The daily gazette., 1878-01-02
FIRST EDITION.
TIE MORAL sUAsIoN BANQUET.
The Reforsned Men, the Families and their
Friends feast Togetser-A Prqcticai
Evidence Of the Success Of ne Reform
More,,aenf- -T'oosfs ass,,a ,,.a.g .,.

The response to invitations sent out BY
the Moral Suasion Reform Association,
number of guests assembled at Odd
Fellows Hall, last evening, In company
with the members Of the Association and
their wives. for the purpose Of attending
the banquet to be given In the rooms OF
the Association, over the Third street
market house, opposite the hall.
About $50 o'clock the company left
the hall and proceeded across TO the Az
sociation rooms, where they took their
seats at the banquet tables. As they en-
tered the room they we're greeted by n
sight Of combined beauty and comfort
seldom, IL ever surpassed. Six tables. .oc-
cupyiEg most Of the available space in
the room, were neatly spread and crowd
ed with not Only the Injuries of the sea-
son, but with innumerable articles Of
solid, substantial food. Two of the tables
were spread across the east end of the
room, and four Others extended along Its
length. The room was also handsomely
decorated with flags and evergreens.
which adorned the windows and pended
from the ceiling and chandele eleirs. Behind
the two end tables was splendid large
portrait Of George Washington, over
which was life-size photograph of the
President of the Association, John II.
Moore, both pictures betng handsomely
draped with flags and evergreens.
The two end tables were occupied by
the invited guests, and at the upper Que
John n. Moore presided, With Rev. II.
Is. DuVal and George NJ. butcher on
either side. The reformed men and their
wives occupied the other tables
After a blessing had been asked by
Rev. r. Is. Duval, the attacks upon the
edibles commenced, and was continued
| with unabated vigor for over half an
hour. There seemed TO be no end of
food, aud rs the fried oysters, turkey,
chicken, and the usual accompaniments
disappeared with hghting-like rapidity
before the combined, assault of over tw o
hundred persons, active walters kept fiji.
| ing up the vacancies with fresh relays
until the appetites Of all were fully sat.
isfied, and there was plenty of food to
spare.
1t was sight for rejection to observe
| this varied assemblage when all were
busily engaged In paying close attention
4 to the tables and their contents. There
| were men there Of all stations in life
from the highest to the lowest; men who
had lived thorough temperance lives ant
men who had only recently escaped from
women who only few short months age
dragged out q miserable existence a,
drunkard's wives, but who now have tn,
proud satisfaction Of knowing that theil
loved zones are treading the path o
honesty, sobriety and truth.
When all had satisfied their appetites
to tho fullest extent there was genera
pushing back Of plates and moving o
chairs, which was q well understood sig
nal shat all hands were ready for thu
other part OF the evenings entertain
ment.. Col. III. B. heIntire hen arose an,
announced the first toast of the evening
iviz.:
: "The Moral Buasion Reform Associa
], ton"
Col John II. Moore, President Of the
. Association, being called upon TO re
spond, gave brief sketch Of the orgaui
zation, progress and purposes of the AS
ISOLATION. He referred with pride to tn
good work that it had accomplish sd, an
n earnestly commended 1t TO the goo
d feeling and hearty support of the CON
munity. f.
After his response Col NJ oore announc
ed the balance of the toasts, which were
as follows:
"The Clergy Responded to by Rev
+. B. DuVal, who eloquently referred b
the relations Of the clergy with the TEN
perance movement; and claimed tina
they should never hold themselves abov
any good movement, however lowly
q origin, but should render aid and assis
ance 70 the lowliest of Gods creatures q
, readily as TO those of the higher station
y In life.
"The Temperance Cause. George n
butcher responded to this toast by mab
J, ing one OF his thrilling temperanc
speeches. II was filled with fire an
touching pathos. He described th
|. grand march of temperance during th
1 past year, and hoped its white banne
would ere long float over the remotes
}, confines of this broad country.
"The City of Wilmington" on."-Ex-Mayo
Joshua s. Valentine, in responding, sal
J, that Wilmington was fine city, bui
upon several hills Formerly il was /,
!. Gated between the Brandywine an
Christiana rivers. but now 1t has stretcl
q cd across the banks of both. 1t is q pre-
N ty city, healthily located, and noted II
q It's pretty women, and Its iron shipbuil'
ing and other manufacturing industrie
But. more important than all these ii
: dustries combined, thought the speake
Is the present temperance movemen
and he hoped it would be continued ur
: til the entire city smiled under its ben,
r ficent effects.
"The Pledge."-James Hargis RESPOND
ed by saying that the pledge Is th
e foundation of the principles by whic
= the reformed men stood; to it they a
:, tribut ed their reform and that reforma
), ton through Une means OF Jne pleuRo
!, a fixed fact was attested by the presenc
a of 10 many reformed men at this bar
!, quet.
q "Our Guests" Neil Stinson responde
?, in appropriate and corteous terms, /
d which he thanked the invited guests ft
|, their presence and gave them a cordi;
= welcome. He spkoe of them as col
:. tributing greatly to the pleasure of I'll
g occasion, and hoped that their places
v society, in the future, would be filed b
5f the reformed men, who were now actui
W ted by the same motives and filled wit
le the same aspirations that brought th
10 guests to their present elevated and r.
spected places in society.
"a "The Ladies."-J. G. Bryant responde
l. to this toast in lengthy and humoror
J. speech, which kept his auditors in col
3, slant roar of laughter. Among other r.
10 marks he said he was crusty old bach,
D lor and that they might as well get I'll
le contents OF mud puddle to polish marb
d. with as to ask an old bachelor to respon
h to toast to the ladies.
TX This toast was the last, and the ente
re tainment closed with the doxology al
pr the benediction by Rev. A. ID. Davis.
Great credit is due the Association t,
ri IA IL. "A Al