The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-18
TEMP ERANCE MEETING.
Large Audience at FirstCOngre-
gatiOnal Church Last Night.
J. w. GIeed, DR.. Embree, Bish-
Op Vincent and Others,
Speak on the Enforceme ne Of the Law
Report of the Committee
of Seventeen Read.

The temperance meeting at the First
Congregational church last night under
the circumstances, could not have been
larger. That is, to have addressed a
larger meeting it would first have been
necessary for those who spoke 10 have
chosen an auditorium of greater capacity
than that Of the First Congregational
church in which to make their addresses.
Every seat in the church was filed, and
the space at the rear of the seats was
crowded with those who We're unable to
secure seating accommodations. Over
half the audience was composed Of la
dies.
There is not a commonwealth in this
country or a country on the face of the
globe where some form Of the liquor traf-
fic has not caused trouble" said Mr.. J.
W. Gleed in the course of his opening
address as chairman of the meeting.
Why. only few days ago the city of
Denver was torn asunder by the $50 sa-
loonkeepers in business there demanding
that during the Festival week the meager
restrictions of the high license system
should be removed and they be allowed to
prey upon the visiting public. But thank
God" and here Mr.. Gleed paused a mo-
ment and shook his finger impressively
at the audience, but, thank God, they
have a governor in Colorado that gov
ems
And the audience detecting in an in
slant the Inference conveyed by the
speaker, broke into prolonged applause.
Had not those who attended the mass
meeting last night been aware of its ma
ture and the subject to be discussed, they
would have acquired this knowledge dur
ing the opening prayer of Dr. A. s. En-
bree of the Methodist Episcopal church.
"Oh Lord said Dr. Embree. as he step
ped to the front of the platform, there
are times when we have come to thee
with bright faces and joyous hearts. but
tonight we come to thee shamefaced and
sorrowing. An evil. destitute of a sin
gle redeeming feature, has fastened itself
upon US. and we, oh Lord, are helpless
DR. Embree clasped his hands in front
of him and stood silent with bowed head
for d moment before continuing. Then
he said:
I'VE have exhibited to the world the
shame of elecung men to high offices who
when they took the oath of office, at thai
moment intended to violate it. Violate il
at the behest Of the unclean, the unWashed
and the outcast. We acknowledge ouI
shame and our helplessness. and we come
to thee. oh Lord with a sorrowfuI tale
of many failures. We pray thee, help
thOus US"
AS DR. Embree sat down Mr.. Gleed
wake to a position at the side of the
pulpit to make the opening address. we
have met here tonight, not alone to con
slider the general question of temperance,
he announced, but to consider especially
the situation in which we find ourselves.
1.-THE consumption of intoxicating bev-
erages." continued Mr.. Gleed, has come
to be regarded as a great public evil by
every civilized government Time may
nave been when men have beer
allowed to manufacture and sell and con
sumo intoxicating beverages at will, but
that time has passed Every civilized
government on the@face of the globe at
the present day recognizes the evil an6
restricts it to at least some degree. II
Kansas we have a satisfactory law, and
yet we are not without our troubles.
The personal question which comes tC
us in this city is. Do we want open sa
looms in Topeka? We have been so long
without the open saloon in this city tina
we have forgotten what they will do. /
we don't want the open saloons We mus
stand shoulder TO shoulder, and assert oul
authority. We are strong and well equip
ped, and if we only use our power we car
crush the whisky element like an egg
she'll We can all help TO a greater Oh
less extent. and we must help if we hope
to overthrow the whisky power"
President Herrick of Washburn colleg,
was introduced by Mr.. Gleed at the con
clusion of his address. and the first re
mark made by the prominent educator
was to the effect that he knew of NJ
better way of spending the hours of tn,
Sabbath than in discussing good citizen
ship. Continuing. he said:
ITO every student Of the situation Their
is opportunity for profound study of thi
question. I want to inquire for few
minutes into the causes and conditions
which surround us. Why is this meeting
necessary? What is the reason for thi
widespread opposition to law and NOR
widespread Indifference
Il think discover the solution in tn
scientific spirit of the age. The spiri
of the age is scientific, there is no doub
on this point; it investigates for itself. I
is not content with the results of tn
past There is a spirit abroad in on
systems of education which makes a maj
independent Of the past and fearless o
the future. I am not finding fault witt
this spirit. but the fault is this: It il
not corrected as it should be and imbuet
with a reverence for authority and law
believe that the opposition and indiffer