Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-27
A DlNGLEY. MEMORIAL
Annual Meeting Of tb Congressional Tenn
perance Society.
Eloquent Tributes ITO It's Late Presi-
dent-Omcers Elected for the
Ensuing Year.

The annual meeting1of the Congressional
Temperance Society, which was held last
evening at the Vermont Avenue Christian
Church, was memorial to the late Repre-
sentative Nelson Dingley of Maine. At the
time of his death Mr. Dingley was the
president of the society, a position which
he had held for eighteen years. 1t was
natural, then, that those who had been as
ISOLATED with him in this work should take
the first opportunity, which was the annual
meeting, to pay the tribute of affection and
esteem which all entertained toward their
late president. The occasion was one of
more than ordinary interest, when it was
considered that the society is one of the
Oldest temperance organizations in this
country, having been formed in the year
1888 On the rolls of the society are found
the names of many of the men who have
borne a prominent part in the past history
OF the country. For, as the name indicates,
the membership is confined to those who
are members of the national legislature.
The claim is made that this society is the
Oldest organization of total abstainerS in
the world
Tribute of the Secretary.
At the meeting last night Representative
Grout of Vermont, vice president of the
society, presided, and in the course of his
address spoke of the great loss which has
been sustained in the death Of Represent"
tive D1ngley. The report of the secretary,
Rev. f. b. Power, was read, which, after
reviewing the work of the year, paid the
following tribute to the late president of
the society:
while the society has been active dur
Ing the past year, and its influences have
been felt for good, it has met with an ir-
reparable loss in the death of its president
Nelson Dingley of Maine. For eighteen
years he directed its affairs and served
faithfully as its presiding officer. Never
was there truer, never more consclen-
tious and devoted advocate of the princi-
pies which we hold sacred: never nobler
example Of sincerity, fairness, generosity,
unselfishness, high moral sense and faith
fitness to duty. His speeches. as we re-
member them in these annual meetings
year after year, were not marked by any
features of oratory; but all felt that be-
hind them there was the man, the charac-
ter, the life, which gave them telling
force and a noble eloquence. Born in him
was much of the sterling virtue of the old
Puritans. Often he told US how, at his
mothers knee he had learned the lessons
of temperance When boy he signed the
total abstinence pledge, and at sixteen he
was actively engaged in organizing cadets
of temperance and from that time until
the day of his death he was stanch ad-
vocate of the principles of prohibition and
total abstinence. Embodiment of all that
may his memory live and his example move
others to like virtue and service to God
and man.
How shall we best honor him? By car
rying on his work. This society was very
dear to him. With all the discouragements
attending it's work, he often said to me. 1T
is a great thing to hold up the standard;
we must keep it before the people,"
Fell in His COuntry's Service.
Representative Martin NJ. johnson of
North Dakota, in the course of some appre-
ciative remarks IN regard to Mr.. Dingley,
spoke of his great labors in connection
with the war revenue bill, and said that he
had laid down his life in the service of his
country as truly and nobly as any SOL
der or sailor in battle The speaker re-
ferred to the establishment of prohibition
in his own state and said that it was oper-
atng there more successfully than in any
other state where IT had been tried
The last speaker of the evening. Mr.. Hi
ram Price, quoted some interesting statis-
tics, showing the enormous sum of money
that was spent in this country for liquor,
and said that the way to secure proper
Il gislation to remedy this evil was to elect
to office such men as would enact temper
alice laws and provide punishment for their
violation.
The officers elected for the ensuing year
Were: President, William w. Grout of Yer
mont; vice presidents. Secretary John D.
Long, Senators Frye and Kyle and Repre-
sentativeS johnson, Ellis and Pugh; secre-
tary, Rev. f. d. Power