Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-16

antItemperance ministers, rumselling dea-
cons, and drunken church members
DO such things still exist, notwi,h-
standing the extensive spread of the Tenn
peranee reform, and the prayers and en-
treaties of its f-iends2
| To the aged, whose memories are yet
vigorous, it may seem work of superer-
ogation to construct a formal reply to our
trst inquiry. Before the dawn of the ref
ormatlon, rumselling, not on account of
its responsibility, but of the danger attend
Ting it, was intrusted to grave men,-to
men of sober Lires and conversations, and
aohO re'e firmly attached to the cOnstitu-
tt"n and laos. Such has been the very
phraseology Of the law, through all our
colonial, provincial, and state legislation.
The deacons in every village were men
- this description and the finger of the
statute seemed to point towards them and
church members, in very Ineligible
manner. Accordingly large proper
tlon of such persons, in the ratio Of their
whole number, were engaged in the traf-
flo, from the very commencement of our
n1tional existence. Had the trade in the
means Of drunkenness been safe one for
the consumer, the restrictive language of
the law would not have been employed.
! 1t would have been needless. And, had
the traffic been con6ded to ordinary hands,
it is reasonable to infer, that there would
have been fewer Incorporate clergymen.
! For they would not have been so likely
to purchase their intoxicating liquor of a
&c
church member 1t is not to be denied.
that the holy office of a deacon and the
solemn profession Of a church member
contributed to clothe with an air of res
pectabiIitv that very traffic, which, now
that it has been thoroughly tripped and
publicly exposed, so many good, and wise,
and pious men hold to be disreputable,
and even Immoral. 1t seemed to be
safe and consistent doctrine, that a clergy
man might becomingly purchase and en-
ploy any article which a deacon or a
church member, in good standing, would
| openl y expose for sale, having been llcens-
ed for that very purpose by authority
Certain it is, that Incorporate clergymen
were not at all uncommon. Those, to
whom this assertion may appear too broad,
we refer to "Barbour's Temperance Ia
bles," showing the influence of intemper-
ance on the churches, and to the candid
statements of all persons, whose years en-
able them 20 speak from experience
Nothing can be more pertinent here, than
a few extracts from 2 late letter to the
Rev. Dr.. Edwa rds from the Rev. Leon
ard Woods, d. D., Professor of Christian
> Theology in the Theological Institution,
. Andover, Massachusetts. When 1 en-
tered on the acork Of the ministry thirty
eight gears ago. 1T a0os the general and
almost universal practice for ministers to
make a frequent u>e of stimulating drinks,
especially on the Sabbath. They consid-
cred this prastice an important means of
promoting their health, sustaining them
under fatigue, and Increasing the rigor
of their constitution. The generality of
: physicians approved of this practice, and
: often recommended brandy, aotne, gin,
&C., as the best remedy for diseases of the
stomach and lungs. Erery family that /
cisited deemed 1t an act ofki~dmess, and
no more than uhat common ciriLity re-
S quired, to offer me aoine, or distilled spirit,
: and thought 1t a little strange tfIretmsed
e to drink. At funerals, the bereGred
friends and Others toere accustomed TO use
- strong drink before and after going to the
burial At ordinations, councils and all
other meetings Of ministers, different
o kinds of stimulating drinks aoere prorid
n 3D. and there eoere but te,o aoho did mol
t. partake of hem."
Il 6 The state Of things sohich / haze refer
:. red to, among men of my oaon profession
= Together 10iM its manifest consequences
! began earlv IN my ministry, to alarm mg
fears. Iremember that at a particular
d period before the Temperance reformation
# comm emced, / aoGs able to count up meGrlg
= forty ministers Of the gospel and none o.
. Them at a Dery great distance, uoho soer.
either dr~mkGrds or so far addicted to tn
temperate drinking, that their reputation
> and usefulness acre greatly injured, t!
d not utterly ruined. And I could mentio'
If an ordination, that took place about ta0en
ty gears ago, at aohich 1, myself soa
ashamed and grieued to see t,c0 aged min
" iste's literally drunk; and a third indie
+ Gently e1cited toiM strong drink. THes'
o disgusting and appalling facts / should
e rish might be concealed. But they ooer'
e made public By the guilty persons; and
n hGUe thought 1t just and proper to me"
ton them, in order to shOao hOao much 10,
. O,oe 10 a compassionate God for the greG
deltreranee he has ,Orought' This evi
> dence might be continued to any desirable
If extent.
n La the second place, we ask, if there
+ are such things, at the present day, a:
anti-temperance ministers, rumselline
deacons, and drunken church members
FL The reformation has done much to puri
D fy the world in this respect. In the Ian
r puaUe Of the Rev Dr Woods. " w