The New York herald., 1878-11-17
THE MURPHY REVIVAL.

CLOSE OF TEE TEMPERANCE APOSTLES FIRST
woRK-rHE LADIES ORGANIZED AND ENLISTED
IN THE CAUSE.
Francis Murphy. the temperance orator and worker.
concluded his first weeks labor in this city last night
with meeting which. in point Of attendance of en-
thusiasm and of results in the way of signatures to
the pledge. was more important than any that pre-
ceded it, The Seventh Street Methodist
Church was scarcely capacious enough to
cominodate tho immense crowd. There were
many ladies in the gathering. large
proportion of sober. well dressed men and un-
usually large number of the class who need the
help Of the reyivalist-hard drinkers Of Intoxicating
liquors. 1t would seem that the movement which
throughout the week has been slowly gaining favor
and strength has now momentum enough TO make it
self felt outside of the comparatively little gatherings
i'll the little east side church. Mr.. Murphy and the
reverend gentlemen who cooperate with and
assist him confident that in the course
meetings win be opened and continued daily in differ
ent parts of the city About three Thousand
have already signed the pledge and many Of them are
inducing friends and acquaintances to initiate
their example The ladies' meeting. held yesterday
afternoon, introduces another and powerful element
into the conflict Mr. Murphy made to the good wo-
his characteristic addresses. He described
the fascination Of drinking alcoholic beverages COM
pared those being ruined by it to wounded soldiers
and asserted that II necessary to have ambu-
lance train to follow and the great army Of in
ebriates. This duty devolved upon women-women
who had scraped lint and nursed the wounded IN the
late war.
MuapHY's PHILOSOPHY.
"If this cause is worth anything if it will do any
good you will support it; If it will not. we don't
want it. and the quicker get out of the city the bet
ter He implored the women to have faith in the
possibility or saving the lowest drunkard. de-
scribed the encouragement he himself experienced
when he found those who were trying to rescue him
from alcohol mad no confidence III him, explained ms
philosophy TO consist in feeding man when
he hungry without asking questions, ana
ended by bringing tears to the eyes OF his hearers
with the story of poor hungry drunkard OF Pitts
burg, who discovered pocketing for his little
children the lunch given him at the church where the
meetings were held. After sweet songs, well
as few good words Mrs. Wilson, the women
organized meeting themselves, with Mrs. Chaun-
cey shaffer in the chair. and appointed % com ON
work. hire room and make arrangements
for feeding the hungry: These ladies were
possible. to avoid even the appearance OF Sec
tarianism in the work. 1t was made up of Miss
DR.. Tiffany Mrs lawson. of Dr.. Hepworths; Mrs.
Fitch No. 200 West Twenty fourth street. Mrs. An
drews No. "A West Twenty eighth street, Miss Annie
Allen and MIS-. McsserQle, VINO. when asked "What
church," responded Church Of the world
That's my church exclaimed Murphy heartily.
A lady from Brooklyn declined to serve. "Oh help
usl" said Murphy. I'VE must save Brooklyn with
the rest of the world; it's true as you live" The
ladies had already looked ut apartments in Sixth
kitchen.
At the morning meeting man under the influence
OF liquor came the rail, fell upon Murphy neck
and bursting into tears, signed the pledge. This was
only OF many interesting incidents, At the
meeting in the evening. however the enthusiasm was
greatest Il have been drunk three years, pray for
mel" cried unfortunate fellow, who was certainly
very drunk at the moment. The singing by Mr. and
Mrs Wilson of the Sweet By and By and
las My Days Ny Strength Shall Be- moved another
to spring to his feet and interrupt the speaker by cx
claiming ''Pray for me, for I'm drunk now J" There
some laughter, and Murphy, after quieting the
disturbers and telling them to wait little expressed
his hope that the portion Of the audience which was
not drunk would think of the sad side of anything
ludicrous which might occur and not make any show
Of merriment.
AN APPEAL TO MODERATE DRINKERS
He went on, i'll his easy conversational way to say
that many doubters thought there would be no meet
ing Saturday night but he thought it was just the
night for meeting, that q man who had received
his weeks wages and was apt to step into a saloon
would have chance to step into temperance meet
ing He exhored all good men to sign the pledge for
the sake Of Others One Christian man, he said, who
ample than of drunkards who staggered III the
streets.
Mr. N. L. Ives, the telegraph superintendent Of the
Senate Chamber at Washington, told how hard
drnker he had been, and how the 22d of February
last Murphy met himself and drunken companion in
Washington and gave them blank pledge cards. Mr..
Ives companion signed at tho time and kept the
other until few days ago. when he presented 1t to
the speaker and induced him to sign it.
The announcement that services would be held to-
day in the place ut three O'Clock and at
seven in the evening received with cheers, and
at the close of the meeting the rail was beseged by
those anxious to sign the pledge.