The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-04

Following is the full report to the
Murphy Gospel Temperance League of
its president, Franklin Austin:
To the Executive Council, Gospel Tenn
perance League:
Owing to circumstances over which 1
had no control it has taken longer to
bring the affairs of the league to a con-
dition of success so ardently hoped for
at the outset. But 1 take pleasure in in
forming you that at last the instruc-
tons of the Grand Council and Execu-
tice Council have been fulfilled and the
promises I made the league upon accept
ing its presidency have been redeemed.
TIL affairs of the league are now in the
best possible condition and the promi-
nency of the organization as an instru-
ment for lasting good is assured past
peradventure.
Holding meetings, establishing sub
committees, leasing and furnishing head
quarters and trying the experiment of
conducting temperance resort and
home-like place for those desiring to
spend a quiet evening is expensive and
was delayed in acting promptly upon
the powers given me by the Grand Coun-
ell February %, chairman of the
finance committee, first, because of the
Chapman Anti-Saloon League movement
following so closely upon the Murphy
movement, and later by the political. agi-
tation over the Dispensary bill. But
through the kindness of such friends of
temperance as Senator H. A. P. Bald
win, George Castle, Mother Castle, T.
Rain Walker, Mrs. Hendricks and in a
smaller way E. O. Hall & Son and q. T.
Jordan, we have been enabled to raise
s1,500, of which, by reference to the
treasurer's report, it will be seen there
was of date of May 18th a respectable
balance remaining. Besides this a suffi-
cient income has been obtained through
monthly subscriptions and the proceeds
of Murphy Hall to pay rent, subscrip-
tons to newspapers and periodicals,
wages of competent help to properly
conduct Francis Murphy Hall and to
maintain regular Saturday night con-
certs and lectures. There is hardly any
moment during the day from u m. to
1870 D. m. that Murphy Hall is not
being patronized by persons desiring a
quiet hour with the magazines and in the
evenings it is not uncommon to see the
hall filled with people enjoying the mu-
sic or reading But our Saturday night
concerts and practical talks on temper,
ance have proved the most Successfu
feature The hall has a seating capacity
| OF 13U people ana on edCn odlufudy HiSil
| the hall has been open, it has been filled
and on two OF three occasions people
who could not be seated have felt inter
| est enough in the entertainment to re
main standing in the hallway for twt
hours, and fully half of the audience ha!
| upon each occasion remained until u:SO
and therefore could not have visited tn
| saloons after the meetings. The au
diences have been composed largely o
| the persons whom it is desired to reach
namely, mechanics, laboring men an
sailors AS result of these meeting
thirty men have signed the pledge AM
resolved to lead better lives. larg
percentage of these have been youn
Hawaiians, a class it is dsired to reach
We owe a special debt of gratitude t
Senator H. A p. Baldwin, who ha
shown such faith in our practical tenn
perance movement, and who, besides be
ing our largest donor so far, took suit
cient personal interest in our work
assist with rousing speech in the open
ing exercises of Francis Murphy Hall
Reverends Messrs. Westervelt, Cory an
Perry also assisted with able addresses
The league also owes debt of graf
tude to the newspapers of this City TO
the uniform courtesy they have show
us and their sincere desire to help tn
cause.