Evening star., 1894-03-20
Celebrating the Goth Anniversary of
His Birth.
MANY MEETINGS BEING HELD TODAY
Messages Sent the Great Temper
ance Advocate.
HOW HE RECEIVED THEM

LONDON, March O.-England today Is
celebrating the ninetieth birthday of Gen.
Neal Dow. the great American temperance
advocate.
At Exeter Hail. this city. there will be an
overfiowing meeting tonight and a number
or speakers will praise the veteran temper
ance agltator.
The United Kingdom Alliance and the
British Womens Temperance Association of
England have enthusiast tically adopted the
suggestion made by the Worlds and Nation
al Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
and the picture of Gen. Dow as he appeared
in 1851, when he was mayor of Portland,
Me-, when the prohibitory law was adopted
In that state, and another picture repre-
senting him as he now appears are to be
seen displayed broadcast in all temperance
| resorts throughout England today
AT the Exeter Hall meeting tonight Lady
Somerset will preside, and Miss Frances
Willard, Sir Wilfred Lawson and Hugh
Price Hughes, Louise Ormiston Chant and
others have signed cable message, which
the Associated Press has been requested to
forward to Con. Neal Dow to be read 1T the
celebration which is to take place today at
the city hall. Portland, Me-, and the Asso-
ciated Press has also been requested to
transmit the reply of Gen. Neal Dow to the
meeting which Is to take place this evening
in Exeter Hall.
The dispatch from the Exeter Hall meet
ing is as follows:
ITO Gen. Neal Dow:
"A mighty throng, gathered In Exeter
Hall. crowns your ninety benehcent Years
with love and gratitude, for you can truly
say. When the ear heard me. then 1t blessed
me: and when the eye saw me, 1t gave wit
ness to me.
Because 1 delivered the poor that cried.
and the fatherless. and him that had none
to help him.
The blessing of Him that was ready to
perish came upon me; and / caused the
widows heart to sing for Toy.
L put on righteousness and it clothed
me: My judgment was robe and a dia-
dem.
Il was eyes to the blind and feet was 1
to the Lame
Il was father to the poor: and the
cause which I knew not 1 searched out
Dob, xxx: 11-10."
In addition to the above message sent to
Gen. Dow. the following address TO the
great American temperance advocate will
be adopted:
We are profoundly grateful for the char
acter that illustrates he spotless purity of
life, for a career devoted to the enancIpa-
tion of the slave. the cause Of total absti-
nence and the enfranchisement Of wcmen,
and for the courage that dared to be In the
right with two or three, and held stead
lastly on Its way till crowned by the action
Of that great majority which gave con-
stitutional prohibition TO the state of
Maine.
I'VE pray that your ninety benefcent
years be rounded to hundred and that
you may tarry with us until the mother
country enables her people to put the liquor
traffic under the ban Of the law and make
home protection the watchword OF her
politics.
We feel sure that a birthday was never
so universally observed without djstinc-
ton OF nation sect or party and We argue
from this indication of the cosmopolitan
character of temperance reform its uni
versal conquest when the race out Of
childhood has grown"
During the course of the meeting a letter
from Gen. Neal Dow to Miss Frances e.
Willard, dated Portland, Me-, January 3,
1894, Will be read. In this letter the general
says there is no tendency in the state of
Maine to repeal the prohibitory law, and
the general adds:
Il think that a successful attempt will
be made In the legislature this winter to
pass resolution submitting a proposal
to admit women to the franchise on equal
terms with men,"
Some idea Of the celebration in England
OF the ninetieth birthday Of Gen. Dow may
meetings will be held today in various parts
or this country In honor of the great Amer
lean temperance agitator.
Congratulated Gen. Dow.
PORTLAND. Me-. March 2O.-The nine
tieth birthday of the venerable temperance
reformer. Gen. Neal Dow, is being celebrat-
ed today, and congratulations are coming
to the father Of the Maine law" from
almost everywhere
Gen. Dow seemed unusually bright this
morning. and expressed himself as feeling
In the very best Of health. Early in the
day callers began to arrive. and the white
haired temperance advocate was ready to
meet them in person. little later the
number increased, until the doors were
fairly beseged by those who desired to
present their compliments in person
Meanwhile the wires were busy and the
messenger boys hurried in and out bearing
congratulatory words from all parts Of the
world. From the United States several
bushel baskets full Of kilograms and letters
were received
Up to noon letters or kilograms have been
received from Senators Hale, Frye Judge
Henry Carter, Haverhill, Mass all the ex-
governors and prominent men Of Maine;
from Congressman Milliken, Dingley, Bou-
telle and Reed; Rev. Jos. Cook, Mary Liver
more, Gov. Henry B. Cleaves Of Maine,
Frances E. Willard, Sir Lawson Brayton,
Carlisle. Eng; Louise Ormiston- Chant w
S. Caine London, Eng; ex-Gov. ST. John,
Kansas; Mrs. L. NJ. n. Stevens, Anna F.
Greely. Lady Henry Somerset, and from
thousands Of Others
This evening contemporaneous meetings
are to be held all over the world. An i'm
mense demonstration Is to be given here at
which the venerable prohibitionist is to
deliver an address, The governor and dele
gates from all parts Of the state will also
be present