Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-01
RETURNS,
And a Crowded Auditorium Greets Him NJ
the Baptist Church.

the Baptist Churcn.
Although the weather was very disagree
able last evening q large audience greeted
MIR. Francis Murphy on his return to our
city. The meeting was opened by the
usual exercises when Mr.. Murphy intro
duced Mr.. j. B. Chambers, commander OF
Holiday Post G. A. r who made q very
eloquent and pleasant little address on the
evils of the fatal cup. He spoke especially
of General Grant, who lies 80 near deaths
door, aid his remarks were received with
hearty applause.
Mr.. Murphy then spoke for about an hour
in his usual eloquent and touching name
He said he had read with tender feeling OF
the request Of General Grant, when sup
posed to be dying, to see his daughter Mel
lie, who ": s far across the sea. How she
had been telegraphed for; her arrival home
and INN, date procedure to his bedside,
and her II ception to his arms without for
mality or l esitancy. She was his child, and
vas reeeiye ed with a paternal feeling OF Joy
and welcome. No stranger would be re-
ctiyed in this manner, and this Mr.. Murphy
iktned unto the reception extended by the
Savior to his people-his children. When
the great day of meeting comes God will re-
ceiye His children to His arms without re-
serve, but with all the love OF a father Tor
his children. Strangers will not receive this
divine welcome; they will not be clasped into
His arms in a loving and tender embrace
no, il will only be the children Of God who
are thus received. Mr.. Murphy then
oranched off into the temperance question.
SAID he, now let US have a few words about
this gre at evil-that of the intoxicating cup.
The young mai who is received into the
best society is lionized by the fair sex and
received ty the best citizens. He attends
be brillis mt bail, whirls away in the may
dance with a fair partner, while the delight
tul odors Cf flowers greet his senses and the
strains of beautiful music sound and
rtsound through the corridors, and he is in
a bewitching state Of bliss. He partakes OF
The wine-the cup is raised to his lips and
drained-fatal dose-he is lost. He IS led
astrsy into bad company, commits a crime
ard leaves his home, and after q while is
almost forgotten by mis- influential friends,
and his former lady admirers who smiled
sweetly upon him in the days Of yore. He
Ierurns, AID these friends walk past him dis
daining TO recognize or be recognize by him.
He is no longer lionizei, but sinks into by
ways and around corners to avoid these
former friends. His manhood is gone.
But there sre several people in town who
have not forgotten him, or banished him
'rt m their hearts. There is a woman there
vi ON he addresses by the sacred name OF
uo,her; there is a man whom he was wont
to call father, and there is a girl-a pure,
svtet-hearted girl-whom he has had the
her or to call sister-they all think OF and
love him still.
sfather takes up his paper at the office
n the morning, and IN account of his
sons arrest greets his startled eyes.
Csn this be his son, the hope and pride of a
doting father aud loving mother? Even
so. He starts for home, intent upon break
ing the news to mother, but he cannot
break her heart, and he determines to wait.
When he enters the home the mother no.
tees that he has something on his mind
and at or ce devines that something is wrong
and the first thing that strikes that dear
mothers heart is that something has hap
pered her SOP, and her imploring question
is too plainly answered in the agonized ex-
preston of father, and she falls to the floor
with a heart breaking cry OF "Oh, my son,
my dear son. My dear hearers, | have
not overdrawn this picture. may say that
thousands Of such scenes occur yearly
in this grand country Of ours,
and beseech and call
upon you as free men to break off the chains
hat bind you to an eternal pit of darkness
ard misery. Some people pass by and say
in q ~scorniul way, "Oh, there is Murphy"
Well, there is Murphy, and he intends to
stay there as long as God gives him strength
to battle against this great evil and assist
all msnkind-to elevate themselves and ban
ssh this curse from our shores. And when
am no longer able, said he, | pray to God
that my eloquent son, like David, may Sc
!ect a pebble from the brookside of Gods
glory and goodness and placing it In his
slirg and whirlng it around, around and
around until it obtains the irresistible mo-
meBtum of the Savior's divine power.
aurl the missile at the forehead Of
this destructive and murderous Goliath,
drink, and smite him to the earth, never to
rise egsin.
After beseeching the ladies to help in
this grand work, and asking all to come
and iointhis great army Of temperance, he
concluded. About fifty persons signed the
pledge last evening and Mr.. Murphy may
certainly feel proud of the great good he
is doing in our community, and no doubt
many O mothers prayers will be sent up to
the throne Of glory for Mr.. Murphy.