Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-30
THE TEMPERANCE WORK.
Lectures by Hon II. CarswelI, of Canada
---Teviving the Sons.

flowing last Sunday night, and many turned
away unable to obtain seats The occasion
was temperance lecture-usually dry an
thing-but this time by the
Hon. E. Carswell, of Canada, whose fame is
worldwide. Although coming on very
short notice, in strange VI
cinity, the large audience was
rtainlyand encourage m ,nt to . the lecturers
and we are sure no one who attended re-
GREETED it.
After the singing of Look not upon the
wine" etc., by the choir, and prayer by
Rev. Dr. T. W. Humes, president of the
University, Rev. C. B. Sparrow, the pastor,
introduced the lecturer, Mr.. Carswell, as
man whom he had known personally for II
years, and who had been engaged in the
temperance lecture field for % years.
BIZ began by saying that he is not
preacher, but came among us to speak of
a tree, the fruit of which is altogether evil.
There is not city, town or village III the
land but has felt the effects of this evil
tree, and he had come to cut it down. The
real theme of his talk, he said, would be
personal influence. Some people say they
won't 90 to q lecture or join the temperance
movement, because they have no influence.
Did you ever notice how many people there
are in the world without influence, when APP
preached on this subject? But 1t always
happens when there is nothing to be gained
to them by it. II a merchant sees fellow
pick up and carry off from his store two or
three pairs of boots, he don't stand and say
he has no influence over thieves, and guess
es he will have the preacher say something
next Sunday about the wikedness OF steal
ing; no he don't do that, he startsout crying,
stop Theft" and rescues the stoleu
property. He is personally interested
there, because he is losing his boots.
He related with good effect the story OF
the influence of a single drop OF water on
the parched and famished earth. There
was influence and power enough in that
audience, he said, to bring happiness to
homes and to move the world IN the tenn
perance work You say "What can L do!I cant
make speech to save my life. " Don't you do
it. Don't become q temperance lecturer,
unless the call is irresistible. He Is the
| next thing to professional tramp.
! He related story of a man who was late
| TO church, arriving there as the congrega-
| ton was coming out He said to little
/ boy. Sonny, is it all done ~ ''Oh no, not
! by q good DEAL" replied the boy. cts
! all said, but it'll be good while before it's
ali done" This the speaker called good
! illustration in the temperance work.
! The speaker belongs, he says, to divls-
ion of the Sons of Temperance, in Canada,
( which has been organized for 32 years, and
! has not missed a weekly meeting in that
! time. aud cited some instances of its lnfiu-
ence. The famous John B. Cough was con-
verted through the influence of poor man,
who laid his hand on him and said j:
Cough, come to the temperance meeting.
Yet that man did not realize his influence.
Lecturing on temperance don't pay, IN
money nor in politics If you want to be a
| politician, don't NEEDLE with temperance.
| Two barrels of whisky are worth more than
sixteen temperance lecturers in politics. L,
does pay, however, in knowing that one has
done some good. The act of the ''good
Samaritan, in the Bible story, was pro
nounced muscular Christianity" The
speaker presents platform broad enough
for all to stand on.
He related personal incident in terri
BILE railroad wreck in Californis,
He himself was holding up the
head of an injured man, when some
one came along and asked: "Will you ask
the man to what church he belongs" The
speaker replied emphatically, mo, won't
don't suppose he would change his re-
Ggion now, any way
He touched on moderation in drinking,
pronouucing it all nonsense. You might
as well put a red hot poker in q keg Of
powder and tell it to blow out one pound
and two ounces He drew an affecting anC
beautiful picture of moderation and tetota
bridges, in contrast.
There is no power outside Of hell to-day
the speaker declared, that does as much in
jury as the rum fend. He related some in
cidents as proofs One, in which drunk
en- woman was found on the upper floor OF
a howell, and her child dying alone on The
floor below. Another, of drunken mar
in Cleveland, Ohio, who had daughter
that worked at some handiwork for sup
port She fell going home one day, ant
died of the juries, in a hospital. Ih'
poor neighbors contributed and purchased
beautiful wreath of white flower
and started the father with then
to be placed on the coffin, but he sold then
at the first grog shop. After the body wa
buried, the brute of father actually dug
} up and sold it to the doctors for money t.
buy rum. Was there ever such power ex
ercised over man, and such an eloquent tenn
perance lecture.
After the lecture collection was take,
up, at the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Sparrow
to defray the expenses of the speaker, VIII
bears his own expenses. A good sum wa
realized. Another lecture was announce
for the same place last night.
The simple announcement brought Al
other very large congregation to the chure
last night, it being full, and all were high
entertained with lecture altogether diffe
emit from the first one, but to the same pu
It pose. Last night he touched very emphs
ically on the moderate drinker, and infiet'
some telling blows upon the curse of inter
perancs.
Mr. Carswell, although not of PROPOSE.
ing appearance, personally, is certainly
man of remarkable power and influence
the lecture field, and we have new
* heardsa more fascinating, interesting a
ut effective telker. He has a peculiar kns
!" for initiating and telling stories and jol
from the stand, and eau tell them with b
ter effect than any one We have ever hea
IL 1t is safe to say that Knoxville never b
}, before SO powerful and impressive tie
el perance lecturer. On both occasions
gu carried his audience along with wonder
power, and the interest did not lag fr
beginning to end
Another collection was taken last mig
at the suggestion of Mr.. Willoughl
Worthy Patriarch, Sons of Temperan
to defray the church's expenses.
The speaker announced that he came
the instance of the Sons of Temperance,
revive that order in this city, and, extend
be an invitation, a large number of signers W
received after the lecture. The divis
will be ORGANIZED in the Golden Cross