Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-05-16
Communication.
ron rur VIRGINIA TREE PRESS


Mr.. GaLisser in the National In,eliigen-
Ger Of the 25ih uif: which I accidentally met
with, was letter addressed to the editors
IL appearing difficult to obtain reply 10 the
question to which IL had reference, I would
hunbly venture To propose, through your
columns, an answer which Messrs. Gales and
Scaton, II they choose, are NJ liberty To pre-
sent their correspondent. Tho letter is sub
stantially as follows:
Mcsirs. Gales X Scaton:-I have been for
some time waiting for AmCricanus' answer 70 y
n,criclla's qucstion, Which MAS 'stp prove that
~. Paul when hc used tile term uinc,'' did not
j, in generic sense and thereby include sar-
dcht spirits" Ii Ia Cannot sJlye it, should be
glad II some other adyoe:.ta Ut temperance woult.
tayo " ith answer.
II R@ast7' If The Bible"
We are then "to prove that ST. Paul when
he employed the term Z" wine" did not use il
IN a general sense, and thereby include g ar
dent spirits" But this alone would leave a
great object undetermined, viz: what is the
sentiment Of tho scriptures on the use Of
:" wine' and "ardent spirits" Therefore,
in solving tho question, we will take a survey
Of the whole ground.
The art Of distiIIation Is comparatively OF
modern date, and is attributed to the Arabs;
nevertheless, in remote ages we find that
- strong drink" was in use. As early as the
times OF solomon, mention is made of II in the
Holy Writings, and ats effects were as we'll
known and aPprec lated then as now. Wine.
composed simply Of the juice at the grape.
may be traced much further backs One of
the ilrst acts of SOah on his entrance into the
New World as 20 plant a vineyard and Sc
cure Its productions and h, descendants
have ~ 40 point dey ia ted from hi- example.
Down TO the close Of the inspired volume.
Mt una il M rC - a
fleets, and sufficient light she'd upon its cha
racter, and tue subject in question, to enable
W. To draw a satisfactory conclusion. We
premise then, that the use Of vino aud strong
drink was customary among the Jews and
other nations Of antiIuity--that an intompc-
rate use Of either was evil aud unlawful, aud
the moderate Use Of them dangerous exam
pie 10 others snd themsclves-tli1t tic mode
rate use Of wine vas sanctioned by the Sa-
'iOur, because II was a national custom, and
that total abstinence was approved most
that iLe terms vine and strong drink arc not
used IN the bible as synonymous, and that con
sequcniiy 81 Paul, when hc used that u
" wine DID not include ardent spirits"
According e. the law Of Moses, wine CON
posed past Of The Israeliles' "Freewill OF.
toring.,' Sacrifices Zoe VOWS" and the
consccrated things of the Holy Festivals"
and On these occasions became solely the pro-
perry OF tic priesthood when Melchezidek
came - meet Abrsm, Il Il evident that the
bread and vino which be- brought With him
~as made o.Ecfg's kiBk David, or an
occasion of national rejoicing supplied the
people with sine. u Is recorded that Aha
suerus OF Persia and BclshaIzar - Babylon
each gave a royal least. and revoilet 70 vino
10 an excess. And We fad that peculiar at
tenton was paid BY the I,raeiites TO IT, cult
'Dr. johnson IN titc aee0unt n be journey o.
the ilebridrs tells as A" ihs cord uhiskey siEni-
lies sstrr, ADD b. applied ~ Wy of Cmineucc 90
strong .tsr ~ Disabled liquor The sp'rit drsus
- l,c Nyrth ~ drasn fr0ut barley silst s.s u'e
process h.i 10 Opportunity u 'uqu'r'ng. noe DO
visi, 70 improve TIA at " nf'kins Poiso" Pisa-
ssnt -
We have NJ precise d.,a for determining The
Mind q u org drink us-d by ths Jews, 80 gather,
hsvevcr, tlst % aas v,tir iu shtsh sueh iugtedt-
snis vere nrugied - increased its strength and
infhristf- quslitiss.
Aa 'n,i4ont.i pa.ss-r satisfc' us a. 90 IL na-
uirc 90 br eiur. Gen. &C. o., o., %. lu my
dream behold siae vas bcinre mc. and Bro tife
'pe veTe three branches. srd tie riustlrs there
- bt1u.h tDtth rp~ srapes Aud Phsrspl''s cup
80 % nv hnii, and toos tie grapes and press
"a u,-fu cato Phirs h's cup, All gave the cog
inf3 Phsf14'l'i had.