The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-01-05

nearest you in the work have any correct
idea of the greatness of your toll, for, even
when not outwardly engaged, the matter was
resting upon your soul to such an extent that
you had little rest from it. Much thought
much writing, and much talking were need
ed, and this was work. Much mental anxiety
was excited by it, and that was worse than
labor You had ever to be on the alert to
discover and checkmate the movements oil
the enemy and all this you had to do with
out being at all times assured of the encour.
agement of the voters and in the face gilmore
or less Indifference on the part of the press
and people. We now desire to show you
that we recognize in this your sclf-denying
| philanthropic zeal, and we honor you for it
| Many of lis were active workers; but none
| of us gave so much time and toll to it as you
Gou were the General, and we merely your
aids.
But the query comes why should we give
you this purse? If your motive has been
purely benevolent, should not the approval
OF conscience and the applause of good men
be II sufficient reward? Can it be that after
all yOu were merely working for prospective
salary? Leaving such malarial questions to
arise in the swamps of base minds and hearts
we come to give you this money rs a teStija0.
| AidE Of err regdIW, and not as pay for ser
t'Vtift"N'tttNftt v
made no charge and we promised you no pay.
You had none to expect, for your work was
purely voluntary. JUST seemed to drift into
your hands and you pushed it through, be-
cause you could not sec it fail. But, sir, the
people of Hartford, though they may have
often looked disinterostedly ON, are not dull
to your due. And SO to-day | am commits
stoned by them to give you this as test
monial-a present--a gift. 1t is not con-
mensurale with your services, it is true; but,
coming spontaneously from the people, it will,
we trust, be received rs expressive of more
than the mere money value. We wish that
when you leave Hartford you may carry away
happy memories of 1881 and 1882, and the
assurance that in many homes, for many
years, hearts will bless you for your work in
the prohibition of rum.
Evil men have sought to abuse YOU but
they have ingloriousy failed. Their dctrac-
tiOns remind us of the snarls of Gagged beasts
who long for prey but cannot get it. We
would this day vindicatc you from all mputa-
tons from that source.
| now have the honor to convey to you,
with these remarks, this testimonial Of good.
will from the people of Hartford; and may the
blessings OfIIcavn go with it and with you,
and make you happy in the use of it. Please
accept this purse of$250 from the people of
Hartford.
Rev. Mr.. Benson was taken aback by the
compliments thrust upon him, and it was
with difficulty that he could suppress his
feelings sufficiently to respond TO the speech of
Mr. Kietier, but he assured the donors present
and begged them to carry back to other con-
tributors his hearty thanks, and assured them
that he felt unworthy to receive it, and that
whenever he should in the future look upon
L., 4
he would remember the men of Hartford with
whom he had been so pleasantly associated.
Revs w. T. l.. Kieticr, Il +. Benson, j. II.
Marsh and J. W. Steele made speeches cX-
prcssivc Of the county's gratitude to Mr..
Thomas, President of the Alliance Mr..
Thomas responded TO the remarks made
The meeting then adjourned.