Oxford Democrat

BETHEL AWAKE.

County Convention of Reform Clubs.

Three Excellent Meetings.—The Village Thoroughly Aroused.—New Life Infused into the Movement.—Paul R. Seavey, Col. Eustis, and other Temperance Workers.

The 4th quarterly Convention of Oxford County Reform Clubs was held at Bethel last Thursday. These gatherings of temperance men have ever been the means of inciting a new interest in the cause; but this gathering has been one of more than usual interest and profit. Not only was the cause, in general, given a fresh impulse, but the people of Bethel were aroused, as people seldom are in the interest of any good cause.

Paul R. Seavey of Bangor, the distinguished Reformer, Col. Eustis of Dixfield, and many of our local temperance workers were present, and by their words of advice, encouragement, counsel and warning moved all hearts, and excited the sympathy of all.

Three meetings were held during the day—one at 10 a. m., for organization and business purposes, one at 2:30 p. m., for the purpose of hearing reports from the different clubs, represented, and for temperance work; and a general meeting in the evening. These meetings were all well attended, and each was enthusiastic and interesting. The organization was effected by the choice of J. H. Brown of Norway, Chairman. Geo. H. Watkins of Paris, Secretary, and the following vice-presidents, one from each club represented:

Dixfield, W. W. Abbott.
Bryant's Pond, Caleb Bessey.
Paris, James S. Wright.
Bethel, S. F. Gibson.
Norway, David Knapp.
Andover, F. A. Bodwell.
Buckfield, T. S. Bridgham.
Waterford, E. W. Ayer.
East Rumford, C. V. Knight.
North Waterford, P. E. Mosher.
Rumford, C. Virgin.

Paul R. Seavey was elected Vice-President at large.

The following committees were selected:

On Resolutions. Geo. H. Watkins of Paris, W. T. Eustis of Dixfield, S. F. Gibson of Bethel.

On Business and Speakers: S. F. Gibson of Bethel, J. F. Stanley of Paris, W. T. Eustis of Dixfield, Mrs. Markport and Mrs. Chas Bessey of Bryant's Pond.

On Location. E. I. Brown of Norway, Miss Elden of Bethel, Mrs. J. S. Wright of Paris.

On County Committee: David Knapp of Norway, T. S. Bridgham of Buckfield, J. S. Wright of Paris.

While the committees were out, Rev. Mr. Bowler of Bethel addressed the meeting.

D. S. Knapp from the Committee on County Committee reported that they had selected T. S. Bridgham of Buckfield and W. W. Abbott of Dixfield to be members of the County Committee, associated with J. F. Stanley of Paris, who is chairman by virtue of his position as member of the State Committee.

Hon. Enoch Foster of Bethel, responded briefly to a call for an address.

President Brown spoke of the importance of the work, and of what they hoped to accomplish in this, his native place.

Committee on business reported, and the meeting adjourned till 2 o'clock.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

At two o'clock there was a Praise meeting, led by the Rev. Mr. Trafton of West Bethel. A half hour was occupied in song, prayer and the recital of experiences, after which the regular officers of the convention took charge.

The afternoon services were opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Trafton and a song from the Gospel Hymns.

Col. Eustis from the Committee on Resolutions, reported five resolves. They were adopted, and read as follows:

Inasmuch as the "Temperance Reform work has accomplished so much good, under God's guiding hand, we delegates to the "Oxford County Convention of Reform Clubs" assembled at Bethel this 9th day of Oct. 1879, do hereby resolve,

1st, That we still believe in its cardinal principles of "Charity to all and malice toward none" and mean ever to work under such a motto, for the cause of "total abstinence."

2d. That while we recognize the evil that exists, under the sanction of law, of licensed agencies, we ask this and all communities, Do they do you any good? Answer conscientiously and act accordingly.

3d. We believe the so-called milder drinks, such as wine, cider and beer, to be productive of great evil to the work, and discourage their manufacture, sale and use.

4th. That in the "Ladies' Aid Societies" and all kindred organizations we recognize a power for good second only to that of God himself.

5th. That our thanks are due and are hereby given to the people of Bethel for their generous hospitality, to the Grand Trunk Railway for its courtesy in furnishing half fare tickets to the delegates, to the Press, and to all influences that aid in our work for God and humanity.

Committee on location, through Mr. Brown of Norway, its chairman, reported that no Club had invited the Convention to meet with it. Subsequently voted that the time and place of the next Quarterly Convention be left with the County Committee.

The president of the Convention then called for reports from the several clubs, and each was represented by the vice-president.

W. W. Abbott of Dixfield, said the club in that place was never in so good a condition as at present: organization has been maintained from the beginning, and regular meetings have been held. A new interest has been awakened, and the prospect for next year is very bright. The juvenile club holds weekly meetings on Saturday evenings.

Caleb Bessey of Bryant's Pond, said the club in that place still holds its members, and has sustained regular meetings. The future is bright for the club. He spoke of the assistance given by the Ladies' Aid Society, and says a good choir has added greatly to the interest of their meetings.

S. F. Gibson of Bethel, said the club in that place was either dead or sleeping, and no meetings had been held for a long time. There is great need of temperance work in the town and village, and he hoped the meetings of this convention would arouse the people, and awake the club to new life. He made a strong appeal to the people of Bethel, and asked them to support the club and attend the stated meetings.

J. S. Wright of Paris, said the Club at the County-seat was still alive, and maintained its meetings with a good degree of regularity. He spoke of the organization of the club, and of the good which had been accomplished through its agency.

