The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-14

.NV STEP BACKWARD, AND fOh y fko-
mp OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH
n,v-Tur SUNDAY LIQUOR LAW-IHE
vryrlvG At MOZART HALL LAST
,,cuq-aLARGF. INFLUENTIAL. AND En-
rgrsIAsrIC NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
pry. Dg. CURRY, RIGHT REV. BISHOP
rr,Nr. REV. MR. BARRETT AND JUDGE
roEYgr 0ULD-THE SANCTiTY OF The
cyu. SABBATH MUST BE PRESERVED
&C.. SC.
Mozart Hall has in its day and genera
,;oa witnessed and gathered within its
walls meetings called in support of ana IN
snr,berapce OF almost every known object.
Here The patriot statesmen OF this and other
st.,os have AZ different times invoked our
neonle 10 that eternal vigilance which Is
The price Of liberty. Here, also, the phi
splbrO,ic have often plead In angelic voice
Tor sweet charity's sake, and in behalf OF
,h9' suffering pool whom ye have with YOU.
Uerc meetings hsye been convened to aid
in sending the words Of III i'm who walked
tbe waters OF Galllee and suffered on Calvary
fodi,iant hcatben lands. Here also have meet
ina, been held 10 warn our people OF any
densrture from the fundamental principles
nj tbe flith Of the fathers and for the hon
-, pa,ment Il all public and private obli-
cations. Charitable, religious, political,
mercantile. md social causes have in turn
had their oljtc:S explained and defended.
U,re also tle yOtaries OF :be drama, the
MUSES.. and Of TerpsichOre have at times
wor,hippcd Al their respective shrines. 1t
lg, BEEN at once a skating-rink, gymna-
.ium. and the scene OF bicycle contests and
walking matches but among all the varied
attractions that have at times held carnival
here. and Of All the meetings, for whatever
object. and The pleasant or unpleasant reco-
Iections Of which are "stOred away among
the bric-a-brac OF the past" there was lone
composed Of better material than that which
las. night tbronged the hall
TO PROTEST AGAINST ANY CHANGE
or modification IN the SUNDAY laws as at
Iuc.ent administered according 10 the
statutes Of the Commonwealth.
The meeting was entirely non-partisan
and uon.scctariau. Prominent on the plat
form and in the auditorium were repre-
,eniaiiyes Of all parties. all creeds,
and all natIonaliiies. However widely di-
ierent their views on other questions, this
was a grand outpOuring OF fellow-citi-
zen, and brothers all united and heartily
>ympathetic in common cause. 1t was
an earnest protest against any desecration
@: the sabbath day and against any effort tc
Mace Richmond on a level with the cities OF
other and lcss-faVored and less God-fearing
lands. The women OF Richmond, always
foremost in good works, were not only
represented themselves in tolerable mum
hers. but sent out their husbands, bro
thers. fathers, ana sweelhearts to he'll
TO swell the public voice against the
proposed change. But for the threat
cning weather there is no doubt bu
what toe ball would have been crowded
10 ,unocation. As it was, il was one OF th'
most Influential meetings ever assembled II
tie city, representative men OF all branche
Of trade and Of all professions being present
II was Richmond speaking through be
business men, her taxpayers, and many o
her best citizens OF All conditions, opinions
and religious beliefs, against the proposci
change in the Sunday law, and for the sane
tity oi the civil Sabbath.
A REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING.
Among the prominent gentlemen VIII
occupied seats on the platform wer
-hf>rlNs ID y. pldf - iA"Nys cDhh -
Massey, T. ii. Ellett, w. III. Williams, &. Il
Barksdale, Frank q. Rutlin, Robert stiles
John u. Cary, John Purcell, {. f
WingO, Thomas Potts, Or. ii. W. Davis
John l.. Williams. and John Hunter, Jr
Among those in the audience were Righ
Rev. Bishop Whitlle, Rev. DR.. Minnge
rode. Councilman John NJ. higgins, Rev
j. 4. Tyler James Lyons, Jr., George ii
Jewett, delegate from Chesterfield; William
Writ Henry, John c. Williams, Rev. W. B
McGiKruy, Councilman b. l.. BRAKEMAN
Andrew AntOni, Thomas Branch, Rev. DR.
John L. Edwards, AjtOn StarKe, II. W
Powers, Rev. DIR. William l.. Hatcher, Rev
T. &. Dashiell, William II. Grant, Jr.
Postmaster w. w. Forbes, Il. i. RicL
ardsOn, l.. :. Edwards, T.. Il. Spence
Rev. DR.. II. Mcdonald, James a. Richard
son. Solomon Wise, II. Il. Ellyson, Danlt
ODonneil. +. NJ. Conner, John A. Pizzini
James Caske. George j. HunGley, William
Josiah Leake, James Golden, Mr.. NicC
delegate from Prince WIlllam), John 4
Reenauli. and hundreds Of others whOr
lbc reporter from his seat on the platform
could not recognize. There were also
number Of other members OF the Genera
Assembly present, and members OF the Cit
zens' and Liquor-Dealers' Associations.
THE ORGANIZATION.
Al Sl5 O'Clock the meeting was called I
order by Thomas Potts, Esq, on who's
motion Thomas W. McCance, Esq, wa
called to The chair, and J. Taylor Ellyson
Esq, and members OF the press presen
made secretaries.
These nominations were unanimousl
confirmed and the gentlemen named q
omeers OF the meeting came forward amid'
applause.
Mr.. McCance, on assuming the chail
DTleny explained the objects Of the meeting
returned thanks for the honor conierr6
upon bin, and stated that il there was anl
thlng that could cause bin TO make speec
] was The object for which this meeting ha
Deen called; but in the presence OF the di
ihgulshed speakers who had been selecie
,Of the occasion be should not detain then
Ou9 would Introduce as the first speaker
REV. DR.. J. l.. N. CURRY.
Dr. Curry came forward, and was r
0ened With great cheering.
ne began by expressing his gratificatio
a. belhg present 10 join with his fellow-cit
lens 10 resisting the repeal OF beneficel
'Ah' IL was proper 10 disembarrass n
question OF oil irrelevant issues and get
.ne underlying principles. Having STATE
sne provisions OF the law, be said an etfo
vas making TO repeal II, or modify the pc
any 80 as 20 make II uniform with all arr
des OF commerce, or transfer from HustiBj
70 Police Court the trial OF all yiolators
ue law, or exempt Richmond from the op
TALON OF general state laws.
ne was not here 10 pse harsh words
aDusi'eepithet, buitoargue calmly the ~