The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-08-17
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MEETINGS,
Now Being Conducted by Mr.. N. L. Hall
lenbeck in This City.


On Sunday evening last, according to announce
ment, Mr. NJ. L. Hallenbeck related his personal
experience in the Fort Street Church, which was
thoroughly filed with all classes to hear-as it
uroyed-his sad story service of song from
TO half-past by the choir and congregation pre-
ceded. after which Mr.. Halenbeck opened his
services with the hymn Coronation" The Scrip
ture lesson selected was the 10th Psalm. Mr. w.
w. Hall then sang as a solo Fl" Where Is my wan
dering boy to-night? with chorus by the choir and
congregation. Prayer followed. The speaker pre-
faced the narrative Of his experience by remark
ing upon the deep shame and humiliation be felt
at having to tell of his own misery and disgrace;
but while he ashamed of himself, he was not
ashamed of Christ who had redeemed him, and
who was ready and willing TO save every one who
would put their trust in him. Leaving his home
ON the Eudson he started life in New York City,
where for time he followed a Christian mother
precepts, but through business associates was in
duced to visit club. Here his first glass of liquor
was drunk. At a subsequent visit he was made a
member, from which time his downward career
was hastened till the year 1874, when he was in
fluenced bv the Crusaders" to forego his evil
habits and companions. In order to break from
the SCOTS and jeers of associates he removed to
Chicago. where for time his good resolutions
were maintained; but having so far depended on
his own strength, in an evil hour he took again the
fatal glass that brought him TO the brink of a
drunkards grave, and but for the persistent efforts
of Mr.. Hawley and the noon meetings in Farwell
Hall he felt that he must have died, for none but
the victims of strong drink can have a faint con-
cepton of the misery and torture he had to endure.
He felt that he was too vile for God to save; that
he had trampled under foot the Bible andneglected
his opportunities, and that there was no hope of
pardon for him. till the last offer in the book of
Revelation read to him, VIZ: : Whosoever viii
may come and take the water Of life freely" Then
and there be gave himself to Christ and found
peace to his SOUL and from that hour the appetite
for strong drink was removed. Where it had gone
he did not know. He had made great mistake,
and MANY are doing the same thing to-day. They
think that God will have nothing to do with them;
but this is not so, for He who loved us and bought
Us with the precious blood of Christ stands ready
now to save all who viii but seek him. After his
conversion his first impulse was to write home and
tell loving father and mother that their prayers
had been answered, but the reply that he got from
his father that while he was rejoiced at the
prodigal's return. il came too late to gladden. the
sainted mothers heart, for she had passed over
the dark river, and the very last words she said
were. Continue to pray for Martin Luther." Oh
the sorrow that filed his heart that it too late
to show her his repentance and bring her JOY in
answer to her prayers and kneellng beside her
grave in Greenwood Cemetery he cOnsecrated him
self to this work to tell this story to help save
others.
Throughout the narration many appeals we're
made 10 the incorporate and young men to break
away from the snares that are drawing them
down 10 perditlOn while parents were encouraged
10 continue faithful in prayer for their wandering
bows. The service throughout marked by i'm
pressiveness, and much sympathy was manifest.
On Monday evening the church was again well
filed to hear Mr.. Hallenbeck's views on How
do Men Become Drunkards p The regular ser
vice opened with the familiar hymn, I" Jesus lover
of my SOUL followed by reading the 1O3d Psalm,
with remarks on the 3d. 4th and 9th verses, where
we have not only the assurance Of forgiveness, but
healing, redemption, crowning and satisfaction;
ali that man on earth angels in heaven can ask.
! A duet BY Mrs. Simmons and Miss II. s. Judd,
s. Must 90, and empty handed p with chorus by
choir aud congregation, was well rendered and
impressive
The subject was then taken up and illustrated
by many anecdotes showing that moderate drinkers
were the ones that went to swell the army of
drunkards; not that they did 50 Intentionally for
many entered upon the course with the mistaken
idea Of Its manlness, but in which they made a
miserable failure.
It has been said by some that there are Chris
tian moderate drinkers. This he did not believe,
though he doubted not there were those whose
names were entered on the church records whose
4 influence was on the side of, moderate drinking;
but God keeps a different Sc. Of books from what
are kept on earth and he did not believe that such
mems names would be found written in the
Lambs Book Of Life In relating his experience
In Temperance work in Goshen he met farmel