Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-25
CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE.
Anniversary of the Oldest Society Ii
the Country.

Anniversary of the Oldest Society In
the Country.
The sixty-third anniversary of the Con-
gressional Temperance Society was cele-
brated last night at the Vermont Avenue
Christian Church. This is a temperance or
ganization which has been in active opera
ton in Washington since its inception, be-
ing under the leadership in it's early days
of such men as Daniel Webster, Edward
Everett, Horatio Seymour and Lewis Cass.
The society was organized February g.
1893, and Lewis Cass, Secretary of the
Navy, was chosen president. The constitu-
ton was adopted, which was signed by
over one hundred members of the Senate
and House of Representatives. In 1912
new constitution was adopted On basis Of
total abstinence.
A business meeting was held Saturday, at
which the following officers We're elected
for the ensuing year: President Nelson
Dingley, jr., of Maine; vice presidents, VIM.
p. Frye of Maine, James II. Kyle of South
Dakota, John a. Picker of South Dakota,
L. A. Morse OF MaSSac huSettS, William R.
Ellis of Oregon, Martin n. Johnson of
North Dakota, John NJ. Allen of Mississippi,
eX-Congressman q. I. Taylor of OHIO. Rev.
r. ID. Power was chosen Secretar!-.
President Dlngfey, 1t last nights meeting,
stated that the sixty-three years work Of
this society represents nearly the whole Of
the modern temperance period. This So
Getty is the oldest temperance organization
i. this country, and probably the Oldest in
I he world. This fact suggests the brief
period in which temperance work has been
carried on.
The visible effects of the work." said
Mr.. Dingiey, las seen upon the surface,
might seem small but If we reflect upon
the progress of temperance work during the
life of this society great encouragement is
neld out The fact that this great national
or,r nj "a a q nT
nation, bearing aloft the standard Of tenn
perance, is reminder that the great temper
ance movement is national and world
wide.''
The secretary of the association was
called upon. He admitted that he had but
little to record in temperance legislation of
the F'ifty-third Congress. The withdrawal
OF Sltu,0U1,o0G in gold caused 0ismay in
Congress, but the consumption of 81 200,
ocN,O00 OF rum in a year is scarcely named.
The fact thar Congress has been Indifferent
to the question is, however, no indication
of the whole world. The forces OF the uni
verse don't wait on the American Congress.
The temperance hosts have been busy all
ever the world.
address. He said the indications are that
temperance will triumph in the end: the
movement OF women is helping things
along. They are doing grand work, he said.
They came as endorsements to the men,
but now the head of the column. The
temperance question is coming forward as
the great question of the age confronting
the nation. Liquor selling is being recog-
nZed the crime OF crimes.
Mrs. NJ. L. n. Stevens, president of the
Maine w. c. 7. L., Was then introduced.
She spoke of the results of prohibition in
Maine; facts prove that prohibition does
prohibit in that state. and the majority of
the people believe in the movement she
said there is no danger Of a repeal of the
law.
In this connection Nh. Dingley stated that
a recent canvass was made of the Maine
house of representatives, which showed that
Of membership of one hundred and fifty
one only eight men were. in favor of repeal.
Short addresses upon the temperance
question were made by Mr.. Morse of Massa-
chusetts, Mr.. johnson Of North Dakota and
Mrs. Nichols of Indiana. The meeting closed
with benediction by Rev. Mr.. Power.