The Washington times., 1894-03-21
NATAL DAY OF NEAL DOW
Celebrated by Local Societies at Con-
vention Hall Last Night.
ABLE AND ELOQUENT SPEECHES
A Short Sketch Of the Work Accomplished by
One Of Names Most nlustrious sons-Ths
Venerable Temperance Advocate Has
Reached the Age Of Four Score and Ten.

The Goth birthday Of Neal Dow, the vener-
able temperance reformer. was celebrated in
this city at Convention Hall last night by the
temperance organizations of the District of
Columbia. An immense audience of en-
thusiastic listeners was present and burst
into prolonged applause as mention was
made Of that illustrious character in the cause
of total abstinence. A number OF eloquent
and able speakers paid high tributes of praise
to the veteran temperance agitator, and gave
out n number of solid opinions on the exist
ence OF the saloons.
The exercises were formally opened with
the congregational singing OF ''My Country,
'Tis of Thee" following which the Rev. DIR.
Sunderland, of the First Presbyterian church,
offered prayer. Rev. Luther B. Wilson, of
the Foundry Methodist Episcopal church,
introduced the Hon. Nelson Dingley, OF
Maine, who outlined the life of Mr.. Dow. He
said that Gen. Dow was born in 1904, and
soon began an incessant work. in season and
out Of season, to promote the interests of the
people by abolishing the sale of liquor.
He started crusade in the
schoolhouses, going from district to
uiotilNt. ttilinS tuc pdlHetiC story VI
drunkards, wee and temptation, and sue
ceeded in having a law passed prohibiting
the sale of liquor in Maine. He has kept at
his work untiringly until to-day he has
reached his ninetieth year, beloved by all
and honored by the celebrations of great
mass OF temperance workers in this country
and in Europe. At the conclusion of Mr..
Dingley's address Mr.. Edward Tracy very
effectively played cornet solo, Hear Us, Oh
Father"
"Our hero" said Mrs. DR.. N. Mcclellan
Brown, "has grown younger as the years
rolled by. He seems to perceive the relation
between man and man and possesses plead
ing power that persuades weaker men to pro-
tect themselves against the appetite for drink.
A petition in the name OF every man
and woman in Washington" said Mrs.
Brown, SHOULD be presented to Congress to
abolish the sale Of liquor in the city of Wash
ington."
After the singing of hymn by the Moody
choir, which did such magnificent work at
the recent revivals, the Hon. Luther Benson,
of Indiana, said that Gen. Dow was so grand
great and majestically tall that We have to
benz back and shade our eyes to STE him.
He has given his whole life to a principle and
cause for the advancement of humanity.
Liquor is q foe to the welfare of the United
States. Mr.. Dow was the first man in
America TO attack it, and under his ever
steady and never ceasing blows the foe will
forever flee from this land.
Following the taking of a collection to de-
fray the expenses of this large meeting. Mr.
Percy Foster sang Somebody's Boy" and
then Mr.. Elijah A. Morse, of Massachusetts.
spoke. He believes that the time is coming
when men who sell rum will be scorned and
that the victory OF this conquest will be
greater than any military victory yet won.
\ suitable motto to be adopted on the birth
do, Of nay &c a1
abstinence now and forever"
DR.. A. J. FoutZ. of the Father Matthew's
Temperance Society, addressed the audience.
"The appeal from every center is the appeal
TO stop the liquor traffic. he said. Arch
bishop Ireland. OF ST. Paul. has Influenced
Irishmen OF that city to such an extent that
only two of that race are now proprietors of
saloons in that city," Letters were read fIom
Mr. C. A. Boutelle and Mr. Seth L. Milliken
regretting their inability to participate in
the exercises.
There are now" said Hon. ]. A. Picker.
of South Dakota, .'56I barroom licenses in
the city of Washington. and that is 56l more
than is needed. and l07 wholesale houses. and
that is 107 more than is any honor to the peo-
pie. The people in Washington are to blame
for it, and to remedy this evil they should
petition Congress, and n law would quickly
be passed. The state of Maine sang the first
stanza of the Prohibition song. and it will not
be long before all forty-four states will take
it up and the curse will be swept from our
land"
Rev. Walter II. Brooks, of the Nineteenth
Street Baptist church. represented the colored
man. and his address was both eloquent and
loudly applauded. when there is a great
curse to be fought we need great men to
fight it." he said. ''We must have
Dows over the entire land. This
is the most magnificent scene on
which it has been my privilege to gaze No.
where have l seen temperance people of all
creeds and colors. standing shoulder 10
shoulder with the one idea that the saloon
must so. What We must have is a law. as the
law is all right and the law triumphs'
Resolutions were read and adopted. which
will be sent to Gen. Neal Dow. in honor of
his sOth birthday. and to Miss Francis
E. Willard. A petition was read by
Mrs. Mary E. Griffith. of the W. c. 7. U. OF
this city, which will be sent to Congress. re-
questing the passage of law forbidding the
sale OF liquors in the District of Columbia
The services closed by benediction from
Rev. DR.. George H. Corey.