
most frivolous and careless manner. 1t
has tendency to lessen the respect and
reverence due the name of the great
Creator. He held that God suffered
temptation to enter into the world, and
that it would continue so long as sin ex-
listed, and that the law of admonition
and persuasion, as laid down by Christ
and His pnnGtlaG xxas affaatitra in,
keeping out of temptation than all the
threats, restraints and stringent punish
ments that some temperance people de-
sire to force upon all who do not think
as they do.
The attempts to break up and destroy,
by forclble means, the liquor traffic, We're
next referred to and condemned as being
unwise and impracticable. The surest
means to effect this end is to reclaim the
drunkard and persuade men to drink no
more. The man who goes to his last
judgment seat, with no other plea for
salvation than the statement that he had
all the rum sellers put in prison, will
have small assurance of salvation. The
duty of relieving the widows and or
phans, lifting up the fallen, loving your
enemies and doing good unto them that
hate you, all of which are divine in
functions, will not have been followed
~ tiiio SttSCt anu tiic pIUd VI
the rum seller will not avail.
In conclusion, the speaker said: My
friends, am free to say that we who
have the interests of this cause at heart
should be very careful not to infringe
upon the rights and privileges of our
fellow citizens and tax papers. We are
not accountable or responsible tor the
manufacture or sale of Intoxicating
liquors. A portion of our citizens might
as well be held accountable for the raw
ages fthe potato bug, or for the storm
that leaves ruin and devastation in its
track My opinion is that any class le-
gislation in relation to any mode of wor-
ship, or any laws passed imposing upon
taxpayers unjust and unequal licenses
for conducting any trade or business, are
not in conformity with our free govern
ment. l believe that we, as temperance
men, should attend to the things that be-
long to tho temperance cause, and use
our best endeavorS at all times to live at
peace with our fellow-citizens, accord
ing to Others all the rights and privileges
which we enjoy in following or conduct
ing any trade or business we may see
proper to engage in. BY so doing | be-
lieve the cause which we are advocating
will prosper with such Steadfastness and
good feeling that the results OF our labors
will astonish all those who stand aloof
and turn deaf ear to Moral Suasion.