Daily Republican., 1879-06-14
A WILMINGTON INSTITUTION.

WILMINGTON INSTITUTION.
A Few Words I'm Reference TO Our
..Hosne w0rkSFA" In the Temper
ance Cause.
MEssRs. EDIToRs The recent "Scan
dal in the Tempera ancsI Cause" having
in a manner revived the interest OF the
citizens of Wilmington in that particu-
lar direction, and stirred up both the
friends and the foes of the cause to take
a retrospective glance over the field to
ascertain, II possible, what Of good or
evil has been worked in our community
during the past two years by the cam.
paign which has been carried on for
that period, the undersigned are Of the
opinion that the "retrospection" can
be materially aided if our citizens will
for moment direct their attention to
the workings of an institution which
has been laboring in their midst almost
since the revival was begun an in
stitution which-while 1t was the out
growth of the revival which started in
the City Hall at the opening Of III, and
which, in measure owes, its origin to
the meetings held there, yet shortly af-
ter it's formation assumed an individu-
ality OF its own, and with Wilmington
men for its leaders and citizens of Will
mington (almost to MANI for its mem
bers, adopted plan Of operations and
laid out line of work for itself, to
which it has strictly adhered through
all the various butls and rebutis the
cause has met with in this community.
We refer to the Moral Suasion Reform
Association, whose headquarters are at
Third and King streets. This institu-
tion, which first assumed an individu-
aity upon its organization in the Pho,
nix Engine House, in the latter part OF
June, 1877, adopted for its object the
reformation of inebriates, and Sc
lected for its motto "Charity for All
Malice Towards None"
This motto has always been lived uE
to. The membership was composed en-
tirely of citizens of Wilmington, and o
men who had been addicted to the us'
of Intoxicating liquors to excess. L
asked nothing Of its members but tina
they abstain from the cup; it allowec
no dctation in religious, political OF
other matters of that nature--alway'
holding the sentiment that if maj
= became sober he was competent tt
Carve for himself" The club has re
, mained intact up to this day-havlnI
always had Wilmington men fer its of
fcers and members, and Wilmington
for its field of labor. What the fruits o
that labor have been can be briefly stat
> ed. 1t numbered at its organization
.. some 20 members, which was increased
: until at one time there were upon tn
Q roll books some 400 names. Thl
number has been reduced by deaths
!, removals from Wilmington, non-attend
! ance upon meetings, violations c
o pledge, etc, until at present there ar
\ upon the books 225 names. 1t mus
> not he presumed, however, that thos
i who have been dropped from our roll
! because of "non-att4ndance" have eon
"hack to the old paths,' for such
not the case. The names of som
$50 men in the City of Wilmington ca
. be shown on the records of the clut
" who have not only not "gone back,
but on the contrary the majority
whom have "gone higher" that is, bt
;. came connected with churches of dl1iel
- ent denominations, and because of thei
interest in those "higher fields" hav
>, in a measure dropped their interest i
:, the club.
- Right here We would state is wher
- our work for "the good of our fellows
is proven, for while We are as bod
y Just what we profess to be--"A Ten
:, perance band, pure and simple,
yet We have always held tha
" there are other crimes against sc
f ciety and the laws of orr Divine ruler
= which, while not working perhaps TIA
same desoIation as rum, and over whlc
our constitution gives no control, al
equally degrading and debasing, an
~ which the teachings of the Gospel alon
:. can remedy. so this " Flour " wAic
/. has been culled from the wheat W
n have been threshing, is, we claim, tn
fruits of our labor, and We will sa
v that we are still threshing, and til
: "FIour" is yet dropping from til
Il hopper as it has been all along durin
l. the two years of our existence.
, Now citizens of Wilmington WE I
/. NOT WISH TO ASSUME THE pAsroRATE
.. any set of christian or unchr stian pee
!. pie but as band of reformed drlnkel
n we claim that an organized effort OF til
kind is necessity i'll order to save tn
men who has become addicted to tn
use of Intoxicating liquors. Our ew
experience has convinced us of thi
Il fact, and we further claim that tn
u work We have done in this directio
> during the past two years has prove
that our method is glorious success
II We have at present large Hall wh1r
e We have held some 200 public meetings
IL we have large library for the use
= our members. We hold regular busi
e ness meeting on each Monday evenin
do our work on systematic basis
II and we claim in business like mar
.r ner. And now we wish to know frank
II ly and practically whether We are
Il receive your support and cooperation
1t would be well for us to state her
that we are, as class, poor men-lne
who have to depend for their suppol
- on their daily toll, the majority of
!" men of family.
!, 1t has cost money to keep our organ
u zation intact-Furnitufe, rent, fue
IS gas, charity, &C., and this money, fe
low citizens, has come to us, in larg
u proportion, from the poorer classes
our community, from ourselves an
from such entertainments as we hav
% from time to time been compelled to Civ
). " We would say in this connection ths
so far from our work being done b
"paid retOrmers, - we never Ell