The weekly Placer herald., 1854-03-11
For the Placer Herald.
~E M3 NK a ID EA
By Deacon Trufaitll Grimv Usage.
Drunkenness.


wounds without cause? who hath redness of
eyes'
They that tarry long at the wine cup, they
that 60 to seek mixed wine.
Look not upon the wine when 1t IS RED,
when it giveth its color in the cup, when it
moveth itself Alright
At last it biteth like serpent and stlngeth
hke an adder
For the drunkard and glutton shall come
to poyertv and drowsiness shall clothe man
in rags PROVERBS SOMEWHERE.
MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS: When |
wrote my last sermon, thought | was to
be the only worker in the field; but find
that one worthy to be teacher in Israel
has come among US; yea, one whose bro
gans | am not worthy to polish. This is
we'll, and now do you see that he receives
at least enough bread and butter to keep
up friendly relationship between soul
and body.
1t is also good that should continue TO
exhort you to abstain from the many evils
by which you are surrounded, for be as
sured there is enough devilment going
forward in this community to keep us both
hard at work at the bellows and employ
striker into the bargain. The subject Of
this weeks discourse is q crying evil
among us,-an evil that has prevailed
ever since you came to California.
There was some pallation for it in 40
when you had no women, houses, churches
or jails, but to continue this outrage upon
decency and your own nature when you're
all right in regard to those matters, Is
great scandal and wrong. Many of you,
have good wives and he Piles children in the
States dependent upon your exertions, and
who if at home would as soon he caught
with sheep on your back as tight, make
q business of carrying brick about you
quite too often.
Many of you, were young men of prom
ise at home, your blessed old mothers
dotted on you, and if they yet live, are no
doubt this day in the fondness of their silly
hearts, prattling of their beloved son that
"went over to the CALIFORNIA;, to seek his
fortune" They recount how you kicked
and yelled at having your face washed
when baby; how you fell into the wash
tub at the early age of three years, and
how you picked yourself out Of the fire
when you were not yet five, and such like
evidences of precocity in youth. You are
the apple of her eye,-but how sadly she
is deceived and sucked in.
Here you are nearly as bad as the law
yers and doctors, or a member of the
Legislature, getting on bust every once
in a while.
Brethren you may think it very fine to
be classed with such characters, but mark
the consequences: sat last it bteth like
a mad dog and stingeth like a humble
bee;" at last "you shall come to poverty
and drowsiness shall cothe you in rags"
Then indeed you will be able to say,
"who hath wo? who hath sorrow? who
hath babbling? who hath woun Is without
cause? who hath eyes bound with red
ferritinn' Yea, verify, here is the answer
ready at hand-'sThey that tarry at the
wine cup, they that go to suck mixed
wine," thereby having direct alluson to
brandy smashes, gin slings, and rum
punches.
1t is true find some authority in the
good Book for taking a tod once in while,
but ON careful perusal find it does not
apply to any of you, my brethren.
Unless King Lemuel slandered his old
mother, she taught him a prophesy, in
which occurs this advice.
"Give strong drink unto him that is
ready to perish, and wine unto those that
be of heavy heart" "Let him drink and
forget his poverty, and remember his mis-
cry no more"
Now, which of you is perishing for a
drink? with all the golden prospects of
California before you, what cause have
you for a heavy heart? A Discreet man
with thirst on him worth five dollars,
we admit, might inabibe on 4th of Juys,
Christmas times, and election days, but
ten to one, if most Of you would stop
short of a regular spree. Therefore
say, avoid the rock and you won't split
David in praising the works of God,
enumerates among the blessings "wine
that maketh the heart glad,'' but he was
evidently addressing some Of our Ethio-
pinn brothers, for continues he, "and oil
to make the face shine"
am strengthened in this conclusion, by
the accounts handed down to us of the
wrongs he suffered. in which he says, he
"was the song of the drunkards."
Solomon occasionally favors a "little
drop, for the stomach's sake, but | am
credibly informed he was addressing IA set
Of old hard heads, who could drink d full
Tom-head without feeling it. 1t is also
true that our Savior once turned water
into wine, but we don't read that any one
got fuddled on the OCCASION, and con-
clude it was very innocent article.
Look where you will through this Sc
cred volume and you will find, that when
ever they inculged too freely, it was fol-
l.