Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-24
A TIPSY PARSON.

TIPSY PARsON.
In a village not a hundred miles from Phila-
delphia, resided the Rev. Mr. Manlius, who
had the pastoral charge of a very respectable
congregation, and was highly esteemed by them;
but there was one thing in which he did not
give general satisfaction, and in consequence of
which many excellent members of his church
felt seriously scandalized. He would neither
Join a temperance society, nor omit his glass
of wine when he felt inclined to take it. 1t is
only fair to say, however, that such spirituous
indulgenees were not of FREQUENT occurrence
Ii was more the principle eff the thing as he
said, that he stood upon. than any thing else.
that prevented his signing a temperance pledge.
SInl Try were the sttacl ., both open aud Sc
cret, To which the Rev. Mr.. Manlius was sub
jeeted, and many were the discussions into
which he was drawn by the advocates of total
abstinence. His mode Of argument was very
summary.
= L would no more sign pledge not to drink
ban ly than would sign pledge not to steal, -
WAS the position no took. - 4 wish tO be free
to choose good OF evil, and to act right because
II Is wrong to DO otherwise. l do not find fault
with others for signing pledge. nor for alb
staining from wine. Ii they think it right. il
Is right for them. But as for myself. | would
cut off my right hand before would bind my
Self by mere external restraint. Ny bonds are
Internal principles. l am temperate because
intemperance is a sin. For men who have
dOnal control over themselves that they cannot
resist the insane spirit Of intemperance, the
pledge Is all important. Sign it, say, in the
name Of Heaven but do not sign it because
this, that, or tho other temperate man has
signed it, but because you feel it your only
hope. Do it for yourself, and do it IL you
are the only man in ths world who acts thus
TO sign because another man whom you think
more respectable has signed will give you little
or no strength. You must do il for yourself,
and because it is right"
The parsOn was pretty ready with the tongue.
and rarely came off second best when his oppo-
nents dragged him into a controversy although
his arguments were called by them, when he
was not present, 'mere fuStian."
His love for wine and brandyis at the bottom
of all this hostility to the temperance cause
was boldly said of him by individuals in and
out of his church. But especially were the
members Of other churches severe upon him.
- He'll turn out drunkard,n - said one
Z" shouldn't be surprised to see him stagger-
ing in the streets before two years" said an
other.
He does more harm 10 the temperance cause
than ten drunkards," alleged third while
others said: r.
=" Isn't il scandalous?''
I" He's disgrace to his profession
g He pretend to have religion"
. minister, indeedi'i
And 50 the changes rang.
All this time, Mr.. Manlius firmly maintained
his ground, taking his glass of wine whenever
1t suited him. At last, after the occurrence of
dinner party given by a family Of some note
In the place, at which the minister was present.
and at which wine was circulated freely,
rather scandalous report got abroad and soon
went buzEing all over the village A young man
who made no secret Of being fond Of his glass
and who was at the dinner party, met, on the
day after, warm advocate Of temperance and
member Of a different denomination from that
IN which Mr. Manlius was a minister, and said
to him, with mock gravity
eve had q Tar0 ayiS at our dinner party
yesterday, Perkins"
- Indeed. What wonderful thing was that"
I" A what9' .f
The mans eyes became instantly almost as
big as saucers.
- tipsy psTsOn -
q Who Mr.. Manlius2'' was eagerly INQUIRED.
dldn shy so. call no names" "
lie was present, know; and drank wine,
am told, like n fish
wasn't aware, before, that fishes drank
wine, said the man, gravely.
1t was Maulius, wasn't it?'' urged the
other.
call no names, was repeated az said
that we had q tipsy parsOn-and go we had
III prove it before jury Of a thousand, if
necessary.'
It's no more than I expected said the
"A
best. He pretend to preach the gospel won
der he Ism struck dead in the pulpit
1he moment bis informant left him, Perkins
started forth To communicate the astounding
intelligence that Mr.. Manlius had been drunk
the day before, at Mr.. Resides dinner party
From lip TO lip the scandal Aew, with little less
than electric quickness. 1t was all over the
village by the next day. Some doubted some
denied, but the majority believed the story-it
was so likely to be true.
This occurred near the close of the week and
sunday arrived before the powers that be in
the church were able TO confer upon the sub
J,ct and cite the minister TO appear and an
sHer Tor himself on the scandalOus charge of
drunkenness. There an unusual number
OF vacant pews during service, both morning
and afternoon.
Monday came, and early in the day COM
mittee Of two deacOns waited upon Mr. Man
Illus, and informed him Of the report in circuIa-
tiOn- and of their wish that he would apDear
before them on the next afternoon, to give an
account Of himself, as the church deemed the
matter far too serious to be passed lightly over
Tho minister was evidently n cool deal sur
prsed and startled at Thu, but he neither denied
the charge nor attempted any palliation, merely
saying that he would attend, Of course
. It's plain that he's guilty" said Deacon
Jones TO Deacon Todd, they walked with
sober faces away from the minister's dwelling
- Plain fes-it's written in his face, ;" re-
turned Deacon Todd. g So much for opposiny
temperance reforms and drinking wine It's
judgment upon him.
Z" But what a scandal to our church l''-said
Deacon Jones. .s."
ies-think Of that. He must be suspended,
ami not restored until be signs the pledge"
don believe he'll ever do that
"Why nOt!'
People say he would cut OF his right hand
People arc very fond Of cutting their right
hand, you know. Ny word for it, this will do
the business for him. lie will be glad enough
% get the matter hushed up SO easily. I shall
gOfor suspending him until he signs the pledge,
" don know butt will go with you. Ii he
signs the pledge, he's safe.
And 50 the two deacons settled the matter
On the next day, in grave council assembled,
were all the deacons Of the church, besides
sundry individuals who had come as tho min
ister's friends or accusers. Perkins. who had