The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-10-06 00:00:00

MR. SPURGEON ON SMOKING.

A paragraph has lately appeared in the papers report-
ing that Mr. Spurgeon. on a rccent Sunday evening,
when • minister in his chapel had condemned smoking,
rose after the sermon and expressed his dissent from the
preacher, adding that it was possible to "smoke to the
glory of God," and that he hoped to enjoy a cigar that
evening before he went to bed. The incident having
been commented upon, Mr. Sturgeon has addresiul a
letter to the DaUy Tr ltgrapA, in which he says: --••
demur altogether, and most puitivelv, to the statement
that to smoke thrice° join itself a sin. It may become
an, u any other indifferent action may, hut an action
it is no sin. Together with hundreds of thousand. of my
fellow-Christians I have smoked, and with then, I am
under the condemnation of living in habitual sin, if
certain accusers are to Ire believed. AS I UOlll.l not know-
ingly live even in the smelled violation of the law of Groil,
and in in the transgression of the law, I will not own to
sin when I am not conscious of it. There is a growing up
in society • Pharisaic system which ailds to the commands
Of God the precepts of men : to that system I will not
yield for an hour. The preservation of my liberty ;nay
bring upon me the upbraidings of many of the good, and
the sneers of the self righteolis : lint I shall endure both
with serenity Sc long as I feel clear in Inv conscience be-
fore God. The expression " smoking to the glory of God"
standing alone has an ill sound, and I do not Justify it:
but in the sense in which I employed it I still stand to it.
No Christian should do anything in which ho cannot
glorify God—and this may lye done, according to Scrip-
ture, in eating and drinking and the common actions of
life, When I have found intense pain relieved, • weary
brain soothed, and cello, refreshing sleep obtained by •
cigar, I an, thankful to Gcsi and have blessed His name;
this is what I meant. and by no MellUS did I Use Weed
wont. trigimar. If through smoking I had wasted an
hour of my time—if I had stinted my gifts to the poor—if
I had rendered my mind less vigorous —I trust I could we
my fault and turn from it: but he who charges me with
these things shall have no answer but forgiveness.

ONE-lILLV OF THE DAP T AILMENTS OV LIFE would be
avoided by the occasional use of 1:oolte's Pills.
CAtrrms. Rucarei I Soma beg to caution the
public apinst imitation square blue, of very inferior
quality. The Paris Blue in squares (used in the Prinos
of Woke Laundry), is add in wrappers Waring their
man sad Made mark.

WEYMOUTH OAR coNstrmsaw itErnzio.
A meeting was held on Thursday morning. present Mr.
RDa , (chairman). Mr. D. Hopkins, Mr. Abbott.
H Cent
olten,. sir. J. Hoff, Mr. T. Beale, Mr. G. S. Rtiseell,
Mr. Latining, Mr. T. I. Miles. Mr. Cohen. Mr. litona.
manager, Mr. learmouth Mr. Hallett, Mr. Hamden, Mr.
White, Mr. Felten, Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Collett,Mr. King.
Mr. HA alp, Mr. Lundie, and Mr. Talbot, were after-
wards 1.411.1 out of thu Lm-al liourd mailing.
The Chairnian stated additional capital was reAuired
for the works and the mains, viz— about SAM on
the works, including managers residence and offices,
1.7:K1 for mains, and g 1,50.1 to redeem overdrawn
bank account. The business had inereamd front 20
millions when they took no,smstion, to 2,1 millions. It
was proposed to ask the Boar.' of Trade for power to
increase their share capital by £10,150, with the usual
borrowing powers, but the amount proposed to be called
up would not exceed £5,1100. The new shares would be
offered to the present shareholders.
There was a good deal of conversation on the statement,
and in the end the Chairman's proposal was carried
unanimously.