The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-05-10
REV. GEO.
W. PEPPER.
WHO WILL SPEAK TO wELLINGTON
PEOPLE MEMORIAL DAY.
Irish BY Birth-Rare Talent and Attain
ments-Trained for. the LAw-Beeame q
Preacher-Once Stationed at Wellington
-His Connection with the Maine Law.


Rev. Geo. w. Pepper, who is to de-
liver the annual address on Memorial
day in Wellington tffis year, is a man
Of varied experience, unusual opportun-
tiles, rare talent and attachments. He
is a native of Ireland, and has always
heen her loyal son, pleading in her in
terests with eloquent voice and pen, in
1ignant ait her wrongs and oppression,
and sensitive to the sufferings Of her
people. An only child, and with good
opportunities for education, he studied
at Belfast college, better known as the
Royal Academical institution, when
that city was rich in the number and
variety OF her great orators, whom 1t
was his privilege and delight to hear
DR.. Henry Cooke, the great preacher
Of the Presbyterians, John Scott Por-
ter, of the Unitarians, Thomas Nc
Guire, the brilliant Catholic debater;
Daniel McAfee, the idol of the Metho-
dists; Whiteside, afterward Lord Chan
cellor of England, Chalmers, Guthrie,
and D'Aubigne, the historian OF the
Reformation. Gavazzi. John B. Cough
Kossuth were also among the speakers
he heard while in Belfast. The student
was not hampered by the lack Of
money, but enjoyed handsome in-
come. Mr.. Pepper was trained for the
profession OF law, and his teacher In
elocution was James Sheridan Knowles,
author of "Hunchback" and ''Virgin-
ius." The Maine law became subject
OF popular interest and Mr.. Pepper
wrote to Neal Dow for an abstract Of
the law; then in Belfast newspapers
he published articles in defense of pro-
hfbition of the liquor traffic for Ire
land. good deal of agitation grew
therefrom, and when only nineteen
years old Mr.. Pepper was sent from
Belfast to Manchester, England, to
4 great meeting Of reformers and phil
anlthropists, the youngest delegate in
body embracing some Of the most
distinguished men Of Great Britain.
Upon his return, after consulting prom
inent clergymen and others, he ap-
pealed in the press for public meet
ing to be held in the interests OF this
new organization, the United Kingdom
Alliance. The meeting was held in
Music hall, their largest auditorium.
with tasteful and inspiring decora-
tions, banners and Inscriptions. The
great speech among many fervent and
eloquent was that of Or. Lees, whom
years after, when he lectnred in this
country, Chaplain Pepper entertained
at his home in Wellington, Ohio. Thus
Belfast was the first city in Ireland to
organize a Maine Law alliance, upon
hearing which, Father Matthew wrote
from Cork, Jan. IA, 1854, to MFR. Pepper,
addressing him as dear young friend,
congratulatory letter, thanldng him
for his labors in the movement. Giving
up the profession of law, Mr.. Pepper
was sent to Glasgow Theological Col
lege, and in the family OF President
Morrison he enjoyed rare privileges in
the intimate acquaintance Of this
scholarly gentleman and in the society
he met there. The queen made her Sec
ond visit to Ireland while Mr.. Pepper
remained. and another guest who inter-
ested him greatly was Harriet Beecher
Stowe. Coming to America in 0cto-
ber, 1854, Mr.. Pepper was directed to
Kenyon college, Gambler, by his episco-
pal friends, where he studied year in
the theological department. Then his
wife joined him, having remained in
ireland to sign some documents rela-
tive to the sale Of some property which
he could not do before he left, being
under age, and not until he was twen-
ty-one could he send her power of at
torney to enable her to do this. There
are many readers OF this paper who re-
member both the chaplain and Mrs.
Pepper.