Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-13

The Meeting at Ford's Opera House
Last notwithstanding Address by
James q. ThrOwer. Esq.
There was tair audience at Ford's
opera House last evening to hear an adj
dress on Temperance from Mr.. James 6.
Thrower, Of Atlanta, Grand Worthy Chief
Templar Of the Good TemplaF Order in
Georgia. Mr.. Thrower is the founder OF
this Order in Georgia, organizing the hrst
Lodge in Atlanta some seventeen years
ago. Since which time it has, first and
last. numbered more than 10O,OOO
members. and has now very active
membership throughout the State. He
gave a very interesting recital Of the his
tory Of temperance work from its early
period OF temporary pledges and open
societies to the formation of the Good
TempIars in 1852. in Oswego county, y.
Y, since which time he dates the wonder
full growth of that sentiment for pro-
hibition and total abstinence which IS
now witnessed all over the world, the
q God Templar order being now the largest
temperance organization in the world,
having subordinate and grand jurlsdlc-
tions in almost every civilized country.
Mr.. Tbrower has been known more as
an earnest worker and Jealous organizer
rather than as a speaker, yet he Is terse
and sensible. fOrcible and practical in all
his utterances. which, coupled With his
known devotion TO the cause, renders him
a favOrite among the temperance people
of the entire State. He explained last
evening that he was more on tour Of
official inspection to the Lodge in this city
than otherwise. and made some strong
arguments in its behalf. Touching on
the question of prohibition, he Illus
trated that all other methods were
comparative failures in the mat
ter of diminishing drunkenness, and
that this alone promised success. There
are eighty-fiye counties in Georgia under
its rule, and in many of these such results
are shown as illustrate beyond any per.
adventure its efficiency over all methods
Of regulation or ''license." 1t was a
question for the people themselves to set
tie. as he did not denounce the liquor
dealers. but really felt more respect for
them than he did for the hypocrltical,
sO-called Christians who prayed to be
delivered from the evils of drunkenness,
vet voted to license the business which
caused it. individual responsibility"
he said. sis what we need. Men must be
made to feel that they bear part OF the
responsibilities of the liquor trafhc, just
to the extent that they favor license
rather than prohibition"
He was listened to with close attention
and spoke about three-quarters Of an hour.
Mr.. d. l.. Jackson, from the committee
of Good Templars having the meeting in
charge. announced that Mrs. Lord would
favor the audience with recitation. Mrs.
! Lord recited ''OYer to Mulligan's' in her
usual style. which ELECTED most hearty
| encore at the close. Mr.. ThrOwer was in
troduced by Mr.. H. W. Dennis, well
known worker in the cause in this city, in
| fitting terms, paying him most 1latter-
| ing tribute for the part he has ever borne
/ in the cause.
Mr.. y. T. Thompson was on the plat
| form and was then introduced as the next
| speaker, but Mr.. Thompson stated that he
/ came without expecting to be called on
| to participate, yet his sentiments being SO
well known in the city. he could not de-
| cline expressing his sympathy then as on
! all other suitable occasions with work
/ which appeals to every Christian, to every
| patriot and TO every well Wisher of hui
| manity. He recited, by special request,
a very beautiful and touching poem enti-
| tied The Drunkard's Dream" which
! elected considerable applause.
| Quite an entertaining programme Of
| singing was then presented, which rem
| dered the meeting more attractive even
than those present had been led to expect,
! and had that feature been more generally
known, certainly would have drawn a
larger audience. Mrs. Ida Wade gave
! rendition of the popular song, CIV aiting,"
in which the remarkable power and pa
| thOs Of her voice was called into play
| with the happiest possible effect. Alto
gether. the entertainment was a very
| pleasant one indeed.
After the meeting at the Opera House,
| an informal meeting was held at the
Lodge room, where a bOunteOus supper
was served. Speeches were made by
] Messrs. James q. ThrOwer, ID. L. jack
son. Thomas II. Lord and II. w. Dennis.
REGULATIONS were given by Miss Booz and
! Mrs. Laird. and several selections were
/ sung BY the l. o. G. T. Quartette. The
occasion was thoroughly enjoyable, and
was a fitting conclusion to the evenings
/ entertainment.