Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-02-04

of the Gospel. But l confess myself dis
mayed at the idea of preaching the Cos
pei to men whose consciences are burnt
up with rum Their moral sense is scar
ed as with hot iron. 1t is for this rea.
son that l have devoted so much time
and energy 10 make men sober, that they
may come to our churches, aud hear the
saving truths of religion. Why, even
ministers have died of strong drink in
California. | remember one venerable
old preacher, who for thirty years had
been known as a jealous and pious man.
He has taken the very Sabbath collec
tions, and gone and got drunk. 1t was
thought his wife would go mad. A bill
for 500 dollars was presented. all for
whiskey. A daughter pledged her school
money, her needle money, to pay it
only don't sue for it; don't expose her
father.
When 1 spoke once at Martenas, an
old lady was among the number who
signed the pledge. But as she did so.
she exclaimed-"Ohl it is too late il
cannot save my son 20 And now my
hearers, what tale of anguish and OF
sorrow. The womsn's sun had been
Judge of The county; but he drank. He
had been member of the Legislature
but he drank At last be became furi.
Gus. and in moment of rage, he cursed
his mother! This was too much. She
sank in swoon to the floor, exclaiming
my own son has cursed mel" Nor is
this ALL He drew his pistol and blew
his own brains oul and his brains Tell
upon that mother, who had alIeady
tainted away. And now, fellow Chris
tians hear another startling fact. That
son was raised up in one of your Metho
dist churches; and was long a membe:
Of Methodist Sabbath School! Shall
we not rush 10 rescue the country from
strong drink? Is it not time 10 arouse
when it thus "lessens the tribes" among
those in our own household?
Once in my travels in behalf of TEN
perence, l saw crowd. A coroner's
jury was being held. A Judge had been
murdered. 1t WAS rum that did it.
looked upon the corpse. He was one cl
my mates at college.
| saw another crowd. A man lay
dead whom nobody knew. His pockets
were examined, and letters were found;
one to and others from his wife. He had
told her that he had signed the pledge
he was Son of Temperance. He was
not so. He had told his wife so, because
he knew it would comfort her She
said, "My dear husband, 1 and the
children pray daily that you may be
kept from drink" Tear drops were on
the letters. He died of drink. The aus.
band of that wife, the father of those
children, ike thousands of others in CAL
ifornia. lies it a drunkard's grave.
Ten thousand men are dy ing at this
moment in California of strong drink
| ii l may not say, that they are dead al
ready. They are burnt up by these al
cohOlic liquors. And what "reproacb;'
this enormous sin is sanctioned by the
government, and cannot assail the man
who obtains license, so much as the gov
ernment who grants it. and the people
who allow it. The liquor seller needs
his license. He needs it on earth. He
will need it at the bar Of God. II L had
father who sold rum. would have
him obtain license by all means. II
he was one Of the 800 who now sell il
this city, would have him obtain, if
possible. the signatures of ali the pray ing
men. and all the clergy in Albany. l
would want all the good men and all the
good. women TO certify that my father
SOLD rum for the public good" 1 would
have it framed. and put up in the most
conspicuous place in the bar room. among
the rum jugs and decanters-"FoR TIE
PUBLIC Coop
And the same state of things. my
friends, exists TO a great extent in every
city. The grog shops are prolific
fountain of corruption. bribery, ballot
box siuffing, ruffianism, and murder, in
all our American cities. Why. there is
need for Vigilance Committee in every
city and large town ia America. Nay.
if grog shops must exist, committee
should be appointed to keep watch over
every one of them.
AT indianapolis. the day the Methodist
Conference held its annual session, was
in attendance. That very morning. the
son of one of the Bishops of the Meiho-
dist Church, died of drunkenness. The
papers made no note of it i; but the fact
occurred.
When l passed round to Cincinnati.
the nephew of one of the Superintendent
of our Sabbath Schools, had just been
taken from the Ohio river, having been
drowned while drunk.
passed on to Lexington. There too
They were taking him to the lunatic asy-
lum. He was brought to this awful con-
dition by strong drink. He was the son
of renowned orator and statesman late.
ly deceased.
! Following the appalling facts. Rev. Mr..