The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-04-23
JOHN B. COUGH.
An Address in the Union Church, Brooks,
bv M. I. Dow, Esq.

In ACCORDANCE WIFI IHe Heterogeneous
of the National Christian Endeavor Oh
ganization, Sunday evening, April l2th,
was observed as the John B. Cough
night at the Union church in Brooks.
The meeting was opened with the usual
praise service, followed by Introductory
remarks by the pastor, Rev. j. W.
Vaughan. An anthem was then pre-
scented by Messrs. Jones, Morrill,, brown
and Merritt, with Mrs. w. S. Jones as
accompanist. NJ. J. Dow then gave an
address upon the life and character OF
John B. Cough, followed by solo by
w. S. Jones. Remarks were then maze
by Rev. David Bracket and further
remarks by the pastor. After some
what extended remarks upon the life
of Mr.. Cough, Mr.. Dow closed his ad-
dress as follows:
John B. Cough stands out in bold re-
lief in the early history OF the temper
-ance reform work of this country as
striking and unique figure. HIS lnhu-
ence in the development OF a moral
sentiment against the use OF lntoxlcat-
ing drinks was a powerful one. tie
drew people to him by his attractive
personality, and all who associated with
him became his friends. His ability as
a platform orator was unequalleo py
any man of his class during his actlVe
life. The sarcastic pungency OF MS
satire. the brilliancy OF his VIII, the
eloouence of his addresses, the tender
appealing sympathy and affection Tor
poor fallen humanity with It's Weak
ness vice and sin, made all intense lni-
preston wherever he was heard. his
name is not only household word IN
our land. but it is equally as well known
in lands across the sea. His mission or
uplifting fallen humanity was OF
character that appeals to hearts OF true
and ympatheticimpulses wherever they
may be found. His name is emblazon-
ed upon the scroll of fame in the lime
light of publicity as one of the most con
spicuous actors in the drama of the
temperance reform. For over fifty
wears be was associated in the public
mind as the most brilliant personality
in the galaxy of talented and dlstln-
guished temperance advocates OF his
time. He has been idolized by admir-
ing thousands, and he was most po-
tent factor in the sweeping reform OF
the drink habits of this country by
means of moral suasion. He led the
way where thousands nave followed, TO
the great benefit of themselves and the
world at large. There has probably
been no man who has accomplished
more in the reform of drinking men
and in the adjustment of drinking Gus
toms than he. His eloquence was
magnetic and we'll nigh irresistible.
Immense audiences at his will were
moved to tears or laughter, and listen
ed with intensely fascinated attention
to every word which fell from his lips.
With his attractive and winning per-
sonality, with his refined and yetpoW
erful intellectual abilities, with his
delicate and sensitive moral qualities,
with his sympathy for the weak and de-
graded children of earth, with his aDll-
ity to move immense audiences OF peo-
ple and to persuade them towards a
purer and better life, the history OF his
career after his reformation is without
doubt the most brilliant of that OF any
person of the times in which he lived.
And this is the more remarkable When
we consider the conditions OF his early
life. of the hardships which he suffered,
of the poverty and depreciation ana
vice and sin which it was his to endure,
and which in man of weaker Will ana
of lower moral courage, would nave
crushed him to the earth, to have pass
ed from mortal sight an unmourned
wretch 10 whom the greatest boon
would be unending oblivion. When we
consider the brilliant successes OF his
later life. of the honor which was &C
corded to him, of the alteration or the
MANY whom he had saved from the
seething maelstrom of despair and the
torments of the damned. of the venera-
ton with which his memory is regard
ed by the entire civilized world, of the
record of his pure and devoted Chris
tian life, it comes to us with shock
that this man, honored, famous and
distinguished this man with all his at
fractions and all his abilities, this man
received and recognized by the church
membership of this and other countries
as a Christian gentleman, was intensely
human; that he had been wreck upon
the sea of life, almost without hope OF
possibility of relief; weak, helpless, a
slave to vice, with scarcely remnant
of manhood remaining physical, men
tai or moral, subject of pity from
clean and respectable society, an object
of distrust and aversion by decent PEG
nile with whom he came in contact, al
intimate associate of persons of low
vile and disreputable character, a mai
who for the church had substituted thu
filthy barroom, for respectable asso
;,+o, +hao,orsa deuraded hlaSDhemOu!