Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-14
TEETOTALISM.

TEETOTALISM.
A friend has called our attention to the anti-te
totalism in the Lectures on the Miracles" by the
celebrated DR.. Cumming, of London. We confess
that his arguments are plausible and seem to be
prompted by candor and honesty, but We do not
think them unanswerable. We give a short ex'
tract, containing his views on this subject He is
speaking of the miraculous creation of wine by
our Lord at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee:
"The secret of temperance is not in the cellar,
hut in the heart of the landlord of the wine cellar
A Christian man will not become intoxicated, If
he drinks from q cask; druukard will become
intoxicated, if he drinks from bottle. 1t is not
in the quantity beforeyou that the element of tenn
perance is, but in the grace of God that has been
| planted in your hearts. Now it does seem to me,
without the least expression of disrespect toward
those who differ from me, that, if God had design
ed TINT men should be universally what is called
teetotal-that is, should not taste wine, or any
thing that has the least alcoholic element in it
he would have prohibited the growth of the vine,
and rendered fermentation absolutely impossible,
| because if there were no fermentation, there
| could be no alcoholic element generated. But lie
has not dove so he does give the vintage and he
does give the fruit of the vine: he has created fer
mentation just as truly MS he has created vegeta-
! ton therefore it seems to me, that temperance
is to arise not from the absence of wine, but from
the presence of Christian principles and that we
are to be sober because it is Christian duty, and
not by insulation from all the elements for being
the reverse. 1t does appear to me, that character
is perfected not by being placed beyond the reach
of temptation, but by being placed within reach of
it, and there gloriously triumphing by the grace
n ol1st md re tom
| It is remarkable, land I submit to those who
differ from me, that our Lord minstered not to
supply, as you perceive, necessity, but to add an
endowment. I admit teetotalism has done much
good and recognise the perfect liberty Of every
man to adopt it who is satisfied that it will do
good would not say one word against the Tee
total Society, because they have done good, and l
pray that they may do more but while they
claim the liberty of holding their sentiments, l
must not shrink from the duty of expoundinS
what is plainly Gods word.
!. "The secret of temperance is not in-the cell
lar but in the heart of the landlord of the wine
cellar" 1t is true that if man be convinced
that it is right, ond be determined to lead life
of temperance, purity and sobriety and mas the
moral porer to carry out that determination, II
matters not what his cellar contains, he will be q
sober man. But why should man wish we'll
stocked cellar If he intends to live temperately
and use his wine only incidentally? BESIDES, it
does not follow, that because some men can live
sobery in spite of temptation, that all men can 10
the same. The stern fact meets us here that only
n small minority could stand the daily alluremeut
of the flowing bowl. Admitting that even the
teetotaler deserves no credit for his extreme alb
stinence-in other words, that as he is removed
from temptation, his sObriety is not a virtue-is
he not reaping the social, moral and purifying
benefits of temperance?
g. s'Now it does seem to me without the least
expression of dsrespect towards those who differ
from me, that, if God had designed that men
should be universally that is called teetotal-that
is should not taste wine, or anything that has the
least alcoholic element in it-he would have pro-
hibited the growth of the yine and rendered fer
mentation absolutely impossible, because, if there
we're no fermentation, there could be no alcoholic
element generated" True-so it seems to us-f
God intended to make men testotal without any eff
fort on their part, he would undoubtedly have
rendered the making of alcohol impossible or have
taken away all taste for it and rendered it nausea
ting. And so would He have acted towards the
opium eaters, instead Of sowing the seed of that
important medicine. So, likewise, would He have
treated the Cannibal by cutting off the human
race, and tipping his supply of dainty food. So
too would He have acted towards the Abysinians,
who feast upon steak cut from their live cattle
and then sew Vi the scar and travel on with as
little remorse as the inebriate manfests But we
have yet to learn, because God does not remove
these several temptations from their several de-
yotees, that it follows as logical sequence that
they are authorized and invited to parake of these
various innocent pleasures Nor does it follow
that, because, God has created fermentation that
men should use alcohol many other way than as q
medicine. If this Is logical conclusion then
must it follow, likewise that men should daily in
dulge in copious potations, of nitric acid, CAM
phine, burning fluid, or any other chemical prepa-
ration for which true wisdom can find more ap-
propriate and innocent use. And if men are not
bound to take the most available and effective
means to suppress the widespread and fearful
evil of intemperance, then is the philanthropist
fool, who labors to restrain any vice and to
spread the enrching blessings of virtue and mo-
rality. Because God has not chosen to put it out
of the power of the Cannibal or the Abysinian
to indulge On unnatural appetite, or out of the
reach of the adulterer to crafty an erratic pas
sion does it follow that he permits either derec-
ton?
8. In conclusion, DR.. C. admits that tsstotahsts