The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-25
MURPHY AND HIS FRIENDS
DR.. Cleyeland's High Tribute to the Tenn
perance Evangelist and His Work.
Others Engaged in the Cause Speak Briefly of
the Great Good Done in This City
Address of Thomas Murphy.

els Murphy and the great work he has done
In this city. The meeting bore the name of
Mr.. Murphy's farewell reception, as he will
leave IN a few weeks. accompanied by his
wife, for a trip to Europe. II see men here
tonight" said DIR. Cleveland. who made
the opening remarks, who took this Muir
ply pledge three years ago. Mr.. Murphy
has presented the love and sympathy of
God as manifested in Christ, in such a ten
der and winning way hat it took hold of
mems hearts. He has taught US what SYM
pathy is in one heart for another; what
human love and brotherhood are, and how
we can be really helpful to one another.
He has pied ged to us the gospel of love-of
Gods love, mothers love. fathers love, sis
ters love. the love of man for
man In such q way that it has
mastered our hearts, and has been the
beginning of a new life in many homes.
he has preached the gospel of reform and
the posi- biiities of strength and a new way
In hearts that have been overtaken by ap-
petite and evil. He has taught men to be-
lieve in themselves and the power of their
own will, and they have ventured again.
there are now men in stores. and shops.
aud factories in this city who did little
work, but who are now doing six days
work In each week. There were homes in
wnich there were poverty, squalor. sick
children and pale-faced wives. where now
there are love. and plenty. and happiness.
l know of hundreds of men leading good
lives through the influence of Mr.. Murphy
League"
lyon are all very welcome said Francis
Murphy, coming forward. This Is q real
kindness on the part of DR.. Cleveland to
give us this beautiful church for q recep-
ton. 1t is natural for the Doctor to say
pleasant things. He is among the birds,
and on his wings he can sweep through the
air and gather up beauty and scatter it
around us In such rich profusion that we
can hardly find words In which to render
thanks. This is q blessed occasion to me-"
MI. Murphy then spoke of his work. saying
there has been much said about the Christ
who died and not enough about the Christ
who rose again. "A few men have been
trying to take Christ out of the sepulchrc,"
he continued, land put him in their hearts.
I thank God he has come into their hearts.
L met o man who signed this pledge not q
great while ago and he has whispered to
me that be is going to move into q new
house. thatthe house is his and 1t is through
the pledge that it is his. 1t is not necessary
for me to speak of the many cases could
mention.o
Following this short speeche s were made
by J. Z. Shaffer. Charles L: Reynolds, the
Mr.. Pontius, who is now president. Mr..
Reynolds spoke of the first years efforts
and that seven hundred men had been
brought together who had signed the
an expense of $500 a year. largely contrib
uted by the rescued men themselves.
There IS a whole lot of men," exclaimed
MI. Murphy. Il could call upon to say q
word. There's brother Stephen Gray. and
Jimmy Martin aud his brother. and an
other brother and Tom Whitney. Come
up. Tom" Mr.. Whitney excused himself,
saying he was perfectly comfortable and
had been a sober man nearly three years,
ever since he had signed the pledge.
Thomas Edward Murphy, MIR. Murphy's
son, who Ia himself noted as o gospel tenn
perance-worker and lecturer. then came
forward. IL am very glad to be presented
to this audience by my beloved father" he
began. Il am always thankful for an op-
portunity to participate in his meetings.
1t Is nearly three years since / ceased to
take An active part In this gospel temper
ance work, and about the last speech l
made was in Tomlinson hall. l am influ-
enced much like the old horse who had
served in the fire department. and was
afterwards hitched up to a milk-wagon.
vas sounded and the engine ran by. He
just said to himself. pm a-going to the
ire" and away he went. leaving q broad
trail OF milk lining the roadway behind him.
when wrona, ! r sa the good thai hat has as, been cen
loving power of this father of mine. and
grasp his hand, l am almost ready to say
that l would gladly engage again In this
glorious warfare. believe that love is the
basis of all true and noble action; what we
live and labor for; and that this work. as
we'll as all Christian work, is built upon
that fundamental virtue. 1t illustrates its
power and beauty in the lives of those who
have suffered and died for love. We have
read of the Crimean war, and that while
the British soldiers were sick, rounded
and suffering In the hospitals there young
woman, In whose heart love and sympathy
vihro tod M thA pos.o 4f q 4I laf~ H.. 1900
pure and beautiful. and went to them. The
spirit that actuate Florence Nightingale
is the spirit that should actuate US to 60
forth and do what we can to overthrow
this great evil and bring peace and
happiness to the disconsolate. Love comes
In a look and in n grasp of the hand.
Il find that busines men draw the line
closely on young men who drink. Young
men are in demand. but they must be
sober, and the chances are. il not sober. it
will weigh heavily against him.. This
Murphy movement is a great thing in q
community. There is not q legitimate
branch Of trade that is not affected directly
by this gospel temperance work. / carried
on the work some years ago in Kendall.
England. and had great meetings. Among
the men who were induced to sign was q
mi.kman. After he quit drink it was three
or four days before he could do anything.
Then he began to deliver milk again. He
tied on a blue ribbon and he came to one of
his customers: q liqnor-seiler: The liquor
seller said: What's thats You wear the
blue ribbonf / Won't take your milk any
more
"'You won't take my milk because /
won't drink your liquorf asked the milk
man.
That's about the size of it. said the
liquor man.
Very well.' said the milkman. there
are about seven Thousand people in this city
who wear the blue ribbon, and if they
won't take my milk I'll drink it myself
That incident went all over the city and
his milk was in demand. He became very
prosperous and made money. He told me
when / saw him some time after that he
had paid all his debts and had 100 pounds
sterling in bank. He said he was thinking
of sending over to America to buy a lot of
blue-ribbon cows and run q Murphy dairy
[Laughter.l
A collection was taken up for the benefit
of the Blue Ribbon League. At the close
of the meeting q number of persons signed
the pledge and Mr.. and Mrs. Francis Muir
ply and Thomas +. Murphy were given o
season of Handwriting.
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