The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-01-16
Union Temperance Service.

An interesting Cnion Temperance
meeting was held in Bethany Church,
Sunday evening, attended by good
sized audience. The pastors Of the Con
gregational, Methodist, First Baptist
aud Bethany Baptist churches were
present and took part In the exercises.
Rev. Daniel Onstott read scriptures,
Rev. II. W. Kinball offered prayer. aud
remarks were made by Rev. DR.. W. II.
Spencer and Rev. H. r. Huse. Singing
was by the audience with Mrs. {. NJ.
Lambert, as organist.
DR.. Spencer was the first speaker. He
alluded to the hole in the ice into which
two boys recently skated and one was
drowned using it in calling attention to
holes or places on our streets. made
cheerful with electric lights and attrac-
tive surroundings. The hole in the ice
was in certain sense accidental, these
other places are not accidental They
are there for purpose and have been
}
TO destruction. No one sounds the
alarm. No one goes for the selectmen.
the sheriff or a physician. a strange
apathy pervades the community in re-
gard to these illegal places, where so
many go down to death. There is not n
deep sense in the community that this
selling and drinking is wrong. People
generally do not seem to realize that it
is utterly wrong in every way and II
horrible evil The speaker alluded to
the national curse of slavery and its
abolition, to polygamy, lotteries, etc,
and their suppression by law, because
they were wrong. We are coming
around to better days. Our fathers
thought the use OF New England rum
was right, now most thoughtful persons
look upon its traffic and use as a
great evil and wrong. All business men
on our streets, all citizens 10 our town
should keenly feel that the traffic is so
diabolically wrong that they will not
have it continue.
Rev. Mr. Huse related pathetic in.
stances where the use of intoxicating
liquors had produced restitution and
misery. The work of the saloon de-
bauches men and women, blast homes
and blight lives. He alluded to the adj
dress of Rev. Fl. W. kimball, which he
said left US in the "Slough of Despond''
but he believed we should emerge in the
right direction. He mentioned as effec-
tive measures for promotion of tenn
perance:
First, Education. Scientific instruc-
ton in public schools, was about
10 years ago, iuaugurated by the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union
1.-THE best and noblest body of wo-
men in the world" Every woman in
town should belong to the order. School
boards should see that the law is OBJ
served requiring this instruction in
schools. The superintendent of schools
says some work has been done in this
direction in connection with instruction
In physiology. He advised people to
make their influence felt for the obser-
vance of this law.
Second, Economic. Intemperance is a
prolific source OF poverty and poverty a
prolific source of intemperanee. 1t is
not enough that there is progress in the
right direction for the benefit of wage
earners, or that their condition is better
here than in any other country. The
strain is great IN many occupations and
this tends to the use of stimulahts. II
has been demonstrated by tests that
there is more extensive use of stimulauts
among operatives who work the greater
number of hours. Improvement of the
material condition of wage earners is
very important.
Third, Politics. Break up corrupt
party and ring rule. Inaugurste direct
primaries. Uphold prohibition. II it is
failure why is the whskey ring SC
anxious for its repeal and why does the
w. c. T. U. work so valiantly in its
support.
Fourth, Religion. Conversion is an
effective cure for drunkenness. With
the grace of God in the heart there is nc
room for intemperanee.