National Republican., 1883-02-26
A SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
Fftieth Anniversary Of the Congressional
Temperance Society.
Interesting statistics Contained In the
secrctary's Report.

The Congressional Temperance society held
its semi-centennial anniversary last night at
the Congregational church, with large audi
ence present The meeting was opened with
reading of Bible selections and prayer by Gen.
Whittlesey. Ex-Gov. Dingey, of Maine, read
letters ofregret at their inability to attend from
Mr.. Justice Strong, of the supreme court and
Senator Dawes, the newly elected president of
the society. In his absence he called on Gen.
Vance, of North Carolina, the senior vice
president, to preside.
Gen. Vance said that while he regretted
the necessary absence of Senator Dawes, he
felt IL was good thing there was Congress
sional Temperance society. He wished all
the senator's and representatives belonged to
it. That society had lived just fifty years.
How many changes had occurred since its
birth What had the recording angel writ
ten of its influence? he had often asked.
Good, assuredly. If a single man had been
made temperate through II, if u single
home had been made beautiful, single
child made happy, then its work had not
been in vain. He alluded to a North Caro-
lima orator who had said lately in speech
that the people could not afford to put down
the great industry of WHISKY making TO save
young sot. The speaker thought there was
not young man in the country who was not
worth great deal more than all the money
that had ever been derived as revenue from
the accursed business. Snail we tolerate it
any longer? asked the speaker with strong
emotion in his voice. The country is over
stocked with whisky, and the disilIlers were
asking for protection. 1t is called great
industry. Great God What kind of
industry? An industry that builds
gallows makes children ragged and
hungry that travels all over the world leav-
itt, ito N h1nnl W,ul1 IN
God every man was temperate; then he would
feel sure every woman would be happy. The
speaker related many instances coming under
his own observation of the evil Of drink.
Among others that Of little girl who had
bcen swept oil n bridge into swiftly flowing
creek near his house. For miles down stream
she was seen holding up her hands for help.
liow many thousands of little hands are being
held up tonight asked the speaker, from the
black waves Of iutcmpcrnncc adOwn whose
current they are being swiftly whirlcd.'
THE FlFTIETH ANNUAL REPORT.
The secretary, DR.. Chckering, then called
his grandson 10 read the iiitiEth annual re-
port of the secretary. From this it was
learned that the Congressional temperance
society was organized Feb. 90, 1888, in the
Old senate chamber, now the supreme court
room. There were twenty-five signCrs TO the
original call among them John Bel, of New
Hampshire ilOratIo Seymour, of New York;
Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, Gideon
TOmllnson, of Cunno Cticut, and Felix Grundy,
of Tennessee. over one hundred members Of
congress signed the constitution. William
Wilkinson, of Pennsylvania, was appointed
chairman and Theodore Frclmghuysen, OF
New Jersey, submitted the draft of II cOnsti-
tuition piedging the members against using
ardent spirits. Hon Lewis Ca,s, secretary Of
war was chosen president; vice presidents,
Hons. Samuel Bell, of New Hampshire; q.
TOmlinsOn, of Connecticut; John Reed, of
Massachusetts; Lewis CondCt, OF New Jcr-
soy; William Wilkins, of Pennsylvania;
Thomas Ewing, of Ohio; Felix Grnndy, of
Tennessee; john Upton, of Indiana; Daniel
MCDOWELL, of New York; James A. Wayne,
OF Georgia; secretary, Walter L0wric, secra-
tary Of the senate; treasurer, Hon. Elisha l..
Wnittcsey, and an executive committee
of II. Frelinghuyscn, Of NuY Jersey;
a. Naudain, OF Delaware; John Blair,
of Tennessee, and Il. Cook, of Ohio. Under
this constitution the society went Oh for nine
years; but in lSi3 a new departure was made,
the pledge was extended to fermGntcd and ali
other kinds of Intoxicating liquors and new
constitution adopted. The report then went
on to speak OF the deaths OfseVeral of its mem
bers--notably, Morrill,, Of Maine; Dodge Of
New York, and Updegnif, of Ohio, The oc-
Casion, though sCmi-centcnuial, was not Il
jubilee. Tho country is still enslaved by in
temperance. Not even modern congress
has sent forth an uttCrance so bold as that
of the old continental congress- re-
corded on their journal of Feb. %,
1776, in the following words: "ResOired
That 1t be Immediately recommended to the
several legislatures OF the United States i'm
mediately To pass laws the most eilcctual
for putting an immediate stop to the per-
niCious practice of dstilling, from which the
most extensive evils are likely to be derived
if not quickly prevented Nor is the forty
seventh congress likely to appoint commits
sion of inquiry into the economical sanitary,
and other results of the liquor traffic Never
tholess there are indications Of good time
coming.
Among these the report mentions the new
tidal wave of public opinion among the men,
and especially the women, of the land, and
the example and influence of men of position
and power like Messrs. Morrill,, Updegratf,
and Dodge former members of the society,
who have just passed away, leaving pure
and safe example,
OTHER ADDRESSES.
Ex-Gov. Dingley, Of Maine, was the next
speaker, and delivered warm tribute to
the life and character of Lot NJ.
Morrill,. He spoke of the latter's
leaving, in 1855, the party to which
he had always been attached because it re-
pealcd the Maine liquor law, and joining the
opposition which elected him governor in
regarded by all parties that no one will ever
dare to attempt its repeal.
Hon. John Hill, of New Jersey, on being
introduced spoke warmly of the Christian
character and labOrs Of the late Theodore
Frelinghuyscn, prominent member of the
society. Ills motto was, nothing was of value
but the human SOUL" and upon this he acted
Hon j, Hyatt Smith was then introduced
but excused himself from making q speech
on the ground Of i'll health. lIo alluded
briefly to the late William l.. Dodge, of Now
York, whom he eulogzed as shining ex-
ample of Christian consistency. lie was fol-
lowed by Rev. DIR, Eaton, of Palmyra, the
friend and whilom pastor of Mr.. Dodge. DR..
Eaton told of Mr. D0dge'5 earnest and un-
selfish Christian labOr5 whose extent and
value he was personally acquainted with.
The following resolution was offered and
adopted by rising vote:
Rss0'ucd, That in the opinion Of this assembly,
the great principle and practice which has been
for hall century the basis of this soCietys opera
uons-tOinl abstinence from all that eau in
toXiCate-is fundamental 10 any thorough and
permanent temperance reform; and we highly
value this public testimony and example of men
in conspicuous positions, of whose recent dc.
purIure we have now been painfully reminded"
Letters expressive of tho value of the society
were received from Mcssrs. Colfax, of Indiana;
Seelyc, Of Massachusetts; Lamport, of Indiana;
and Ballou of Rhode Island, after which the
society adjourned.
The Shakespeare Club.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather
there was good attendance at the meeting
of the Shakespeare club on Saturday evening
at the residence of Mrs Adams, on Rhode
Island avenue, between Ninth and Tenth