Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-23
Foa rHE WlIia.
BAConus" and "AsrI-DAccuus -

/ bAcchus" and "ANri-DACCTfus
These are the titles Of Prize Essays on the evil
sonaeeted with the use OF intoxicating Dtinks, tb
| tormer by Ralph Barnes Grindrod. Eso. ami ~
latter by the Rev. H. Parsons, of Ensl,nJ. hoih ,h'
result OF the offer Of hundred SOVEREIGN, hv ,b
New British and Foreign Temperance Society. 70,
| me pest Essay on intoxicating drinks "Bacchu,'
selned the premium, "AnIi-Bacchus' the vote OF ON,
/ Of the al Indicators. - '''
Allow me, through your paper, to call public s,.
vn.on 10 these mastery ueatises which thoroughly
Illustrate their subject in interesting m,nnrr onJ
, IN almost every conceivable ASPECT N
Like some OF my good ncshbors of tou,Iv Il.
hteu information, had, for years, ianeied my,ell
man OF heerai sentiments, on most oucsiions
OF general discussion, but especially on those ,nvol
we'd IN the great Temperance reformation which j. =,
.lis time engagins the serious consideration and ,c
i've eaer'ons OF phianthrops,s in both hemispher,s
seemed to me marvellous that any man of com.
sensc could be brought TO make it point of
POSITIVE duty TO abandon the use, as a beverage of
Az intoxicating liquors-wine inclusive BEING fond
o' good glass of Madeira, and having no spcei,I
l.ePusnance to the taste OF alcohol disguised in n
Ju,ep' l nave often made myself merry at the ex.
pehse, as complacently imagined, of the warmer
patrons OF temperance: looked upon the Teelo.
aSr as ianauc whose peculiar manii a poI,i might
well he treated ny the cooling outpoutinss of plmp
on the crown OF his head.
ihese Essays, 10y force OF plain fact and sound
argument, have converted at least ono "NIod,r,,o
Dfnker' into practical friend Of Total Abstinence.
Ihey may be recommended TO general petu.,I and
VIII DC found TO contain perfect antidote to the self
concelt OF many men, IF the rtru beu nt,nt;o.,
who have heretofore isnorn,,y opposed ,n.;, :; >
huehce' oy precept or eNsmpe, to the hcayen-nsni
red march OF the Temperance R.formatior.
lhese books have fully persuaded one whe used.
"ow anu tneh 10 take little for his siomaeAs sake
10 abandon and repudatc
The lcpTous dstiment whose effect
nolus such cnmity with the hlood Of man.
i Ihna' swirl az quicksilver, 1t courses ,hIuugh
ne natural gates aud alleys OF the bo,y.
. nnu, wIh aeeursed poison, do, h inject
And for the future, by the grace of God, no will
u''nH on The motto OF Father Matthew's seal:
"pr,ns from the bu6tlns fountain, drinst free;
I'VE" COCO ior sampson, and tits good for thee -
Permit me TO add quotation or two from The In.
PRODUCTION To "A nti. Bacchus" from The no, oT ,L
Rev. John Marsh. ~" " TUG
The republication of the work in this country. ms
well as the Prize Essay, "Bacchus;, which has nj
,eaoy appeared from the press of Mcssrs. Langley
No,' WILL u Is believed, be very acceptable to the
friends OF Temperance. Separate from it, critical
ana historical research, and without endorsing nil its
MINOR views as perfectly correct, as n popular and
powerful appeal on the OF intoxicating drinks,
We KNOW not ITS equal. Indeed, confident we are
mat u VIII drive the maddening bowl from every
ahlIy INTO which It may enter. purify ever church
"oh VIII listen TO It's statements cause every Le-
ss'ator VINO Will read half its pages to vote out the
eehse Jaw, and make every distilier, brewer winter
ana vender, who will open to it his conscience give
up his business H'e
1 meet the particular objection to total s,i- |
,snTe' mat II Is at variance with the Word of God
WI taISons engaged IN most aborious research |
to ue character OF ancient wines, to ascertain if
nose "hos, use was permitted or commended in |
scripture were Of an intoxicating, character. II,
says
81 examined every text OF Scripture in which
wine Is mentioned; inquired very minu,ely into
no LAWS OF fermentation; into the character OF the
sapes, ana The wines, and the drinking usages of
'nhquty: the result of these inquiries was that
came 10 the firm conclusion that lew If any, Of the
" lnes OF antiquity, were alcoholic. | examined
tEiomer' Aristotle Poybus, Horace, Virgil, Pliny,
Soiumella, Cato, Pailadius, Varro. Pbiio Jud,,ns
Juvenal, Pluiarch and others read each in the
ORIGINAL language, and, therefore, have not been
hs'ei oy any interpreter: and IN every instance
nave carefully examined the context, that might
Ihorities" NV
The result OF all his inquiries he states in the fol-
.o"inS language: From careful examination of
The w ord of God find that in no single instance
can II be proved that 1t has mentioned intoxicating
drinks with appreciation, and, consequently, those
VINO use alcoholic posons are LETT without the least
slnctlon from tfat unerrlng guide. Far from com
mehulns such drinks rs inebrIlte, il tells us that
they bite ike serpent and sting like an adder
ota abstinence therefore, is in exact accordance
with the letter and spirit of the Word OF God"
Now, Messrs. Editors, whether this last bold po
slton can be entirely sustained not your cores
~ CUT 'h view OF tue present drinking uSdgcs"
OF ths modsrns, is fully persuaded in his own mind
lhat every man who is disposed TO advance the best
interests OF his fellow men, ought at once 10 carry
out the noble principle OF self denial, so well ex-
pressed by the Apostle Paul, who saith "It is good
neither TO cat Aesh nor 10 drink trins, nor any
'HIng whereby thy brother stumbleth is offended or
made weak and believing that this principle is the
true basis OF the temperance reformation which is
IS destined TO prove most Elective in the publication
OF the world, am not ashamed to subscribe myself.
IN sober earnestness, yours, till ceaIh,
A TEE. TOTALLER,