Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-18
The TEMPERANCE MOVE.
Meeting ut Powcu's Hall Last Nighttime
Club Organized.

Club Organized.
Some fifty persons, about half OF whom
were ladies'. attended the meeting held
ut Iowelrs Hail last night in furtherance
Of the Temperance movement.
Mr. 4. b. Chcatham presided. and after
singing and prayer. stated that some
persons thought the meeting was a polti-
cal one Such was not the case, however,
H. continued After that meeting was
over another would be held and probably
a club would be organized. The commit
t.e appointed at the meeting last week
had prepared a platform for the guidance
OF the present gathering, and that would
now b. read.
Mr. e. II. Smith read the platform,
which was published in the Dispatch
yesterday morning. and Mr.. Chcatham
resuming said ~ was sorry that some OF
the ministers announced 10 speak had
been compelled by other engagements to
,'isappoint the meeting He then called
uI,yn Nj Fielding Pollard for an address.
Nir. Pollard said he thought the minis
t,rs should take the lead In the matter
lie saw two Of them in the audience,
md after they had built the fence he
would put rail- on H.
DIR. RAY NOT A POLITICIAN.
There were loud calls for Rev. DIR.
George H. Ray. and that gentleman was
finally induced to ascend the platform.
llr Ray said he was a preacher OF the
Gospel Its aim was TO serve our Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ He was not
politician. He did not know the charac-
TER Of the meeting. and while he was
ever ready 10 speak for the cause OF
religion and sobern' ss-ever ready to
s,,eak for the cause of God-he would not
sI,eak TO a political platform. He was
aeanst viii key as a beverage. but he
had 10 quarrel with the saloons. The
hight was not against the salOon-keepers.
II there was blood in 1t, the blood was In
The staime-boOk. The sale of liquor
should b. regulated like that of any
pth~r poison-for IL was "a poison.
Dr Ray made very strong and ef-
fect,ye temperance speech. free from any
.aint Of fanaticism. lie declared that he
had the greatest sympathy for the man
who was the victim Of the lquor-habt.
Rev. Mr. Moore, OF st. James Methodist
church, followed Or. Ray. and spoke to
the resolutions. lie said he had a right
to stand In his place not only as
minister. but as a man and n citizen,
ana take part in any movement, whether
/, was regular or irregular, that was for
The good Of the community. The State
aad "a right 10 prohibit the liquor traffic;
4 minister had u right to talk about
frauds IN politics. lie voted the Demo-
rrauc ticket when 1t had good men upon
II. and where there wete bad men, he
scratched them.
Mr. Scott Ray was the next speaker.
IN a brief speech he pledged his hearty
support 70 the movement.
HE KNEW FOR HIMSELF.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Rays remarks
q man arose and asked permission TO
make the announcement that temperance
praycr meetings were held at certain
$50. on Broad street. lie regretted
ulat he dld not have time ~ ''Ventilate'
I,,v Dr. Rays speech lie then under
took 10 lay the law down 10 DIR. Ray that
4 minister ought TO be a politician.
As pr. Ray felt entirely competent 10
judge FOR himself on that point. he, IN
very dignihed way. made the fact
known. and The stranger retired.
$50 one in the meeting seemed 10 know
tl- man except The reporters, ana they
were not certain OF his identity at ilrst,
as he has changed somewhat in manner
SINCE De- first game 10 Richmond. 1t was
A.r Eitoa. superintendent OF the INDUS
tilal Home
Mr. Pollard was the last speaker, ana
was both enthus astic and humorous IN
his advocacy Of the temperance cause.
CLUB not ORGANIZED.
After the meeting adjourned the second
meeting Was he'd. and Mr.. Cheatham
stated that he ana not think 1t would be
proper t. oyl-,uize club then. 1t would
not d. fair a. many who attended the
general meeting TO let anything political
y.row out OF IT, II Il Prohibition club was
T. Dr. organized "a distinct meeting ouEh'
u Dee held for that purpose. and us oo-
jet be- made known through the papers
lu advance.
Remarks we're made by Messrs. Gayle
and smithes-,l. and il was finally decided
10 continue the committee OF five for the
purpose OF holding other meetings.