Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-03-16
Great Britain's weldohe to Miss Willard

Remarkable ss has been the power of our
transatlantic friends to attract immense
audiences and awaken British enthusiasm,
none perhaps, John Cough and Dwight l..
Moody not excepted, have evoked more
universal interest or received a greater
ard during her three months stay In Eng
land. In this age of great convenipgs, it
Is not often that a single meeting marks
an epoch, even though it be In the interest
of a reform that has now forged its way
to the front in the politics of England's
regnan' party, aud, mirdbiie dictu, finds a
place In ths Qn-en's speech to Parliament.
This IL statement noteworthy indeed.
out it Is true Of the national welcome, for
was nothing less, accorded to Americas $
White ribbon leader at the recent great
Meeting In Exeter Hall.
There is perhaps no better gauge Of the
state Of public sentiment towards cause
pr an Individual than the attitude of an
Exeter Hall audience. This famous audi
torium has been so long the battle ground
II all religious movements and reforms.
that to the accustomed eyes of its habitues
the unprecedented character Of that assem-
nly ~a~ marvel. Even In the city Of
London it Is not difficult to rally the ad-
lerents of a single reform. but to convene
hftv distinct lines of religious. philan-
r.,E -
thing which. so far as know has never
before occurred in the greatest metropolis
of the world.
On the huge platform were seated men
aud wpmen whose names are household
words throughout the English-spesking
race members of Parliament, dignitarics
Of the church and ladies of society, side
by side with the leaders of the labor move
ment aud The salvation Army. A delega-
ION appointed from the Methodist church,
te Baptist, the Congregational, the So
established church, and temperance leaders
OF the Catholic hierarchy while the chief
Jewish rabbi sent Il congratulatory letter
aud signed the address of welcome which
WAS also attested by three hundred local
unions Of the British Women's Temper
ance Union.
Among the societies represented on the
platform were the Worlds Womens
Christian Temperance Union, British Wom-
us Temperance Association. United King
iom Alliance, Young Abstainers' Union.
independent Order of Good Templars, In
dependent Order Of the Rrchsbtes. Anti
Opium League, Women's Anti Opium Emer-
.ency League, Church Of England TEN
perance Society, Total Ab,taining section
Of the Young Women's Christian Associa-
ton, Young Mems Christian Association.
Band of Mercy, salvation Army, Inter
rational Christian Police Association.
''nurch Army. West London Wesleyan
Mission. Womans Suffrage Society, Veg
tartan Society, the Rev. Armstrong Ben
uelts, b. A., and six ministers, a dcputa
tion from the Wesleyan Church; Tower
iiamlets Mission, Baptist Total Abstinence
Society. Congregational Total Abstinence
Society, Women's Liberal Federation, Ma
tinnal Union of Women Workers, Nation
Al Vigilance Society. Prison Gate Mission.
Friends Temperance Union. Presbyterian
Temperance Union. Students Total Absti-
nence Association. New Church Temper
tuce Socie.y. Catholic Total Abstinence
League of the Cross, National Temperance
Federation, Phunlx Orders, London TEN
perance Hospital Board, Railway Temper
,nce Union, Templar and Temperance Or
phanage Board, English Sunday Closing
A Association. East London Mission Insti-
tute, Working Women's Teetotal League.
Butchers Total Abstinence Society, Ba-
kers' Total Abstinence Society, General
Post Office Total Abstinence Society, Wom-
ems Trades Uulon Association.
The speakers, twelve in number, were
each one equal 10 filling Exeter Hall In the
strength Of individual reputation; but they
gladly limited their speeches to i've min
utss each. rejoicing to be among those
who did honor TO the distinguished guest
whom the crowds had assembled to greet
in numbers so large that the tickets could
tunate possessors more sordid than en-
thusiastic, were disposlng Of them at three
times their original value at the entrance
where they were eagerly purchased-e.e
for the overflow meeting which had speed
lily to be organized, so great were the
crowds demanding entrance.
Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm
with which the speaker of the evening was
greeted. The vast audience rose with a
cheer on their lips, and waving white
handkerchief 10 hand, and for several
minutes the expression of their admiration
seemed as though it would never subside.
A thrill of pleasure comes to our hearts
when one is thus recognized who has
toied 50 long and patiently for others
veal, for it is good indeed to pour out the
fragrance Of our welcome, affection and
praise. and place our tribute in the warm
clasp VI liFius uauuS latnci tuau iay IL ou
the cold marble of q tomb.
After such greeting as has been de-
scribed, 1t was not an easy task to organ
ize demonstration worthy to be compared
with that of Exeter Hall; but the United
Kingdom Alliance, the strongest temper
ance society in Great Britain. proved equal
TO the undertaking. Five thousand per-
.ons assembled on consecutive evenings in
the great Free Trade Hall in Mauche>
ter, the second city in England, and the
headquarters Of the Alliance. Canon Will
berforce and Sir Wilfred Lawson were
the chairmen. Testimonials were present
ed by the Alliance and other temperance
societies, and the entire audience rose to
receive Miss Willard, a greeting which
was perhaps excellei only by the enthu-
,issm which brought them to their feet
,gain and caused hearty British cheer to
-cho through the historic hall that had
witnessed the rriumphs of Golden, Bright
and Gladstone, as she closed her speech.
"a wonderful address," said a veteran
leader who had gauged every speaker on
the temperance platform for the last forty
wears; II have never heard it excelled and
perhaps not equalled."
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