New-York tribune., 1878-11-21
FRANCIS MURPHY'S WORK

INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND INTFEPsr
THE LARGEST AND MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ,f,.ynyo
YET HELD-AN uNUsUM NUMBER s!GS rnv
PLEDGE.
| Heavy rains do not seem to dampen N.
Murphy's enthusiasm or to thin his audiences IN n.
the public interest appears to be growing Yrs,cr,a
although the weather showed OF severe rain.
several hundred persons gathered to tie noon mo
in the Seventh Street NJ r. Church Many iramrs y,e
| present. Back in the dim corners OF the bnid,n
crouched in tattered garb who looked however !.
| though they had known better days, and had no,
drowned in drink all desire to return their for,s
state. The siDg gng was conducted with the usual fv,o
| by Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Murphy directed eyery
Of the service with great gustO Prayers were a.
fered for drunkards, Tor the wives and children q,
| druDkards, and for reporters.
shabby, whitenaired man tottered TO the platform
aud with palsied hand scrawled few lenOle cbara
ters In the pledgeboOk. " Ladies and gentlemenD h.
began IN broken but refined accents, "my there
lowe 1t TO Mr. Murphy that have been led from the
delusOn OF drink The singing has cheered me mos
than anything else i'll my new resolves My father wa.
one Of the wealthiest merchants IN Dublin aud am
proud to have been born in the country friend
Murphy. 1 seize your hand with Joy, sir." Here be
turned took Dir. Murpbys hand in his own with
nervous grip. and burst into tears.
81 have signed the pledge this week, and want your
pravers" said laboring he stepped the front
am now of to my work, and may tall II You DOM
hold me up" God be with you, brother" was the
hearty response that from various parts OF the
| church as the workman went his way
Mr.. Murphys anecdotes terse and pointed 81
once went home with prodigal In Philadelphia" hs
said. alter two hymns that offered Divine mercy had
been sung. " It ~ O'Clock night A storm wa
raging. We reached the door. 1t was closed. The win
dows were dark rang the bell and upper window
opened. The prOdgas father there. Is that you
Jimmy Yes, father Where is your key, my boy
I've lost ftp Wait moment and I'll drop you one
In few seconds that was safe in his fathers
you. It is the pledge. Let take you nome"
The meeting closed with the sad testimony Of feeble
and respectable man, whom Mr. Murphy addressed AZ
| Ny beloved" and whom he supported tendery.
There was great crowd at the evening service Peo
pie stood In all parts OF the church and large number
went away unable to get standing room. The prooon
Gn OF men IN tH9 & y S Rcr was W Wye large Intro
ave have to ASK" said Mr.. Shafer, that gentlemen
wOnt make spttOOns OF the pews, and have 10 an.
nounc"-" Al this int tall lean man, with a brogue
as broad a. his brow was narrow, tried drown the
| speakers voice He persisted in hs efforts aud for
time the excitement was intense The man finally
| elected. " nave to announce resumed Mr. sIaier
| tnat on Sunday evening next We shall occupy The
| Cooper Union Hall Loud applauseI The admission
! will be 10 cents" lFerble apDanse
MT. aud Mrs. Wilson then sang The Temperanee
! Snip" Captain Cyrus S'urdiyant came forward and
! told with great patbos his rescue OF Murphy from
drinking habits. lie broke into teaIs, and many fol-
| lowed his example. a man staggered forward and
! signed the pedge. He tried To grasp Mr.. Muphys
NU,
be a good boy-tuen I'l -hshe hands with YOU"
After a recitation fro LongLelow by Mr. Murphy
f. brought forward He was said TO belong 70
an old Springfield family he said. IN substance: "Mr
| Nurnh. 10 Springfield a stranger. lie found me
slave drink and he delivered me frOm the bondage
OF tle many friends he has in Springfield
made nv MS gallant work claim To De the most at
A,xlndcr Cooper. OF Pittsburg Penn, genial IRISH
man. next took up the tale. Wien he looked at Nr
soual appearance dazzled him. lie said: " | was an
awful Grumkard. used TO lie about drunk on logs, and
was Just helpless as they. One nigEt Nj. Murphy
spoke al tbe Opera House my city. He saw me THE
back OF ban, and he came right 70 me through tbs
black coats and clean iaceS An he saved me- may
God reGuite hm" Mr. Cooper afterward was very eR
| ergrtc Ia the rush at the pledge rabies.
up his face. - Let tell you, boys" he cried. ta.
wor, i tor liquor dealers well a. liquor drinkers
aud OF ealing them GOOD fellows. Wei, Know yOa
can't catch he' with vinegar; you want molasses
! men with good feelings as the best OF US
| Bat when men 20 mo tnfir saloons and
! set 'em up! Set 'em mp? Why they wouldn't be bu
man If hey didn't DO trade II is night Aere that We
lager helps to keep them Opon and want 10 begn the
work az these abes. show yourselves men. The rag.
gedest among you can boast likeness TO God, andl
want you 10 preserve that likeness once ladies wore
biz, awkward hoops that they had 70 talk TO each
lines aud have stepped them. Now boys, drinking
separates you from your fellows, want yon to drop
small saE bouquet was handed Mr. Murphy by adnTeT
He thrn vucifcrdted Z" The whole congregation VIII
rise and 70 u-Sigung the pledge" tGreat applause
! and duguttrI . A., -,
TIc scene hat eusucd bcggars desc ipon. Men, BOYS
and women came forward b, hitleS Ine whole ASSEM-
blaze arose lis cy and many persons STOOD upon tue
seats one drunken. beaf-eyet man came uptO Mt Nur
phy took the III ket for water and promised TO cal agaa
Tomorrow There ~urgng aud sobJug ana shOutlug
rhis il the glorious meeting we have had' said
the pastr of the church. None seemed reluctant and
many OF those who signed re OF Ihe better classes
One man with a bOated face was proof against Ar.
Murphy, tntrcatics. Another man, ts,ed, came
10 take the pledge, hut refuse to sign lie held up MS
nsht hand aud repeated tac Loru's Player Al TINS
point a disturbance Occurre in the IA icrts which had
the effect Of predicting qdet below. Mr. Murphy stepped
forward. and bAIng Keen, angry eye on the
man who had COuIIuHly made Indecent reInarSs
IN the gallery. shouted, "If any man thinks
ne Is going To play the Tool with me- I'll soon saow
him his MISTAKE. ] won't be tufed with. II a rascal
won't respect h,n,el he shall spare the feelings ot
those who are beslnalng TO respect themSelyeS' An
officer the police laid bis hand on the man IhereE was
dead silence As personal favor To me lct nm alone
tais time. officer" SAID Mr.. Murphy, VII be rslODs
bile for his good cOnduct hereafter" Cheers and cries o
Bravo" That's right, Murphy" " Don't stand any
fooing" The meeting then proceeded to sGet
close at least quiet tue interest and CNcteseSs
would allow 1t was announced that the usual meeiiSss
will he held tomorrow at noon and at 1870 u IIe o1n
meeting 10 be- drunkarls experience pdyer-neeugE
AYE! that Will be glorious" said Mr. Murphy 40 w
Na..F t Ia sft4.