The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-11-18
THE COUNTY TEMPERANCE
ASSOCIATION.
A Pleasant Session.
BANNER PRESENTED.

| The HALIFAX County Temperance As
ISOLATION met in Enfield Thursday OF
last week. Sessions were held at 3 80
and z 80 p. m. At the afternoon SEES
sion there was not large crowd pres
ent, but good work was done. Presi-
dent E. E. Hilliard called the meeting
to order and read Scripture selections
prepared by the programme commit
tee, and the meeting was led in prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Williams of Brlnkley-
vile. A good programme had been
prepared for this session.
Secretary Davis was absent and Mr..
5. s. Alsop was asked to act as secretary.
Appropriate songs arranged for by
the programme committee interspersed
the business OF the afternoon. There
was discussion on the subject: GLOW
shall we fight the liquor trafic?" The
discussion was participated in by a
number of persons,-Revs. Williams
of Brinkleyville, E. E. Rose of Enfield
M. L. Kesler of Rocky Mount, and Mr..
w. G. Whitaker of Enfield.
At night there was large audience
and most interesting and entertain
ing programme.
A series of Rotations with appro-
pirate emblems by the Temperance
Band from Whltaker's Chapel made a
most favorable impression.
Mr.. w. c. Whitaker had arranged
on full background a map of the
world and as the boys and girls recit-
ed, one at time, large hand was held
up representing the influence to which
the recitation referred. Good influ-
ences, such as Church, Bible, Home
and School were represented by a white
hand which was hung above the world :;
and evil Influences, such as the Saloon,
Gambling Tables, &c, were represented
by black hapd and hung below the
world,-ea hanging the hand as the
recitation was closed. There was the
world before the audience with beautl-
full, white hands above 1t lifting 1t to
higher and better things; and ugly,
black hands below trying to drag the
world lower. The closing recitation
asked the question, (Which will you
do-lift up or pull down the world."?
Miss Annie Williams rendered very
popular recitation, 1.-THE Ruggles Fam
ily." The rendition was fine and call
ed forth loud applause. Miss Lena
Neville also rendered we'll received
recitation.
MR.. KEsLER's ADDRESS.
The chief feature of the evenings
exercise was the address by Rev. M. L.
Kesler, of Rocky Mount. He is flu
ent and easy speaker, has been pastor
of the Enfield Baptist church only
few weeks, but has made such fine i'm
preston as a preacher that the peo-
pie were anxious to hear him on the
temperance question.
He spoke for about IS minutes with
a force and fervor that elected the as
sent of every one of his hearers to the
conservative, yet plain and solid truths
which he uttered. He did not deal in
long and wearisome statistics concern
ing the liquor traffic; but spoke of
things more tangible and with fine eff
feet.
He declared that the liquor traffic
bears the "black stamp of disapproval
with all good people, and that no man
can monkey" with it In any way and
look the good people of the world as
squarely in the face as before. He
said that any man who sells liquor or
habltually frequents the bar, can not
hold his head quite as we'll up as he
could If he.would let it alone entirely.
Mr.. Kesler declared that clever peo-
pie ought not to be connected with the
business, and it ought to be kept in
the dark where the evil traffic belongs
He said that to have effective temper
ance work in our State, there must be
some effort to enlist the best colored
people in the work and to curtall the
evil among that race.
The address was an able one, clear,
logical, smooth yet earnest, and free
from any expression that could wound
the feelings of the most sensitive. This
was the second time Mr.. Kesler had
spoken before the Association, having
spoken in Weldon in February, 1896.
At the conclusion Mr.. Kesler's ad-
dress the audience was waited on for
volunteers to join the Association.
Forty-two names were added to the roll
OF members, which makes about 800
who have joined the Association since
its organization in Halifax Sept. 3,
1895.
A committee on resolutions, Mess.