Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-12


agement for final success for every one who
engages in this labor of love.
As has been slid, Religion gives the most
certain and effectual remedy. Not the Re-
ligion of mere forms-or of education-or
of impulse, but that of the Bible, which is
of God. 1t alone comes with power adequate
to the removal of the evils. 1t alone can
give assurance of permanent success. This
opinion has nothiugof novelty. tits, if l mis-
take not the sentiment of great majority of
the friends of Temperance, who have care
fully examined the subject. 1t is now pre-
sented, that it may have more prominent
place in their minds. That they may rest
more confidently on this ground. And that
Religion may receive that measure of honor
which it merits. Some in their public lee
lures have disclaimed all reliance upon Re-
ligious agency in this work. While others,
in their zeal, have endeavored to magnify
societies by degrading the church. Between
the church and Temperance Societies there
need be no antagonism. Piety is the glory
of the church and it is the strength of all
societies for moral reform. These should be
helps to the church. Doubtless the Temper
ance cause, in its origin and progress, is un-
der great obligations to the agency of Piety.
1t is the offspring Of Piety, many of its most
reliable advocates now are devotedly pious.
They carry their Religion with them in all
the common avocations of life, are cheered
by its presence and influence. 1t is their
shield and their strength. But when. they
enter upon the important work of retaining
men from the sin of Drunkenness, will they
cast it from them? Certainly not. They re-
tain it in exercise and success follows their
efforts. The Sons in all their Divisions have
Chaplains and of course prayers. This is
not mere Form, but it is an acknowledge
ment that the aid of Piety is necessary. In
their Report made to the Grand Division Of
the State, it is recommended as means OF
giving greater prosperity to the cause, that
an endeavor be made to secure the aid OF
ministers of the Gospel, i. e., more of the
agency of Religion is needed. Because
those who are engaged in this work need the
sustaining influence of religion to enable
them to persevere in it.. And those who
are the subjects of the reform need its puri-
flying influence to perfect the work, it does
not follow that those who do not thus believe
will not be allowed to cooperate. 1t does
not follow that because they cannot do all
that therefore they can do nothing. 1t should
be no Encouragement for us to know that
we cannot do all things. 1t is for our good
that we know what we can do aud what we
cannot. In building up churches, in the
conversion of sinners. in the reformation OF
men it would be we'll to note this distinction.
In this work human agency has place.
Then let all come and bring such efficiency
as you can command and if you feel strong
for the work, go forward. If in the per-
formance of duty, you should undertake a
"hard case" you may be forced to acknowl-
edge, as one of yore, 'that old Adam is too
strong for young Melancthon;" but you will
know where to obtain hel p.
The history of the past sustains my posi-
ton. How were men rescued from the power
of Idolatry? Not by Philosophy or Science
or intellectual culture But by the Agency
of Religion. If human ability and human
wisdom could not deliver from this evil, and
could not prevent its introduction and growth,
can they now save from that of-IDtemperance
or ever securely guard against it? If reli-
gion was successful in the one case, will it not
be in the other? What are the means and
what is the agency upon which men molc rely
who 90 out for the Reform of the Heather! !
The successful labors of these men answer
the question.
Discard religion and we undervalue the
work of the Saviour! At an infinite cost
He has made provision for our deliverance,
and yet we hope to obtain victory over one
of the worst forms of sin independent of
this provision. And if over this why not
over all others? For Drunkenness is con-
fesscdly prolific of evils to our race. "For
this purpose, says the Bible, the son of God
was manifested that lie might destroy the
works of the nevil." And if there be a
work on this earth in which the Evil One re-
ioiccs, it is the work of Intemperance. There
was truth as well as fiction in the picture
given by one, of Deacon Giles Distillery,
when the Fiery Fiends we're seen peering from
every nook and corner in the highest glee
and dancing with joy while they watched
the flow of the liquid poison. But Intem-
perance must cease its ravages, for the Son
of God will triumph. He will finish his
work
In every Moral Reform the presence of
Religion is ueeded-its principles and itspow-
er to give certain and permanent success
This is proved by those which have taken
place in continental Europe-in England and
in Ireland And in Political Reforms, the
agency by which they are achieved must be
sustained from the same source. Where 9TH
er agencies have been relied upon and the
purifug and sustaining influence of Religion
has been excluded, the result has been fail
urc need not specify. The examples are
before the world to be seen and read of all.
According to the teaching of the past it must
ever be So
But how does Religion insure success p
By tmnis1siny the Light necessary. Ma
king it to shine into the heart and cousci-
ence of man. The Light of Truth from the