Year: 1878

REMARKABLY SCENE ~ THE SEVENTH STREET


METHODIST EPISCOPAL caUEcH-A FREE
LUNCH PROVIDED FOR THE REFoIMERs IN


SOLVENT CONSTITUENCY


The announcement that free feed would be fur
OF temperance exercises had the effect OF filling the
Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church. early
yesterday forenoon, with singularly mixed con2re
CATION. Many OF those present had evidently come
from their roosts in hurry and omitted making
anything like toilet. Their faces were alien 10 soap
and water. and their clothes appeared to have been
pitched with hayfork. and in the absence OF
buttons held together with pins. Some who
sat in the front seats seemed to have been spending
convivial time night and We're easily moved to
mcrriment. They looked upon Mr.. Murphy as


first class comedian and laughed heartily every time
he spoke and smiled. Others without any Wis
ible trace Of linen about their persons, and hag
gard and weary. with bloodshot eyes, to which
sleep had been FOR some time stranger. majority
looked if free lunch would agree with them to
nicely and the it ready the welcome.
There were score of ladies in the body OF the
church and in the galleries. and several respectable
apostles OF the temperance cause were on the plat
form. Judge Griffith, police magistrate OF Troy,
made address the evil fruits of intemperance.
relating the story of man In Troy who had reached
the lowest depths in the of the drunkard
but rescued by Nj. Murphy when visit
there at one tins. and now hourishng and
spectcd citizen, with credit account at the bank.
After some singing and playing by the Wilson duet
and the choir little girl caue forward with
lope for Mr. Murphy. ON opening which he announced
that it contribution OF 81 to provide free lunch
for the poor in attendance. Dollar bills after
this. were handed in by of people for the
same object and the pastor of the church Rev. Mr..
Keller pledged himself to be good for l5O lunch
tickets. Vigorous and suggestive applause followed
the pastors hosptablc proclamation.


Now. said Mr. Murphy, ''au you who desire
hold
almost everybody in front OF him. which created
much amusement. especially as the speaker looked
for ainomcnt bewildered as if he feared there was
not enough shot in the locker to 20 round. There
| upon enthusiastic lady in the audience announced
herself good for Atty lunches MORE and it was then
clear that no would be lett unprovided for. The
lunch tickets for meal each at certain restau-
rants on the Bowery. Two gentlemen appointed
to distribute them ut the entrance those who wanted
them passed out into the The best part OF the
congregation turned eagerly toward the door and an
eager but good natured crush followed. Those who
got their tickets hastencd away at the double quick
and the restaurants III the neighborhood were soon
full or customers hundred or so remained in the
| church and the meeting was kept going


Speaking 70 the HERALD reporter. Mr.. Murphy said
that about five thousand people had already signed


Ibid they belong to any particular class?"


mo. they embraced all classes and included quite
number of women"
| .'when do You expect to conclude your labors?"


"A week from next Monday. After that shall take
/ a rest


| ..Do yoa expect all your converts to temperance
| will keep their pledgesY


.Not all When some men suddenly give up drink
| and have means of substituting stimulating food
and friends to encourage them they get weak and
disheartened and easily tempted to renew their
acquaintance with rum. 1t is pity these men who
! spend millions on churches libraries. tombstones
and the like don't appropriate little charity to
ing the human lives that every day going down
the pit of hell for want of sympathy and exertion
the part of their fellow men; but suppose Burns
line viii always tell the fact that mans nhumanity
to man makes countless thousands mourn"
EVENING SESSION.


At the evening session the church was as full of
people 1t could conveniently hold, large proper
/ ton beng Judge Griffith who spoke IN the
forenoon, made more stirring and extended address,
which, ut its conclusion, was long and loudly ap-
/ plauded He related what hard case he when
addicted to drink the misery he endured and the
great contrasting happiness that total abstinence
brought to him. He dwelt especially upon the i'm
portance from material point Of view. hav-
ing character for sobriety


! At the conclusion OF his speech Mr.. Murphy an
nounced a mass meeting i'll the Cooper Institute for
Sunday evening, and then introduced gentleman,
named Mr.. Edward Foote, OF Spring gfeld Mass who
related how, for twenty-threc years. he had never
spent sober Thanksgiving till this one, and how he
was indebted for his rescue to Brother Murphy, OF
| whom he spoke with great enthusiasm. Several
Other speakers followed and at the close large
Der OF men and some women went forward and signed
the pledge.