The Portland daily press., 1896-11-23
THE wAsHINGT0yIAN REVIVAL.
Messrs. Pearson and Blake at Cos
pei Mission Hall.

pei Mission Hall.
Tho Rising Generation Must Be Educated
to the Perils of Intemperance.
At the hall of the Gospel Temperance
Mission Sunday afternoon the second of
the Washingtonian meetings was held.
Rev. s. E. Pearson presided, beginning
the exercises by reading the chapter on
the Prodiqal Son. Rev. II. f. Dexter
offered prayer.
Mr.. Pearson, in beginning the exer-
discs, said he regretted that a larger
number were not present to take part In
such a movement. Within a stones
throw more young men than there were
people here could be found gathered to-
gsther with NO attraction but beer. 1t
was sad reflection upon the Christian
spirit of the people OF this city, that
there was not livelier temperance senti-
ment. For forty years the people of
Maine have lived under the glorious
white banner of prohibition; yet 1t some
times seems that the people. having put
the amendment into the constitution,
have been satisfied with that and have
gone into deep slumber. The law is
shamelessly violated in the cities and
larger towns, because those who should
enforce the laws do not do their duty.
But II we cannot take tho cups from the
drinkers. we may take the drinkers from
the cups. This movements which we are
starting here is but revival of the old
Washingtonian movement, which was so
successful years ago. That movement
deals with the drinker alone, trying to
reform him.
Mr.. Pearson said he had given the
matter much thought, and he wondered
If the pastors of the city would come for
ward and assist. The objaot was worthy
of everyone's sympathy and support; and
the constitution of the Washingtonian
society was one that anyone could sign.
II was non-politioal and non -seosarian.
Mr.. George Fl. Blake was thea intro.
duced to explain the necessity and object
of the work. There was at the present
time no educational influence at work
for the cause of Temperance in this city.
1t was true that there were the Good
Templars, the Sons of Temperance and
the W. G. T. U. They all did good. But
two of them were secret and limited in
their influence. There was no open,
broad, constant educational influence il
behalf of temperance. Men as individ-
uais need to have pressure brought upon
them to bring home to them the
principles of temperance, even though
they may have had them instilled in
their early youths. Then also there was
constantly coming forward the army of
young people who were getting no
temperance education. A broad, aeQres-
sive. educational movement was needed.
The Washingtonian plan filled this reg
quirement. 1t had nothing to do with
prohibitio or the rumseller. 1t simply
dealt withsthe subject of personal tenn
perence. Those who favored and those
who opposed prohibition could meet in
this movement without feeling that any
of their political or private feelings were
crossed.
There was power in the very name of
Washingtonian. Six unlettered men,
mechanics, devised the platform which
touched and reached the minds and
hearts Of million and half of people
at the very first.
Mr.. Blake said Mr.. Pearson knew
what he WAS talking about when he told
of the beer drinking. He would also say
that there was much wine drinking
among the young men of the better class
In this city.
Now mistake has been made in rely
ing too much on the law which deal-
only with the rum seller. The drinkers
have been forgotten. We now want more
persuasion than coercion, more of the
spirit of Jesus Christ and less of combat
/