Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-20
TEMPERANCE TALK.
The Ninth Murphy Meeting-A Summary
of the Exercises.

The Ninth Murphy Meeting-A Summary
of the Exercises.
Mr.. Murphy spoke at the ninth OF the
cries Of ten perance meetings, last evening,
o a very large audience. After the hymn
~ kai q Friend We Have in Jesus" had
ben sung by the choir, Mr.. Murphy began
nis address by saying that the constant
strain which had been put upon him during
the past two weeks was beginning to tell
upon him; his head troubled him, and he
was in need offs few days of rest. Bat he
would try, in Gods Dsme TO go on, endeav
oriug TO 90 a little good, and he was only
sorry, when then the meetings were over,
that so few had come forward to avail them.
selves of the opportunity to escape from the
tolls. He wondered how the poor man
the working man-could help loving Christ
The Savior had gone about among the
common people of the earth doing good
healing the sick, restoring the blind
TO sight, restoring him who went about
crying "Unclean ,unclean." and he did not IN
derstand how people could help loving Him
1t was hardly worth while for a man 20 en-
dravor to DO right of himself alone; it wa
necessary for him to ask Christ to help and
guide AMI sustain. When the speaker had
gotten free from the slavery of drink, he
found himself entering upon a new life; thu
flow rs were sweeter, the sky was bluer, tn
air more fragrant, and even the very hills
eemed breaking into song. But he was
absolutely penniless; he VI worse of than
hat; be owed about s 5000. That was &
pretty complete case of bankruptcy for the
ord to take upon his hands. But God had
pramised to provide for every want, and h.
thought he would get along somehow. On
his way down street he met an old friend
a countryman of his-who said to him:
Frank, I suppose you want to get into
business again. Now, | have plenty Of money
and a nice s;oreroom over there, aud you
can have all the money you want" Mr..
Murphy expressed his thankfulness, but
said he had resolved to never drink or sci;
whisky again, and, after pronouncing the
speaker a queer fellow" the friend went
his way. Mr.. Murphy went into the book.
psddlirg business, and struggled along, and
finally succeeded in getting out of debt and
out of trouble.
The speaker had called upon a number Of
~salOonkeepers during the day, and had been
everywhere cordially received. Men had
shook him BY the hand over the bar, and
most Of them were not doing much business
and hsd plenty of time to talk.
They had chatted together over temper.
ance and intemnerance, and matters and
things in general, and be had made a mum.
Ger Of new friends. What a pity it was, he
said, that meH and women too, had no.
courage enough to treat the saloon keeper
kindly-to shake hands with him, and speak
pleasantly. IF you want to catch fish, he
said, you must go down to the fshpond.'
What a blessed thing it would be If people
would take rs much trouble to catch men a
they took to catch trout.
He went Gu 10 relate, as he had done a;
previous meetings, incidents and aneclD'e.
Of the temperance work, occurring during
the many years he has been engaged in
lighting whisky, alternately moving his
hearers to tears, or conyulsirg them with
laughter, and closed By reminding tn
audience of the great popular enthusiasm
which swept over the land twenty FIVE years
ago, when weeping mothers and gray haired
fathers gave their only som to their country.
He did not call those sons to such a
sacriGce-no bloody battlefield await
ed those who followed whittier he
led, but there was something gtander
awaiting them who did his bidding. 1t
seemed to him that the time was suspicious
for reform; tonight the angels OF God were
looking over the bsttlemcnts of heaven upon
the struggling and stricken of earth, and he
PRAYED God that under the inspiration of
their presence many might be moved to re.
pentsnce.
A large number ofyouug men then came
forward to sign the pledge, and then, at the
invitation Of Mr.. Murphy, short addresses
were made BY Rev. Mr.. Hair, Rev. Mr..
Dryden, o fWest Liberty. Rev. Mr.. Hite, Mr..
Merrifeld, and others, and the signers were
again called for, With a fair response.
Mr.. Murphy viii go to Greenburg, Pa,
this evening. and his son will address the
meeting here in his stead tonight.