The President’s Remarks
From the secretary’s opening remarks it was evident that the people
expected a regular campaign address, full of statistics and stories about
the crusade; and when they saw that the subject was to be argued from
a Bible stand-point, they were at first astonished, then interested, and
finally deeply moved. There was no smiling, no noisy applause. All
seemed to feel that the subject presented was too solemn to excite
merriment.
At the close of the address, Dr. Nisson, president of the society,
made a few pointed remarks, calling attention to the fact that the great
prosperity of the temperance movement in America is due to its being
supported by religious zeal and Bible truth. He appealed most earnestly
to parents to act upon the matter of training their children to temperate
habits. After dismissing the audience, he introduced me to some of
the leading temperance workers. Not a few came forward to greet
me, shaking hands cordially, and expressing their gratitude for having
heard the discourse, saying that they had never before listened to such
a temperance lecture. An urgent desire was expressed that I should
address them again; but I felt that our own people needed my help, and
I must do all for them that was in my power.
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