New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-18
LUM SMITH SAW MR. MURRAY.
DECIDING TO LISTEN TO Mr.. CoMsTocK.
DR. TA1NAGE AND DR. PARKHURsr PRAISE THE
SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF VICE.
~ tba


DR. TALMAGE AND DIR. PARKHURsr PRAISE The
SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF VICE.
The fourteenth annual public meeting OF the
New-Yorl Society for the Suppression OF vice was
held last night in Association Han ana wheh IL
adjourned the members and the audience In gen
eral agreed that the gathering had been one OF
the most successful and satisfactory ever heio oy
the oroanization Despite the storm the lower
part of the hall was filed with hlghy respccV
able and representative assembly of ladies ana gen
tlcmcn. The great majority Of them were in fuil
svmpathv with the society. small minority
who were not consisted os a few artists, who thinK
Anthony Comstock's efforts should be restrained
and n few others.
representative Of this second class, one Lum
Smith who had evidently gone to the meeting
for the purpose Of creating disturbance atempoeu
TO carry out his plan, in the course OF the meetings
but was prevented from doing so by Ponce super
intendcnt Murray. who was present merely rs d
spectator He was sitting in the audience wheh
the speakers of the evening, the Rev. Dr. lai-
mage and the Rev. Dr. Charles ii. fari<hursN
entered with some Of the officers and members oil
the society, President Samuel Colgate, hliiaen
Van Rensselaer, the treasurer Morris X. Jesup
George Kellogg and the Rev. Drs Moore and San
ders He was recognized just after the proceed
ings opened and invited to take seat on the
platform lie accepted the invitation amid LOUD
applause.
READING THE ANNUAL REPORT.
After prayer by DR.. Sanders President colgate
,aIled on Mr.. ComstOcl to read the annual report
Of the organization. The secretary was received
with burst Of applause that made his pale face
and the scar on his cheek grow crimson In his
report he reviewed not only the work done during
the year by the society but also that performed
nv fhp throughout
and by similar organizations all over the world
Here is synopsis of what was done by the new
York society:
entencss were imposed ma fines
81 obscene papers books pctnes negatives by the
thousand half ton ooitery amt ton OF sa~SSGf
indictments Pcrspns arrested l232 persons ooave'eu
u.s. :, term gs O. @ sa bo1 S eed 81 maEng
h na ran To- he pn % treay Of Ssa o. dollar
the society More than forty nine tons
o been seized
lin SMITH AND HIS FOLLOW RS.
Mr.. Comstoc1 rcxt reviewed the Knoedler con-
test. justifyin. his course in the matter by
volumnous testimony and then pitched into the
enemies Of the society in this style:
year these laws against obcenlty have eeea
so.caed Liberia s." Free Thinkers" Free Lovers and
civ by the pressure OF ndctmnts courts have been
forced to discontinue unlaw at m asse
arshpsa creature unworthy Of III. name Of man lead
our standing and character by sending
Stop there" shouted dark haired. slightly
built man as he rose in the centre of the AUDIENCE
&" / that man. Lum Smith, and l.. Inc
rest of the sentence was lost in the STIR caused
at this unloolled-for interruption. Everyone
seemed amazed except Mr.. Comstock and super
intendent Murray. The superintendent was on ms
feet in moment and just as policeman was
about to grab the offender, Mr.. Murray said
" Hold on "a moment, officer" Then to Mr.. smith
"You are here to listen not to talk II you
don't like what is said here get out, and get
out quickly or I'll have you locked up instantly
SMITH DID NOT KNOW MR. NJ RRAY
Smith seemed amazed He had evidently not
expected to see Mr. Murray there. lie dropped
into his seat again saying he did so, in
whining tone: q" I'll be quiet, sir' lie kept ms
word. The treasurer's report showed that
So 544 IS had been received by the society and
So es5 26 raid out. President Colgate made
short address in which he declared that the society
and not Mr.. COmstocl was responsible for all that
had been done in making war on dealers IN french
photOgra phs He declared that II was not art
but immortality that had been and was still on
trial
inclined to look upon Mr. ComstOell with dsfavor.
Since then he had become converted, and he was
aI tIrdmgb thick and thin There were three OBJ
stacles he added in the way of the soclety's pro
gress-art, antagOnism Of the press and the apathy
of the community On the first point lie made
some vigorous remarks. A photograph or picture
he said should be considered as TO what effect 1t
is likely to have upon the passions This ne added,
ComstoclS is as we'll qualified TO pass upon as any
artist-yes. or thousand times better Zap
plause) - - - ,,c,
Loud cheers greeted DR. Talmage, who seemed
in remarkably fnc trim. His speech was brief
but he drew forth the applause of the audience
almost continuously. Tie praised the society and
fairly dcluged Mr. ComstOcll with commitments
" I am not so much concerned" he said, in what
the society has done in the past: am looking TO
what it is destined 10 accomplish IN the
future I'm not Methodist but when
consider what II can and will do vet for God and
humanity feel like shouting llalleuah!'" and
he shouted in q tone that might have been heard
in the street lie did not know. he continued
any better motto to give the society than the
poem written by the old minister, the entire
verses OF which were. Go on, 60 on, go on etc;
What he asked, " do you think would
have been the moral condition Of this city Of this
country had this society never existed? Think
of what evil that fortv-nine tons Of matter would
have done had it not been DESTROYED" Applause
DR. Tamage then touched upon the attacks made
upon Mr. ComstocS and the threats against his
life declaring that the good work would go on,
no matter who removed
All the speakers referred to the excellent as
sistance rendered by the police officials and by the
District-Attorneys Office.