Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-29
Quarterly Report OF the Executive
COnmitlc of the Reform Club.

| BROTHERS A most ctllical period 10 the
history of cur organiz ,tion has been safely pass
| ed. The great wave of popular excitement up.
on which our craft was launched has abcu
subsidized. We have not stranded as cur enemies
pred ced, AID our friends feared. but arc fl ,at
and riding the bllIows right gslIantIy.
| Your con mlttoc. charged with the general
oversight of the affairs of the club, would report
that 10 almost every respect the plans adopted
at the outset bave proved wiso and efficient
The club rooms, kept constantly open as 8
place of public resort. have been of immense
mportarc, to U.s. We are Confident that a large
number OF our men have spent lh:ir leisure
time there who would otherwise ba1o been
drAwn into the drinking plsc:s which abound
10 this city.
The S SMurday right luoohes have bsen con-
Ilnu"d dlrlog the eptra quarter. Not less
| !hsu , 600 luuch,s have beeu furnished free.
| Dung the l. s: mnLth these have b!eu served
u ~ acc,p aoIy by committees OF ladies' ap
nooted ty the Wtmcy' Chr iau Temperanc,
uul0n.
TIC pub,c tcmperatc C: meeiogs have been
| dresses have been delivered by Charlie Nye,
Jsmes Cunningham, Rev DE-. Fiippo, Mrs.
IounsIs. ct Canada apd Rev. DR.. Raiey.
| Iho weekly meetings of the cub, held en-
| Friday night, have been we'll attended, and the
l'rcles; lstc:est has been taken 10 tn, pIoc, cd.
ioss.
| \ Sunday a!ttraocu meeting was ins,j.utcd
! nhou: t%o moeIhs ago, ord speakers were in.
| 7l:cd to tc:upy the time. ld has, however,
become gospel temperance meeting Of very
considerable lmgor.arc!, aod is 10 ciaIga of the
uitls,ers Of lto city who ere identified With
tho cub. Mir. L. j.. Van Auken has ycry
klodiy placed IN the hs Ii an excellent organ. to
nc used Tor time at Il Sunday mce,ug Mr.
James Hrlsg is 10 charge Of the singing
The hoaEcsl condiion OF the club is sound.
After mtc,tg I'll ordinary expenses Of The
crSaaIzatloo, lGcudi1g the wages OF a jauitor,
payIGg all the bills for the Saturday night
lut coes, the report of the treasurer will STOW
ct least email baIatce on band.
Oar Wan's-tiIst. a corveniont and COM
| -icG!0ui hail Tor large pub IL MEETINGS With
| cut ills lt Is alncst lmposslblo to sustain hni
c'rry 90 very successfully the work OF Gus re,
form among ih9 masses. We deeu it a great
m'sl lcr;une that Ne failed to proceed promptly
TO the work Ct secdriug tho stock aud putting
up club building at moment wheo this c,uId
have been easily dono. The erection by anott cr
orcs n z,tion 10 the city Of building, which is
10 contala public hall, will probably etfecu
ally hinder our pre- cot.
Sccoud-A Temperance Glee Club. Our
mcetlnis MI sht prove even moro entertaining
aud successful II We had a we'll organized and
clteiuIly trained band of singers who would
iurnIsa temperance songs at cur pubic meet
lngs aud on special occasions
Thlrd-A hfst GLASS cuff &c hall whore c,ff,c,
taa, cho ;Alatc, and Ice ceam. lemonade, soda
wafer 10 their season. aUd lunches and meals
could be had at the lowest possible cast, pre-
pared 10 the best pcs'ble style, and 80 nicely
served that meD who have been accustomed TO
good living a0d clean surroundings could find
| 90 lanli. Such los'tutlonS are carried on with
great success in some places. notably 10 the large
CT its OF EoRland orc and most important rron .
lerS t the tenucraucc reform.
| Ouc daneers-Firsl-Tho Saloon. This ~
our most deadly foe. We have lost not io. $
than dirty membrrs who fell 10 the attempt TO
lead sober AID Industrious lives is this COM
mutly where the people support moro ,um
chops than schools and churches.
There arc others of cur humorous member
ship uh1. 10 spite of al! their lflrls to r. SIS,
The u5.qlisi US tenpter, will probably sopue; or
later t"Ii Victims to the saloon power. We !re-
ql"ttly Rescue thtsa weak meo, but oniy 10
maty Cas- to see them betrayed again iGto the
drlnkiug Shops whose open doors tempt them
| b
These ncn ought to have the manhood to r
sit. but the f-c; is they have not.
aud SO long as fquor saloons abound
10 this city they will coutlbue by desrees 10 de
stIoy tho manhood or hundreds 80 completely
hat reformation becomes alm 81 hopeless
There are scores o. fanli,s 10 this community,
some OF h"m 10 high lit-, cunt letey ruioed By
ruD, that CO be saved from shame aod agoby
only Tben III. eyes OF the propie shall bo pen
ed to the awful danger aud the mighty wrong
Uf tvleraiIuy tie erUg shops, Of which maDy tl
Gur best c.lz5Ds arc now virtually the apologies,
aud su,p trters. While deplUring the presetc C
of So dang. rous 30 enemy no must not forget tue
i'm nerse suoces, of the cub 10 saving huodrcd:
u Deu VITO reDaia true 10 their pledge 10 splt:
of The snsr,s OF tbs foe.
3 Secund-Ine dagger Of our men's over.
es'mst,ug their ability 70 keep the pledge.
L. Is ptrbsp1 the mCs5 Elm. zDg fsc5 will
wnl"h y0uH committee meet 10 tseir w2.k tia
every driuklcg u.so believes he C 70 atop drirk-
iug ~iGh Ease. tie ses ms 3ever 10 9ct over tt i
: iatau4lloo, no matter how macy times be fills
S tits teeog leads s2me Of the bcys lit, OOH
, p2py a1l places 1910 witch they believe thf,
: eao 60 with safety but ,te7 over cstma:s ttei
S rsngh sod fall.
Thlrd-Tho danger of poi:ica conpl c;ties
; DesgLiDg uen will afsc. an interest io th,
l temperance cause to secure our votes Let Iocs
option occe prevail! aud it is the opiciop Of you
committee that this danger would bs ereat
esssDed, Tor the maio question sff chg th
Cause Ct temptratc CO in his city would be Sc!
! tied.
fourih-Ths danger of disagreement. anon,
mem oe's or minor susi ects. On all imporssn
= sutJs which come before us we are q unit
8 but small differences are one OF our creates
. dangers.
Our enccursgements-Seve hundred me-
saved thus tar from strong drink who ono
squsHdtred their earnings and character an
health over bars; the return cf comfort and hsr