West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-12-13
Wheeling Letter-The Winter
Campaign Opened.
WHEELING, w. VA,


Der that when you left our city,
early last month, a few of us had ar
ranged to hold little temperance
conference at 4th street M. E.
Church-At that meeting COM
mittee was appointed to arrange a
plan for conducting the work dur
ing the winter, with instructions
to submit their report at a Mass
Meeting to be held on the evening
of the 10th inst at 4th Street M.
E. Church. This meeting heard
and adopted the report of the Com
mittee, which among other things
included a recommendation to hold
weekly Mass Meetings in the va
rious churches Of the city, that
would open their doors for that
purpose, at which collections and
subscriptions be taken with a view
to securing Hall centrally located
for more vigorous action and better
organized work.
They also recommended the ap-
pointment by a subsequent mass
meeting of an Ohio Comfy Execu
tive Committee.
This first Mass Meeting was ad-
dressed by Rev w. B. Thompson
and Judge G. L. Cranmer. VIM.
Hastings, ESQ.,, and our little ''gat-
thing gum" G, W. Baggs, also add
ed few remarks. Although the
meeting was not large, owing part
ly to the very inclement weather,
there was much earnest enthusi-
asm manifested by both speakers
and hearers. This meeting adj
journed to meet at the same place
on the Friday evening following
Although the weather was un-
propitious, there was fair au-
dience at this meeting, the speak
erS for the occasion being DR.. J. F.
Smith, (the new pastor Of the 4th
street M. E. church,, and Rev. G.
E. Hite. Dr. S. spoke of the enor-
nifty Of the drink curse of the mil
lions Of dollars spent annually for
intoxicating liquors; Of the mil
lions more invested the business :;
of the 10000 annually who went
down to drunkards' graves; of the
thousands of widows and orphans
who are made such through drink
of the tears and woes and broken
hearts, &C., &c, the direct result of
indulgence in intoxicating liquors.
1t was mastery effort, and one Of
the strongest arguments in favor of
prohibition to which we have lis
tened in long time, and we con-
graduate ourselves on the accession
to our ranks of so earnest and elo-
quent champion for temperance
and christianity.
Rev Hite, who made the closing
remarks, is second to none in his
fidelity to the cause of temperance.
For years past he has been the
same faithful |, uncompromising
friend of the work in this city. In
his few earnest remarks he gave
some very practical reasons why he
was prohibitionist, which l would
like to note in this letter, but for
want Of space must refrain from fur
Their detail.
At this meeting the following
we'll known gentlemen were chosen
to act as the Ohio County EXecu-
tive Committee, viz: Hon. J. d.
Ewing, Judge G, L. Cranmer, VIM.
Hastings, Esq, Rev. W. B. Thomp-
son, w. A. Wilson, A. J. McNash,
Hon. E. G. Cracraft, Hon. G. w.
Atkinson and J. Melvin Richards.
The above committee entered at
once upon their duties, and under
their auspices meetings have al
ready been held at Chaplaine st.
and North st. M. E. Churches, with
appointments made for two weeks
to come. The meetings are in
creasing in interest, and by the list
of January we hope not only
to have the temperance sentiment
thoroughly aroused, but we hope to
have a Hall suitably located for
steady, earnest, and we hope more
effective work.