The Portland daily press., 1897-01-18


know you will agree with me that the
ruin of the Greeks was because of their
desire for novelty. The danger of the
American people today is the habit OF in
temperance. believe, however. there is
one power that will cure this. and that
is the power Of the Lord Jesus Christ
On one Of the temples in older times a
famous sculptor had engraved the words,
"Know Thyself.'' At that time man be-
gan to study the heavens. Man also be-
gan to study bis own physical and
spiritual nature. Then it was that our
Lord Jesus came and engraved on the
temple BE Masters Of Thysalf," and
then by self mastery man also became
| master of the earth. l sometimes think
| we know too much of each other. Tine
need is not to know SO much of our
neighbor, but to strive for self mastery.
1t seems to me that we have reason to
congratulate ourselves. We have at last
found platform large enough to stand
upon. What the result of this movement
ia this country will be is unknown, but
Judging from the size of the audience
gathered here it shows that by your
presence and influence you will do all in
your power to make men the masters Of
themselves.
Rev. J. G. Perkins was to be the next
speaker, but was unavoidably detained,
and Mr.. Pearson then introduced Rev.
e. r. Purdy us the speaker. Mr.. Purdy
said: 'My heart is in this movement. IL
look upoI. it as a platform large enough
for us all to stand on. Differences OF
opinion in the past as to the best methods
to pursue have kept US apart, but this
privilege of using moral suasion is more
to tho point and will accomplish better
results. "Live or die, survive or perish,
I give my heart to this work. can wish
for nothing better than that this enthu-
siasm shall manifest itself not only in
public places but that it might creep into
the hearts of the mothers, and that the
mothers will aim to instruct their chill
dren in their early years as to the dangers
of intern perence. l wish that the enthu-
siasm might be in the hearts of the BUSH
ness men. That the influence of their
lives would lie 30 prevent their employees
from getting under the influence of the
cup.''
MIR. Pearson then read letter from
Rev. y. II. Pratt, expressing inability
to be present and also read the following
from lit. Rev. Bishop II. A. Nealy of
the Epi. copnl diocese of Maine showing
his sympathy in the movement:
January 18th, 1897.
Rev. S. +. Pearson:
My Dear Brother-Finding after all.
that ! canno5 attend the meeting today,
write few lines to express my cordial
approval Of the method OF the Washing
tonian Society, insofar as 1t seeks,
primarily to lessen the demand for
spurious liquors, rather tnan to bring
about the disuse of them through legal
prohibition of the manufacture and sale;
and then secondly, to accomplish that
object (the leseeaing the demand for such
liquors) by appeals 10 the individual
conscience, rather than by the force of
compuIsion of civil laws. believe, that
u comparison Of results, Ill this, as we'll
as in other countries, would justify the
assertion that far more has been done for
the Suppression of the vice Of drunken
ness through the . agency OF
organizations, pursuing such methods,
than by any legal enaotments or meas
ures, and certainly the general moral
effect of the work Of such organizations
is far superior to that of either prohibit
tory or merely restrictive laws. But let
me add chat have little confidenre in
the full effectiveness to suoh an end OF
any agency which does not recognize it's
dependence upon Divine grace and
power. / have Eeen for several years
stated and willing contributor to the sup
port of your Gospel Temperance
Mission.'' because its name implies that
you are not only lahoring in the spirit of
Christ fol the restoration of fallen men,
hut are using as chief instrument in
your labors tbs liherating nd stim ulating
message of s'avior given to redeem US
from thu bondage of all iniquity, and /
earnestly hope ihat the new organization
nay be established upon the basis of
Christian conception, and Christian
humility.
Very sincerely you're,
H. A. NEELY.
The Rev. S. S. Cummings in charge
ton, with four of the children from the
home, were present, and the Rev. Mr..
Pearson requested the children to sing
one of their songs. They sang the hymn.
Coast Thy Bread Upon tho Waters"
After which collection amounting to
$25 was taken up to assist in the promo
ton Of the Washingtonian movement.
Rev. I. S. Samson was then intro
duced and said there are three reasons
why endorse the movement. First of
oil it is an old movement, or revival of
an old movement. Second, it is moral
mo ement. We go ut man with moral
suasion. I believe we can reach the
hearts of the weak and unfortunate ones
by love and suasion rather than by force
and compulsion. Again l believe in it
because the work is carried out on plat
form large enough for us to stand upon.
One great trou bic in the wolk of temper
ance ia that we have had too many
societies of as many differing opinions as
to the best methods of work. I believe,
however, that tho time has come and
that there are those in this uity that
want to sec men relieved from the curse
Of incompetence.
q VI 6