Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-26
DWIGHT DRUNK.ARD CURE.
How lnebriatiOn is Reformed at
the Famous Village.
Rev. II. w. Merreli's Sermon at the
First m. Il. Church Last Evening
How . Great Work In Done,

The First M. E. church was packed
last evening on the occasion of the SER
mon BY The pastor, Rev. F. W. Merrell.
on the subject, "Curing Drunkard." as
accomplished at the famous village of
Dwight, Illinois. As hitherto announced
Mr.. Merrell was for three years prior to
his coming TO Rock Island located at
Dwight and was the first chaplain of the
Bi Chloride Of Gold cub there. and was
therefore competent to speak from an
experienced and practical standpoint.
His tex. last evening was from Acts
10, So:
Who wen about. doing good and healing all
were oppressed OF the devil.
We hear in these words. Mr. Merrell
said, a su nmary of Christ's life. 1t con>
sisted in doing good and in healing all
that are physically. mentally, morally or
spiritually diseased. Hence the found>
ing of asy lums and institutions for the
relief of humanity is a Christly work.
A Jenner or a Pasteur is benefactor
Of the race. Ruyhsn stayed the rsvsges
Of smallpox and hydrophobia-two ter
rible malsdies Science is doing q
Christly work. 1t Is staying the flight of
the dark angel of death. The effects of
intempersnce are more deadly than the
ravages of small pox or hydrophobia and
hence it is not strange that the attention
of men should be arrested by a cure for
intemperarce The work at Dwight has
been gratuitously advertised simply "for
humsnlty's sake" as the editor of the
Mercury, Of New York, put it. The
most conservative of periodicals haYe
| opened their columns, such as the North
American Rsview. Harper's Weekly, New
York World and New York Sun, London
| Times. etc. This recognition has been
| accorded through the influence of 10
Medill. of the Chicago Daily Tribune,
who sent several hopeless sots as test
cases to Dwight. and was SO struck by
the reformation wrought in them that
be took it up at once. He has published
editorials and articles without stint on
this subject. This free advertising
has been for humsnity's sake
For hunlanity's sake, also. this
service is held, for the possible re-
lief Of any home suffering from this
| scourge in these three cities. You that
! come from homes untouched by this
| curse cannot understand the Joy that
comes to wives, mothers, sisters, friends.
! from whose hearts the terrible burden of
dispair is lifted by the curing OF loved
| ones.
A letter from Los Gatos, Cal, was res
as a sample Of hundreds received by the
speaker wherein the writer detailed her
experience from the first awful awaken
| ing to the fact her husband was drunk
ark down to the final loss of hope. as she
realized her husband was hoplessly ad-
dicted todrink. A ray of hope broke
upon her through An article in the Advo-
cate. fromths pen of Rev. Merrell.
After having witnessed the joy that
had dswned on very many dispairing
souls as they regained their loved ones
redeemed from drink, no wonder the
speaker felt en- interest in the work.
With regard to the character of the men
who take tres tment it should be borne
in mind be said that among the victims of
intemperance are our brightest and most
influential and beloved citizens. Men Of
social natures, generous, magnanimous.
are such as are under peculiar temptation
in this direction. Hence as might be an
ticipsted the patients are class worth
saving and worthy OF an acquaintance.
The speaker described in brief way the
organization OF the Bi-Chloride of Gold
| club and the institution OF the Sunday
service of which he was made chaplain
and given entire control. The character
of the audiencs gathered in the club room
| of Sabbath morning was such as to inspire
any minister OF the gospel. Judges. ply
| sicisns, erctants, millionaires, men OF
prominence from nearly every state in
the union were gathered there.
The mode of treatment was described.
and it was said that the drugs were not
taken away at once from the patient. but
that his strength was kept up and the
drug replaced by other medicines until
be refused his old stimulant entirely. In
this way many lives were saved that by
any other treatment would be sent to the
grave.
Some ILLUSTRATIVE cases were presented.
The Champaign morphine man who had
been taking 100 grains Of morphine and
Q pint of alcohol daily for 10 years. and
who at first had to be watched to prevent
his committing suicide. but who was
brought out without being aware OF the
time when he ceased using morphine.
Another case from Detroit was spoken OF
where the man lad been discharged from
| his position because Of drink and divorced
| from his wife for the same reason. de
was reinstated in his old position and re-
Il A. IL -;fa II anded very traQ.