Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-11
SAVE THE CHILDREN.
Reiormer Anthony coms.ock Eloquently
Pleads Tor the Little Ones.

MONTREAL, July l0.-Another series OF
prayer meetings. five in number, were held
in churches of this city yesterday on the
part of the delegates to the annual con
vention of Christian Endeavor societies.
They were followed during the morning
by meetings in the drill hall and the tent,
At both of which there was full attendance.
The meeting at the drill hall was de-
voted to Missions"
The services at the tent were of an in
formal but interesting character, many
leaders of the movement being among the
speakers.
''Qenomnatioual Conferences" were
held in the various churches, and Rev.
Junior rally" at ST. James VI. f.. church.
Comstock's Address.
At 9 O'Clock, when the meeting IN The
tent was called to order, a large number
We're there TO hear Anthony Comstock of
New York in his address, Foes to Society,
Church and State" II was well received,
and during its d livery a large crowd of
not too well dressed French Canadians
gathered on the court and police station
steps and pcered at the speakers platform
through "A place from which the canvas
had been dropped to let in the air. At one
stage they became noisy and had to be dis
persed by the police, and one of the leaders
was taken into custody.
Mr. Comstock began by saying that the
business that called the Christian En-
deavor here was business for eternity.
The fate of the United States ami Canada
was bound NJ in the youthful population
OF those countries. Corrupt them, said
he, land you have touched the future
welfare of the church, society and state"
He touched on the scope of the Chris
tian Endeavor movement and the vast
strides 1t had made In fss3 he had spent
a weeI, with President Clark in Portland,
Me. and had spoken to the first band of
Christian Endeavorers i'll the Wilson
church ard compared its smallness then
with its vast proportions today.
A child's heart was a chamber of
imagery. The four walls of that chamber
must be decorated, The child carried
into it many pictures. and the spirit OF
evil stood by seeking to turn the child's
mind in the direction of that which was
bad. 1t was no simple thing to stand be-
tween these chambers and the 'beasts Of
prey and worse than beasts Of prey"
Then Mr.. Comstock told stories of 1.-THE
whirl of the devils printing press" which
strikes off matter to damn the chilrei's
souls. Twenty-four thousand postofiiecs
in the United States had reported the ex-
istence of obnoxious prints. Eighteen
hundred and thirty Of these moral cancer
plasters" had been arrested and brought
to the bar of justice, but still the vile work
went on.
OF inteEperance Mr.. Comstock had
good deal to say. 1t was one of these evils
which, especially in the case of high
license, came into force by the so-called
classic consent Of people who represented
themselves as Christians. He drew an
imaginary picture of the drunkard's career
on the canvas Of the tent and traced his
downfall The inevitable Christian and
heartbroken wife and barefooted children
were also there in the picture.
Almost a Riot.
Thousands Of people were congregated
On the Champ de Mars and on Craig street
in front of the drill hall last night, and
for blocks to the east and west.
The elements for riot were there in
full force. The talk about Mr. Kar-
marthar's ill-timed remarks had spread
all over the French part of Montreal, and
in the crowd were many who burned to
avenge the insult to their religion. Then
there were thousands assem- bletl who ha1
resolved to protect the Christian Endpav-
orers when they left the hall, If necessary
Among the Protestant crowd were
learly 1000 milit.amen in plain clothes
md the opposing crowd consisted of the
lower classes of FreIcil- Canadians. Occa-
sionally the volunteers and their adj
herents fell into line and marched around
the block inelosiug the Champ de Mars.
and the opposing crowd did likev;se.
marching around the block to the west of
the Champ de Mars
As the delegates emerged and turne, to
the west tHe volunteers formed GORDON n,
the edge Of the sidewalk Withou, any
manifestation Of alarm the delegates made |
their way along.
Then Came a Burst Of Song |
from the delegates. ''At the Cross. at thu, |
Cross iiuated out upon the air Almost |
perfect silence fell upon the crowd and all |
the delegates passed out of the dangerous |
locality in safety.
The miiitiamen marched down elst a /
short distance singing Onward Christian |
Soldiers, Marching IA to War" They /
we're greeted with some jeers from the 4
trowd, but Bo blows were exchanged, and l
they again turned aud marched west. the
melting away.
Ii was at one time intended to dismiss
the meeting by the rear door but Presi-
dent Clark on assurances from the miiiti. |
shat they would protect the delegates.
caused the from door to BE- used. There
fore prououucing the benesliction lie toJi |
the people that the soldiers would protect
them and that no violence need Ia. feared
rom the mob. which numbered Ii, Oo.
Every delegate spoken to condemned
he remarks OF Mr.. karmarthar, and sey.
raj speakers paid tributes to the per-
dstsnt proseiyting Of the Roman Catholic
.hurch.