The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-14

Last night Rev. w. NJ. Vines, Of
AsheVille. delivered a strong temperance
speech at the First Baptist church to a
fair sized audience. He is an able min
lister and his speech was one of excep-
tlonal power. In starting he spoke OF
the crusade that had been made against
the open saloon in Ashville and charged
that the election or ballot-box victory
over temperance in that city a been
won by fraud, intimidation and trick
cry. The saloon men there, ne said.
had not rejOiced over their victory for
they were ashamed of it.
His address he titled The Appeal or
h Anti-SaloOn League" and based his
argument along that line, showing that
league was appealing in behalf Of d
righteous cause. He said that there
were various masterpieceS-Of poets
authors, artists, etc.-and that as GER
tain as the Gospel of Jesus Christ was
Gods masterpiece the open saloon was
the masterpiece of hell.
He said that the Anti-Saloon League
should be constituted of all opposed to
he Ope saloon, N not necessarily
prohibitionists, though prohibition was
the ideal end. However. he said il
foO1u pIObC1olS pe q ollS III (
North Carolina had entire prohibition.
as for himself, he said he favorai any
thing that was opposed to the open Sa-
loon and that he thought Wilmington.
Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh should
first have d~ispensaries.
The appeal of the Anti-Saloon League
he said was an appeal to common
sense, an appeal to right, and an p
peal to church. 1t is church against
the open saloon, which is tie most
~diabOlical destruction of
In Wilmington and ASheVille, he said,
he knew the saloon men ruled at pres
ent, but it would not always De thus,
for conscience and Christianity were
compelled to win finally at the balloC
box.
He called upon the ministers to stand
up for the morality of the community
and to not only SAY the people from
the mud puddleS, but to wipe OUT
the mud puddles-the open saloon,
He said he believed in a minister being
a man for manhood was needed in this
great fight.
Rev. Mr.. Vines conclusion was both
beautiful and eloquent. He said that
the Anti-SalOOn League wOuld win Gs
certain as there is a God in Heaven
and that Gods people were progressing
DELEGATES REPORTS.
The meeting was opened by Rev. A
D. Mcclure, d. D., pastor of st. An
dreW'S Presbyterian church. and was
ollOWed by singing Of the hymn "All
Hail the Power of Jesus Name and a
ferVent prayer by Rev. F. NJ. Sham
burger. pastor of Fifth street Methodist
church..
Mrs. LOftin next rendered a sweet
vocal solo, which wa Ollowed by brief
reports of the state convention made
by Revs. j. A. Smith and George B.
Webster. Both gave interesting de
scriptiOns of the convention and It's
great work and also spoke of the grand
personnel of the members.
Rev. Mr.. Webster in his remarks said
that in future the people should loo
well to the men elected as law makers
AS ar Illustration. he said the people
Of Wilmington last fall did not know
whom they were voting for when they
elected their representative and senator
and consequently they had elected men
who did all in their power to prevent
the passage of laws restricting the
liquor traffic. He said he would never
vote again for a man who would oppose
temperance.
Rev. DR.. Mcclure introduced Rev. Mr.
Vines in a well expressed speech, and
after the distinguished young dIvine's
able grafton the meeting closed with
singing. Throw Out the Life Line,,
and a beautiful ray by Rev. Mr.
Vines