Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-04
The Glass of Beer.

4AC 0AooS Va 0CCA'
We knew, several years ago, a young man
in this self same City, whose ruin was effect {
ed by p~artaking of one glass of beer or ale.
All his lifetime he had been remarked for
beverage save that which nature has bestow-
ed-'clear, bright, sparkling WATER" He
came to this City a stranger but his uni
form upright department, his thrifty, frugal
esteem of all our good citizens. He enter
ed into business here, and prosperity lavish
ed her favors upon him. He married a beau
tiful, blushing bride, one of the handsomest
women of our city. His name was enrolled
upon the Church book and his piety was
proverbial and undoubted.
Such was he when, one day stepping from
his store on his way to dinner, he was invit-
ed by a friend (alas what a fatal friendship
to take a glass Of beer or ale. He was a
member of the then Temperance Society,
but the pledge did not prohibit the use OF
wine or malt liquors-he yielded-in an
| uuOudIucu, I1Ou2nlICSS inv hN ~
of one glass of ale-and from that fatal
day his doom was sealed. The next day at
the same hour, he took another glass, and so
continued for a short time until two glasses
a day was his custom. But still he was faith
full and attentive to his business, and dream
of danger was far from his Thoughts. We
were Young then, and this man was our Sab
bath School teacher, and we remember tt
have heard a good old citi zen express hi
fears for Mr.. T.-speak of seeing him at
certain place where this "harmless' bever
age alone was kept-for it was a 'respecta
ble' place, where no other drink was sold
and with a meaning shake of the head thi
good old man said-''it will be his ruin yet
if he does not stop p
We remember how our young heart wa
shocked at such a remark about our love
Sabbath School Teacher a MAI in who
we thought were blended all the attribute
OF a good man. We remember how "
! looked on him the next Sunday at the hea
of our class, and felt that somehow our col
!, fdence and veneration was not as great
: before.
We grew up to be a man and went out /
: to the world, far, far from home" Aft
: an absence of a few years we returned to t
5 home of our childhood, and very natura
: inquired for him who was our friend a
e Mentor in boyhood's days. We learned Il
V his glass of beer grew upon him he beg
It to visit a ten-pin alley, and to neglect
Il business; his wife had sickened and died
:. children had fallen like withered olive pla
is around him. He plunged still deeper il
dissipation, and the Sheriff wound up his
le fairs for him.
r Expelled from the Church, discarded
the Society with which he had formerly m
gled, he removed to a neighboring toy
I'd where in a short time he fell a prey to
KS drunkard's drink. And now in an unknC
as grave in the Cemetery of Newborn, lies
rvrputrrs VI Uurs ONCE p1uus ana worthy n
whose voice in prayer, and praise, and
Its ~struction, had so often been heard in
sanctuary and Sabbath school.
lot That fatal invitation-that one elas
De0f-NdS IHe cause hI MS Iall. by IL
and destruction was visited upon a heaut
lovely family society robbed of a e
on worthy citizen and the Church disgrace
"Christ wounded in the house of his frien
zen The history of this unfortunate m;
forcibly brought to our mind wheneve
'let hear a young man, especially a memb
we the Church,-speak of taking a glas
beer visiting a ten pin alley, or in any
70 manner, however slightly, turning aside
aue the ways of temptation. evil commu
tons corrupt good manners"-and it
morally impossible to yield to tempta
the without sin and contamination, as it is
orally to handle pitch without bein.
filed" Beware of the beginnings of
for out of them proceed all a~bomination