The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-27
Extract
From Mr.. Coughs Lecture before the Young
Mems Christian dissertation IN London.

MEMS Christian association in Lonoon.
"I am not going to give you an address full
of my Eayurite theme, but | must speak of it.
must speak Of it before this assembly, for
never shall see you again Till we meet on that
day when we shall see things as they are
Let me speak of one habit which, in itspower,
and influence, and fascination, seems to rear
its head like Goliah or Saul above all its kin
dred agencies of demoralizalion--I aude to
the habit of using intoxicating liquors as
beverage, until that habit becomes a fascina-
ton.
"But allow me to give my opinion upon
these points freely. consider drunkenness
not onl y moral evil, but also a ply sica evil.
A physical evil; and it depends great deal
more upon the temperament, and constitution,
and disposition of the young man, whether, if
he falls into the drinking usages Of society, it
becomes a habit or not, more than it does in
his strength of mind or firmness Of purpose
Here is an illustration which have used more
than once, and when find better, | will give
it up. Take three young men--place them in
the same position in society--in the same es
three is most liable to form the habit Of drink
ing intoxicating liquors. Let ME describe
them:
eve often meet men amongst US Of cold,
phlegmalic temperament; they seldom laugh
or cry about anything They have feelings as
other people, but are moderate in all their
manifestations. Constitutionally moderate
men,, They have always been moderate, and
always will be. They are very much like a
lot of tunes boxed up in barrel organ. Turn
the handle and you get the tunes without va
ration, for years, save, perhaps, a few cracks
in the notes--nothing else. That mans tenn.
permanent stands between him and excess. He
always wants joke explained 10 him before
he appreciates it, He is moderate in his affec.
tions, and it is very hard to offend him. Sharp
indeed must be the arrow which can penetrate
the thick bosses of his impenetrabty. This
man may use Intoxicating liquors without inju.
ry. am not speaking, observe, of converted
men. read in the Christian Almanac the
other day of an old gentleman who said to his
friend, 81 have drunk bottle of wine day
for twenty years, and have enjoyed good
health" "Ahp' said his friend, but where
are your companions?" "Oh" was the reply,
81 have buried six generations of them"
"Yes young men that's it (hear, hear.) Let
many here tonight look back upon the fate Of
the companions Of their youth, let the long
fingers Of the memory draw into that memorys
chamber the forms of those dear friends, and
how many would they find have gone to death
and destruction through a bad habit working
with an easy temperament
"Take another man. He shall he close.
6sted, and mean, and shabby. He shall be of
a calculating turn of mind, always looking out
for the main chance Such an one as he, who,
upon certain season, cot up before chris.
tun congregation at Albany, New York, and
boased how cheap it had been to him to be the
membcr of a Christian church. "Brethrcn,"
said he, IL am happy to say have been "a
member Of this church for ten years, and that
it cost me but two shillings."
"Take third young man, and he shall be-
full of fire and poetry. He shall be Of ner
nous temperament, and generous heart; fond
Of society, and open aud manly, in every.
thing he does. Every one loves him. That is
the man most likely to become Incorporate.
He enters into the outer circle of the whirlpool,
and throws care to the winds. There he thinks
to stay, but he gets nearer and nearer to the
fatal gulf, until he is suddenly swept into the
vortex before he dreamed of danger. This
thing habit comes on gradually Many man
who has acquired habit, but does not exactly
proceed to excess, is rescued simply by pos
sessng certain physical qualities which his
poor unfortunate friend had not. You say
you are not such fool as to become Il drunk
ard. So he thought once. You say 81 can
leave it off when like" as if he at first hadnot
the power to leave it off when he liked. You
say, 81 have too sound an intellect to become
Il drunkard," as if he was born without one
You say 81 have>too much pride in myself, too
much self respect" as he were not'once as
proud as you. The way men acquire this ha.
bit, is by looking on those who proceed to ex-
cess, rs naturally inferior to themselves. The
difference between you and a drunkard just
this that you could leave off the .rbubit, but
won't; he would with all his heart and soul, but
cannot. will put the strength Of the habitto
the test You say you can leave il off when
you please. Now know you can. and this is
said with regard to the acquiring of this and all
bad habits. A man, smoking two or three ci-
gars day says, ~ can throw it away when |
have mind to-" When hear young men
saying this. almost make up my mind that
they never intend to give it up. The power
of habits gradually increasing and destroying
your powers of self-control. Sampson was
bound three times, and when he heard the cry,
"the Philistines are upon thee, Sampson"
three times he burst his bonds. But he fell
into Delilah's hands, he laid his head on her
knees, and she took off his locks. Then came
the cry, "The Philistines are upon thee, Sam
son." and he arose and said, 81 will 60 out and
shake myself" but his strength was gone-