Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-23
Richmond Camp Meeting.

| Thursday evening at the time of evening
service, the rain was falling in torrents and
social meeting was held in the IIallowcll
| Chapel. Prayer was offered by Rev. j. +.
| Wolfe. Rev. C. +. Allen made the opening
address. He reviewed the history ofthc tenn
perance reformation for the past fifty years.
Was an honorary member of the old Wash
| ingtonians.
J. X. Osgood remarked that rum was res
ponsibc for the ''hard times" once in -
years the American people drink up anamount
equal to the entire property of the United
States, and every three years an amount
equal to the entire National debt.
Rev. j. +. Wolfe spoke upon the topic of
prayer, urging upon the christians of this
land the Importance of earnest, united prayer
that God might remove the rumselers out of
our way. Remarks were also made by Rev.
+. Grovenor, of Ilallowell and others.
Several stories were told about the women
destroying the bottles and tumblers in the
grogshops, where rum had been sold to their
sons and their husbands. ''God bless them
and give us more just such women, Brother
Wolfe responds.
Friday, II Temperance prayer-mccting was
held in the Hallowell chapel at o'clock. led
by James Robinson, of Gardiner Rev. F..
GrovenOr read from John 9th, of the restoring
to sight of the blind man by our Savior. Rev.
Charles F. Allen said that there were two i'm
portant lessons taught in the scripture lesson !;
|. That all suffering was not on account of
sin "Neither did this man sin nor his parents,
that he was born blind" Suffering was some
times sent to purify us and lead us to II higher
and holier life than We would have attained
without it. 2. The positive knowledge of tine
blind man, "This know, that whereas was
once blind now | see" This knowledge OBJ
tanned from actual experience is the best
answer that can be made to the skcptic. II
we would cease to argue with them, and just
tell them how Jesus had saved us, it would
silence them at once.
James Robinson of Gardiner, said that lie
never had been more interested in the tenn
perance cause since this reform movement
commenced in his own city eight years ago
Short speeches were also made by Brothers
Sterling, Norcross of flallowcll who ''has kept
his pledge while the ice has gone ont of the
river three or four times, Gaslin of Augusta
Hobbs and Rev. +. Grovenor of liallowcl.
The speakers engaged for this forenoon
failing to appear there was no public service
. o'clock.-It has cleared away finely, and
the sun shining out has caused change in
the wearing apparel of the tenters. None of
the speakers for the day have arrived, bnt
others, are expected, so that we have the
promise Of good speaking tomorrow.
The afternoon meeting was in charge of
Rev Mr.. Grovenor, who introduced Rev
Charles +. Allen of Fairfield as the first speak
err. The speaker said he did not come before us
with anything new. Truth is as old as the
Almighty. Error alone is new. The first
liquors used were not the fermented, and pois-
on liquors of the present day, and yet we
were commanded, to "Look not upon the
wine when it is red,' and if that command
was binding then, how much more aop
He maintained that the use of ardent spirit in
any form and for any purpose was unneces-
sary. We should avoid it, because it is doing
so much damage to others. Many say "Why
talk this subject to temperance mem" 1t is
to stir up and rouse the people No cause
can be promoted without agitation. These
truths are founded on the Bible.
But the mail is closing hope to give YOU
a more interesting report in my next. II.