Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-24
"THE DUTY OF THE HOUR
Morse and Mrs. Mary H.
Hunt Talk to the Old Line W.C.T.U.

Foundry ME. church was the scene of an old
line W.C.TU. temperance meeting at $50 yes
terday afternoon Representative Elijah Morse
OF Massachusetts had been announced to speak
on The duty Of the hour Mrs Hunt of
Massachusetts. who was present, also made q
brief address. In opening the meeting Mrs.
LaFetra. president of the District w.C.TU.,
read carefully prepared paper on government
vine and beer canteens at army posts, entering
vigorous protest against them. She said it
would be as sensible to open canteens in every
nome to keep the boys from strong drink. The
christian people of the country should protest
against the proposed measure. Her remarks
Werethe key note OF the whole meeting.
AGAINST LIGHT DRINKS.
Mrs. Mary H. Hunt of Massachusetts, inter
national superintendent of scientific instruc-
ton, who is in the city to appear before con-
gressional committees on the subject, spoke on
the scientific phases OF the alcoholic question
IN relation to individual. social and national
life. She said We want prohibition OF the man.
ufacture and sale of alcohol because it is mar
cotic brain poison; but under government of
the people. where men vote as they drink. pro-
hibition is impossible till majority OF voters
are abstainers. closer analysis of the trouble
shows. she said, that 1t was in the beginning
ignorance of the nature of the drink. No young
man when he takes his first drink expects to be-
come drunkard. He is ignorant of the scien-
titic fact that the alcohol in beer, wine and
cider Is the same i'll character that of stronger
liquors, and he is also ignorant of the danger
Gus characteristic of alcohol whereby a little
creates an appetite for more. For that reason
she argued that the proposed canteen law pro-
yidlng lighter liquors to be sold and drunk by
soldiers. is unscientitic and immoral and would
be the cause of intemperance rather than tenn
perance. which latter its advocates claim for
1t. She referred to the great progress of the
temperance movement in this country. and
said that through the action of Congress and
twenty-seven state legislatures more than
10000 900 school children under temper
ance education laws and being taught the eff
fects OF alcohol upon the human system. She
suggested that Congress had better inquire of
the school children, who could tell them the
folly OF expecting temperance results from the
USE OF beer, wine and cider. The great work
of revising temperance text book referred
to and words OF Wendell Phillips were quoted
as hopeful of the present condition: If we
have the school books and the schools today on
any given topic we thereby have public opinion
tomorrow, and consequent established order
the day after" Mrs. Hunt will visit the public
schools while in the city and is arranging pub
lie meeting for the especial purpose Of address,
ing the public school teachers.
REPRESENTATIVE NOISES TOTAL ABSTINENCE
SPEECH.
Mr.. Morse Endorsed what Mrs. Hunt had
said on the proposed establishme mt OF canteens
for the sale of wine and beer at army posts,
and declared it was perfectly shameful and
ridiculous to talk about the sale of such drinks
as a temperance measure. He said wine and
beer are the devils kIndling wood and their
use the sure and certain road to drunkenness.
He would resist to the uttermost that provis-
ion OF the army appropriation bill. The propo-
sitioD to establish saloons at army posts is an
injustice to the soldiers by placing temptation in
their way and an outrage upon the people of
the United States. They had met, he said. to
contend with no imaginary foe. but with a
vlgIiant. active enemy The statistics of pauper-
ism and crime resulting from drink are appall-
ing. He thought it not eXtravagant to say
that ninety whine One-hundredths of the pauper-
ism, crime and insanity are directly or in
directly traceable to strong drink. 1t was well
upon these the hours of the holy Sabbath day
that they left their homes and crowded the house
of God and the place of prayer to consider a
question which so nearly concerns the spiritual
and temporal welfare Of the people. He warned
his hearers, especially young men, against
entering the outer circles of this awful
mae lstron that destroys the body and the soul.
He said alcohol is the most dangerous of all
polsons because it is brain poison, and the
brain is the seat of the will. Before the victim
knew it he had lost his will power and was
drunkard and couldn't stop. But there are not
wanting illustrations of the fact that the grace
OF God goes down to great depths in saving ill.,
temperate men. lis there" he said, "a poor
incorporate man here, sign the pledge and
pray for the grace of God to help you, and,
though it may be the drear winter with you
now, spring and joy and beauty and manhood
will come again" Mr.. Morse gave several pa
thetic illustrations of men rescued from great
depths, and concluded an address of nearly an
hour as follows: 80, then. by the memories of
the past, by the solemnities of the future, by
your personal responsibility to God by the
love you bear your children, by their kisses
that may rest warm upon your lips, by every
noble consideration | solemnly, earnestly ex-
hort you to lives of total abstinence"
MIR. Morse has accepted an invitation from
Rev. DIR. Newman to occupy the Congrega-
tlonal pulpit next Sunday evening.