Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-21
PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY.
Don't Preach to n Man When He Is
Hungry and Miserable, Says Murphy.

Don't Preach to Man When He is
Hungry and Miserable, Says Murphy.
At $50 last evening large crowd was
in front of Jacques auditorium
waiting for the doors to be opened. Fifteen
minutes later solid procession of men
and women was coming up and down
South Main, down Union and Grand
streets, and standing room could not be
obtained a few minutes after o'clock.
Rev MIR Barton read the scripture lesson
and Rev MIR Cleveland offered prayer.
Then Mr. Murphy who was in the best
of form last night, pointing to the num-
bers who were standing around said, 'Is
it not a wonderful interest that people take
in this movement, when they will come
here and stand for two hours listening
Henry Gillette of Hartford, who is an
earnest worker in the cause of temperance,
was on the platform and was called out by
Murphy to make speech. He told of the
good work that Mr. Murphy had done in.
that city last April and the good work in
the same line that the people of Hartford
are continuing to do, and urged those en-
listed in the cause of temperance in Wa
terbury to continue after Mr. Murphy had
left, to manifest the same interest. To
me- he said, to sign a pledge is solemn
thing and hope all of you who sign this
pledge will look upon it in the same light.
Mr. Murphy began by saying, 1--WE have
had remarkable success with these temper
ance meetings thus far in this campaign,
and if the interest continues Waterbury
will, it would seem, eclipse every other
place have been in the state. Oh wish
to put on the blue ribbon and take the
pledge. Some people say that it is the
business of the police to take care of
drunkards, or that the legislature should
enact laws to prevent drunkenness. 1t is
our duty to do those things. This is our
work and if people would sign the pledge
and keep it these evils would soon be de
throned and peace and purity would reign
in this community"
Most of the precepts which Murphy
teaches are illustrated by stories which
never fail to delight his audience, at the
same time impressing on their minds
what he wishes them to remember.
SHOW a disposition to do the best you
can in getting rid of this habit of drink, "
he says to the man addicted to
the evil, and to those who should help
such poor fellows, speak kindly, brighten
their lives with kindness. There is no
monopoly on kindness. Men have mo-
nopoies on electric light and telephone
systems, railroads and so forth. but no one
can monopolize the sunshine of kindness. "
lIG SptAhtI Itltlttl an lIlSlatIlCt where
in n mining camp in the far west theatri-
cal company was giving II show, and Il
baby belonging to one of the actresses be
gan to cry while the mother was reciting
her lines. The cries attracted the atten-
ton of those mep. hardened and rough MS
they were and one of them stood and draw.
ing his revolver said: Hold on with this
here show; we want to hear that baby cry.
They were carried back to the homes OF
their youth; back to finer civilization tc
| the the influence and love of mother anG
sister. Some people would like to brighter
you to do right, but You can't brighten mar
into the practice of virtue or sobriety, bu
they are shamed by love"
Mr. Murphy took occasion to say in the
course of his remarks that he WAS dcepl,
grateful to the priests of this city for thu
words of commentator they have Spoken
for this movement God will give to ever,
man who is willing the grace to come GU
victorious in this battle against the demon
of drink. There are many people VIII,
don't believe in a pledge. and who snee
at it. l want all you married men VIII,
made pledge when you were married ant
WHO don't believe i'll it to stand up. II
wait little while. A pledge is somethin!
which runs through the business life o
the community, through all transactions o
supply and demand. l want to tell you i
you could shut off the demand for whiskey
the demand for boots, shoes, clothes
furniture and beefsteak would be greater
The drunkard wears the livery of hi
master The habit is such that You can
get away from the effects of this damnabl
destroyer. Give your sympathy then I
the men who sign the pledge and stand b.
them until the victory is won. When yo
see a man hungry and you have a desire t
pray with him. take him to restauran
and give him n good beefsteak. Be practi
cal don't stand by and see man fall
you can help him. There are lots of pee
pie who say the gospel is n failure, but
is they who are the failures. Some peopl
go to church on Sunday, so in the morn
ing. come home and eat dinner, and con
slider that they have paid compliment
to heaven. Many of you are praying 70
the success of this campaign, and whe
You see men coming up here to sign tn
pledge you say: Oh, now if they will onl
keep it. They think they can not keep il
as if God could not save the hardene
sinner as easily as he can save the sea
skin sinner. There is n power in kline
ness. Let us have this tonight with
consciousness that We have done our duty
and resolve that the drunknrd must b
saved
He closed with an appeal to all to com
forward and sign the pledge.
There will be meeting for men at
o'clock tomorrow afternoon. An admissio
fee of ten cents will he charged in th
evening.