F. A. Bodwell of Andover said the club in that town was dead. It had but a brief existence, because the good, Christian people, and the substantial business men of Andover failed to give it proper support. Most of those who signed the pledge have kept it, notwithstanding lack of organization.

E. W. Ayer of South Waterford, said the club in this town had but just organized. They had a large meeting and with the band for music, they got up a great enthusiasm. They received 62 signatures the first night and 18 the second night. Many of the signers had been hard drinkers. They are to have another meeting next Tuesday night; and they proposed to have one of the best reform clubs of Maine.

C. V. Knight of East Rumford, said they have a good club in his place. It has lost but a few of its members, and has reclaimed all but two of those. The members are now full of enthusiasm, and look forward to a good winter's work.

Peter Mosher of North Waterford, said the club in that place expired on the 27th of May; but the members are still alive to the interests of temperance. The chief cause of discouragement to his club was lack of a suitable place to meet.

C. Virgin of Rumford Centre, said neither the club nor the Ladies' Aid Society had sufficient enterprise to maintain regular meetings. Their great trouble was lack of energy.

David Knapp of Norway, said the club in his town was alive and wide awake, maintaining three meetings per week. There was the club meeting, the Ladies Aid meeting, and the Juveniles' meeting. The members of this club attend meeting regularly, and thus keep up a live interest in temperance work.

A song from Gospel Hymns No. 2, here enlivened the meeting.

T. S. Bridgham of Buckfield, said the club in that town was still alive and held regular meetings. Some few members had broken their pledge, but new men had signed, so the numerical strength of the club had not decreased. The Buckfield Ladies' Aid Society was a great help to the club.

This completed the reports from clubs, and Col. Eustis informed the meeting that the few incidental expenses of the convention would be met by a collection. While the audience sang "Only an Armour Bearer," quite a goodly sum was collected for this purpose.

S. F. Gibson then delivered a brief address of welcome to the visiting brethren and friends.

J. S. Wright of Paris, was next called to the floor. He made a brief appropriate temperance address, advising all young men to begin their careers as total abstainers.

Jerehiah Estes said that sixty years of his life had been given to intemperance and sin. But now he is a redeemed man, free from the appetite for rum. All who heard this man must have been convinced of the completeness of the work done within him.

Mrs. Charles Bessey of Bryant's Pond was invited to speak, and she responded in a few very appropriate and feeling remarks. She addressed herself chiefly to parents and particularly to mothers.

Bro. J. B. Chaplin of Bethel, T. S. Bridgham of Buckfield, E. H. Brown of Norway, J. H. Labby of Stoneham, Spencer Bartlett of Bethel, Caleb Bessey of Bryant's Pond and J. W. Whitten of Buckfield responded to their names in telling five minute speeches.

Committee announced the order of exercises for the evening, and then Paul R. Seavey of Bangor, presented the pledge with a stirring and eloquent appeal to all.

Mr. Seavey is a man who speaks from his heart. He has a tender sympathy for all unfortunate men, and is moved by an intense desire to save them. His remarks had the effect of deeply moving the entire audience, and seemed to incite a good feeling and spirit, the result of which was manifest at the evening meeting.

Evening Session.

There was a praise meeting from six to seven p. m., conducted by Rev. Mr. Libbey of Stoneham. The meeting was a spirited and spiritual one, consisting of songs, prayer and experiences.

At seven o'clock, President Brown took the chair, and resumed the regular work of the Convention. During the evening there was considerable singing, the voices being led by an excellent organ.

After devotional exercises, the president called for five minute speeches. The following brothers responded:

Nichols of Albany, Spencer L. Bartlett of Bethel, F. A. Bodwell of Andover, Harvey Knapp of Norway, Orville Clough of Bethel, Rev. Mr. Trafton of West Bethel, Lovjoy of Norway, President Brown of Norway, Rev. Mr. Bowler of Bethel, H. C. Davis of Paris, Rev. Mr. Seitz of Norway, Col. Eustis, Enoch Foster, Jr. of Bethel, Rev. Mr. Hillman of Bethel, Major A. M. True of Bethel, G. W. Haskell of Bethel, Rev. Mr. Bosserman of Bethel, David Knapp of Norway, Mr. Timberlake of Bethel; Rev. Mr. Libbey recited a poem;

Col. Eustis paid his compliments to cider and the milder drinks, and made a few complimentary remarks concerning Bro. Seavey who was to follow him.

Paul R. Seavey of Bangor, then took the stand, and made the most earnest temperance appeal it was ever our privilege to hear. He did not deal largely in his own experiences, and entirely suppressed all grossness of detail which could offend the most delicate taste. But the reference to his own downfall was so contrite and touching, that there were few dry eyes in the house as he closed. Bro. Seavey presented the pledge, and aided by Bro. Eustis particularly, and by other brothers in general, succeeded in rousing the audience to a high pitch of interest and enthusiasm. Nearly every person in the room came forward and signed the pledge. Many young men who had never joined the organization before, signed the pledge, greatly to the joy of their parents and friends. Over one hundred and fifty names were placed on the pledges. It is seldom that an audience is so greatly moved as was this one, and the singing and exhortations were continued until nearly eleven o'clock.

If a tenth part of the interest aroused by these meetings is maintained, there will be no difficulty in sustaining a good club in Bethel.

All visiting friends departed with hearts full of thanks to the people of Bethel for their kind attentions and hospitality.