The Portland daily press., 1899-07-31
Mr.. Russell's View of
New England Fair.
DIR. Bates Tells Why There Are
So Many Vacant Pews.
IsrEc1AL TO rnn rnxss.l

Old Orchard, July 80. - The people who
attended the meetings at the camp
ground, on this concluding day of the
Christian Worksrs' convention, were
treated TO disoourses OF great variety of
topics. Rev. DR.. l.. r. Bases, the vener-
able Boston preacher, fairly outdid him.
self In sermon on "The Revival that
Reviyes," scoring the clsrgymen for not
getting down In touch with the people,
and taking the church members to task
for adorning themselves with such fine
raiment that poor folks are scared away
from the church. Col. Caldwell of WASH
ington. delivered radical expansionist
address, and three prominent men OF the
convention related the story of their tour
OF inspection among the ber rooms down
at taa beach. Incidentally there were
praise meetings, testimony meetings
and Bills readings crowded into the day,
and sort of Methodist love feast in the
evening.
The discou-ses whioSssst tho audience
On the keenest edge were those of Rev.
Walter Russell Of Canada, Rst. w. A.
Thurston OF South Boston ana. Eben
Bumstead Of Boston. One day this wesk
these three Christian gentlemen started
out TO learn for themselves whether there
was any truth In the rumor that liquors
could be openly procured at q summer
resort IN this prohibition state. Their
curiosity was more than gratified, and
their sensitive natures greatly shocked,
by what was revealed to them. They
not only found open bars, but they were
piloted into a room where various kinds
of gambling devices were In full swing.
One thing which added to the shock
was that their presence In thess PLACES
created no stir among the sinners, but
they were ccurteously received. the
methed of operating the games explained
to them, and one young man in the
crowd had the audacity to ask them II
they didn't want ito take hand"
MIR. Russell did not go very fully into
the details Of the inspection, but much of
tho time allotted to him was devoted to
an entertaining description of the sights
be saw at the New England fair year
ago. He said he went there with the
snpposition TIA. 1t was strictly an agri-
cultural exhibition, tut CT the 15.0no
people present not more than 400 were
looking at the catt lie and other farm ex-
hibits, while tLe others were watching
races, betting on races, playing tub
games, or watching females in seanty at
tire perform on an elevated stage.
Rev. Mr.. Thurston of South Boston,
fully described the tour of the Old
orchard Tar rooms. He said he had long
teen a third party Phohibitionist. from
necessity. but he hal rather doubted the
tr t Of some OF tie newspaper stories
he had read about the violation of the
Maine prohibitory law. He is now firm
ly convinced that the stories about rum
selling in Maine had not been exaggsrat-
ad.
81 could hardly telieye my senses,"
said hu "when saw these men selling
and drinking liquor, rs boldly as If they
had the protection of the law and the
sanction OF tho state. We saw gambling
In progress. saw the money change hands,
and we're even invited TO join in the
game.
"Such hypocraoyi ] can't for the life
OF me see how you people. who have in
eorporated In your state constitution a
clause prohibiting the sale Of liquors
within the state, can for "a hours endure
such a wholesale violation OF the law. l
would either Iaaintain the dignity OF that
law,or have 1t wiIel OF the statute book.
Mr.. Thurston added that he talked with
an Old Orchard police officer about IL,