The First Gold-Cure Club in Washington

There was a full and enthusiastic attendance at the Keeley Institute headquarters last Saturday evening, the object being the organization of the first Bi-chloride of Gold Club in the state of Washington and probably in the Northwest.

Manager Heller opened the proceedings by explaining the general plan upon which clubs of this character were conducted in the East and briefly defining their purposes. He said these clubs were organized to cultivate and advance the general, social and fraternal interests of their members. A special feature was literary exercises—usually addresses by graduating members of the institute—and musical and other entertainments were often added. But the leading object of organization was to create a fund, by initiation fees and dues and by contributions, to pay the expenses of worthy but unfortunate victims of drink who desired treatment at the institute but were too poor to pay their own way.

The election of officers resulted in the choice of G. Carroll of Olympia, who had the honor of being the first patient treated here, as chairman, and Robert E. Stevens of Seattle as secretary. A general discussion upon the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, participated in by Messrs. Wyman, Bowman, Radcliffe, Yantis, Hall and others, then took place. It was finally resolved that the instruments should be identical in general character with those in use at Dwight, Ill., Blair, Neb., and other places in the East. A committee of four—Messrs. Wyman, Carroll, Bowman and Stevens—was appointed to draft the necessary documents and report Monday evening, January 4.

Letters of encouragement were read from J. M. Phillips of Seattle and Chas. A. Billings of Tenino. Comrade R. G. Carlile then delivered a farewell address, saying that he could go home to his family a reformed inebriate, that he had no desire for alcoholic stimulants, and that he hoped every member of the class would keep to his cure. J. W. Walsh of Grays Harbor followed with a long farewell address, describing the drunkard's progress as a march through the “pit of first drunk,” the “lowlands of shame and humiliation,” and the “dark forest of temptation,” until the gold cure reached him “in the shape of a faint ray of hope.” He called the remedy one of the greatest boons medical science had contributed to suffering humanity. A unanimous vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Walsh, and the meeting adjourned.