The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-11

young mon. who he explained were reformed
drunknrds through the power Of the Gospel.
and. when II was concluded. he took up Bible
and said that he was going 10 tnlk about " The
Living Waters" Before reading "A passage, no
argued that there was no way to save drunk.
ards. any more than there Is any other way OF
saving other sinners. except by the grace 9f
signed the pledge. and tried to exert thoir
will to overcome their weakness. They might
resist temptation for while. In fact, he knew
Of an obstfnnte old man up In Dutchess County
own will. He loved his cups. but, convinced
nous will power into play. and stopped drinking.
For twenty years he Dragged OF how absolutely
how fond he used to be Of liquor and how bt the
exercise OF his will he had abstained from H.
He prospered and the twenty years brought
a common drunkard in the streets OF Pough-
keepsie. II he had been redeemed by Christ he
and % earnestly % on this point. Mr., sawyer con SIs
fessed that he had exhausted all the time he
ought to occupy, and said he would defer " The
singing i Need Thee Every Hour" and then
Mr.. Sawyer INTRODUCED severnly the ak ex-
No i said that he had enjoyed in early
as se we'll veil as Ss"t' a good general edasaiio",
whiskey every half hour or so was necessity.
He lost a position Of trust TO which he had at
didn't didn't do amy Sny,hina @ but get drunk. and Keep ep
anywhere in Baxter or Mulberry street. One
the Five Points. aud from that act his redcmp-
ton dated. His language and manner bespoke
his original position Ia life. while his face told
how he left good home ON the other side ofthe
ocean and came to this countryto. rid himself
OF former evil ASSOCIATIONS. He failed to reform
after he landed in New York, until one Sunday
night, when being drunk. and with pipe In his
mouth u he staggered into The Park Theatre
temperance service. BY the grace OF God he
was saved and he believes forever.
We've got all kinds among US. said Mr..
Sawyer every profession drinks and we try
TO saye all. Our next friend" addressing
middle-agcd athletic man. used TO be prize
fighter, and he's fighter now-fghting on the
right side"
The man thus introduced con leased to having
been " sporting drunkard." with him life. he
said. got TO be battle OF wine al day with
friends. u battle 10 go to bed on. and battle to
get AZ with He .aS drank IN high and low places
week for honest IahoI. " The old sporting men
say III do all right for while. but by and 6y
I'll throw up the sponge. But don't think
This present life is all new experience TO me,
! found Christ. | didn't have the advantages
my other friends haye had. | was fighting my
way right down to death, and the d devil said 70
just rs hard the other way now" raising a big
clenched fst and feel that I'm fighting tho
other day. and my wife has bought US Bible
book we never had in the house before. The
boys say I'm crazy. II this is crazy. hope by
the grace OF God they'll all live to get Just as
crazy IA / am"
The Park Theatre was crowded last evening
and an officer stood behind the iron gates ut the
entrance 70 prevent any more passing in. During
these sunday evening temperance meetings no
one Is allowed 10 stand or sit In the aislcs and
when all the chairs are filed the doors are
closed The audience was not materially differ-
ent in appearance from that ordinarily seen at
n theatrical performance. except, perhaps. that
the dress OF the women was shade less brill
liant. The women were fair proportion OF the
assembly in the orchestra chairs. The back
lerics were occupied almost exclusively by men.
The early comers obtained the boxes. but in
the future they will be reserved for liberal sup
porters OF the meetings. During the singing
young men passed into and out OF the boxes To
exchange saluutions with their fair friends,
who occupied conspicuous positions with much
| compacency. The audience wns orderly. and
evidently Intelligent. The stage was He'd with
we're women. led by l.. =. Thacher Of Boston.
| The songs were all chosen from Moody and
by the audience. CIV. sawyer with that energy
| ot voice and gesture which has made him
| effective US an exhorter, told the drink
from a drunkard's grave only by the
| help OF God. They must be converted
| for alcohol. The ex- pugilist. Hogan. a swarthy.
| broad-shouldered young man, six feet AMI two
inches in height. told his experience in simple.
|
said. he quit his home 20 10 to sea. The ship s
| Captain showed him vice in all its attractive
! forms in Paris and Baden Baden, and he
| plunged into reckless dissipation became n
| gambler prize fighter runlseller. and thief,
| figuring as such in California New York. and
! Pennsylvania. Eleven weeks ago. one sunday
| evening. he staggered into the Park Theatre,
| expecting TO n variety show. When he
| heard MIR. Sawyer say that he had been an out
cast and drunkard aud had reformed. he
| thought there might be chance for even
u prize fighter. and he prayed for assist
| ancc. He has had no trouble In keeping:
1 his pledge. Occasionally. when earnestly
| speaking. he took a position suggestive OF the
| ring and struck rs II at an imaginary foe Mr..
| Guion. IA handsome young man. with long.
| brown moustaches said that he had drank and
| caroused until he lost the good will OF friends
| relatives. and employers. and brought his aged
| father in sorrow 10 the grave. While intOxi-
| Gated. he came into tho Park Theatre one Sun
| day evening. and was induced Ia sign the
| pledge. He Is again on the road 10 prosperity.
| Other reformed drinkers. one Of whom had got
| so far down ns to Join the tin can brigade, "
| who collect in old pint cans and drink the dregs
| from kegs In front OF barrooms. told how they
| owed their improved condition to the influence
| In the Gospel Temperance Garden. in Sew
enth avenue. there was "A large attendance In
| the afternoon Religious services were con-
| Quoted by c. A. Bunting. the manager Of the
| Christian Home. Recent converts from that
| institution related their terrible experiences
| and marvellous conversions.