Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-07
Wednesday. May z, 1854
After Forty Years.

Then and Now-JOhn b. Coughs Forth
eth Annivsrsary-His Life Work
Cough and the Late Rev. DIR. Bacon
Coughs Fist Address i'm New Haven
A Coming Event.
A correspondent says: Please allow me q
little space in your columns to convey to
your numerous readers the value of efforts to
reclaim those who seem to be ruined for
time and eternity. It is true we have thous-
ands of arrests (about 5000 annually for
drunkenness in this city. Many of the vic>
Tins appear to be past redemption from their
habitual practices. On the other hand we
have hundreds of cases where men overtaken
in their crimes have been consigned to prison,
where in solitude they reflected upon their
past lives, and by the reading of good books,
advice of religious teachers and the kind en-
| treaties of those who have sought to save
| them, have become reformed and are now
blessing to themselves, their friends and to
| the community in which they
4 live. Some so years ago a mother
| died in one of the tenements in New
4 York city, leaving a son and daugh-
ter. The boy was away from home on an
1 errand and on his return, not finding his
mother, exclaimed to his sister, 'TWhat have
| they done with mother" The little girl re-
l piled, ssThey put her in box and that is the
4 cart down the street. Come hurry John,
\ we can catch it and see where they go with
her." The motherlsss children saw her
buried in the Potters field (now Washington
l Square) without prayer or service of any
l kind, The boy learned the bookbinder's
trade was good workman, but SO full of
/ fun and tricks that he was discharged and
I became a reckless and dissipated youth,
| spending seven or eight years of his life in all
4 sorts of wickedness and was called a ruined
l man not worth saving. He was induced to
4 sign the pledge, broke it, signed again, and
l was encouraged to keep it. Forty years ago
4 last Friday evening q temperance meeting
/ was held in the old Broadway tabernacle,
4 New York. Rev Dr. Bacon was the speaker
! After his address thin awkward young man
/ was asked to tell his story. It was his first
1 speech in New York. It portrayed the evils
4 which ruined thousands in that day, and had
| a wonderful influence over all who listened
to his earnest and heartfelt appeal. No pen
can trace the influence of that meeting, and
| the thousands of others where John B.
| Cough, the reformed man, has lifted up his
| voice to save the ruined in all parts of the
| world. The fortieth anniversary of his tab
4 ernacle speech was celebrated last Friday
I evening il the new Broadway tabernacle
| Rev. DR.. Taylor presided. His Introduction
1 was very full of facts touching Mr.. Coughs
long and useful life. In closing he said
"Gough was 40 years ago the young man elo-
quent and popular, and now he was the old
man eloquent with increased popularity"
| Mr.. Cough, he said, never attended school
after ten years of age. It was forty-one
years ago whom he signed the pledge in
Worcester and Lawyer Goodrich called on
him afterwards when he was ready to break
I down under his struggle and said, ''Stick to
| it john" land by the encouragement of
! friends and by the help of God,' said Mr..
| Cough, 81 have stuck to it. 1 have given over
| 5000 lectures travelled over 47O,O miles,
spoke 325 times in New York and 376 in BoS-
ton. expect to start Monday morning for
California for a three months lscturine
tour" Mr.. Cough never showed q greater
| power over an audience than last
Friday. Before him were men who
| were present forty years ago and others who
Previous to the meeting Orville Gardner
known formerly as Awful Gardner, met him
after an absence of many years, and instead
of shake of the hand he threw his arms
about his neck and Rugged him, saying. 81
am glad to see you once more before I die
you are going to California. I shall nOVe
see you again. The many greetings in per
| son and the almost numberless letters nj
| luding to his works of success in reforming
others are evidence of value to show tina
men are worth saving. Mr.. Coughs frs
| speech in New Haven was to the students o
Yale forty years ago next December, Whel
| he took glass of water and so eloquent
described it, as many remember to this day
sary on December 6, 1884, in this city.
7 q N