Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-01
ORIGINAL PAPERS,
For the Spirit Of the Age.
owe thy neighbor as thyseIf. "

Bro. GoRMAN In previous arIcle on
the above subject, endeayored to show in
a few examples, what | regarded as evil
dences Of love to our neighbor. | will
now resume the subject, by propoundng
few interrogatories touching the command
to love our ncighbor as ourself," and re-
spending to the queries asked, according
to NV views Of the case. Should You see
fit TO publish this com muRcation, and cir
cumstanceS permit, l will at tempt to
show more fully in a subsequent article
what shall regard as substantial proofs Of
" love to our ncighbor." Can the manu-
facturer Of intoxicating beverages love his
neighbor rs himself, when for the sake of
gain, he engages in business or avoca-
ton which always has, and always will, re-
suit in the injury Ito some extent) OF all
who use intoxicating drinks-and which
has ruined both for Time and Eternity,
Thousands, yea, millions Of the human race,
and will continue to do so, so long as it is
made | answer, that no man whose call
ing will require him to make an article
that tends directly to injure his neighbor,
can be said To love his neighbor at all, but
whose conduct says emphoicalty, | love
Daoney more than | love either my neigh
Dor, my country or my soul. Can the re-
taller Of ardent spirits love his neighbor as
himself when for the sake of money, and
nothing else, he engages IN calling,
which, il it proves profitable to him, must
in the same ratio, prove ruinous to those
who are, and have been his patrons +
Could the devil employ more efficient
agents to carry out or accomplish his ne
farious aud hclIish purposes and designs
against our race, than those men whose
business it is, to deal ont their liquid fire
to their neighbors and thereby unfit them
for decent aud respectable society on earth,
and prspar them for tue society of the
lost in hell Or can the retailer Justly
claim to be either christian, a patriot,
phlanthropist, or useful member of So
eiety
/ answer, in my humble opinion he can
not Justly claim to be either. 1t is true,
some men have engaged in the business
got rich--and afterwards retired from the
business who can estimate tho amount
of mischief that has resulted from the Ii
ouors they sold whilst making their for
tuuesi Oh could they but lift the cur
tain" and sec the bitter fruit of their do
ing" soc many Of their patrons down in
the cit Of hell, where there ia weeping
and wailing and gnashing Of teeth" how
uretchsd would they feel, if indeed they
are not too callous to be beyond all feel
inri But leave the retailer to his own
III 4 al
AgaR-Can the Minister of the Gospel
who but seldom, if ever denounces from
the sacred deIk and elsewhere, the dread
ful evils of intemperance, love his neigh
Dor or the people of his charge as himself
Is he afraid, should he present the sub
iect, that some of his hearers would be-
ceme offended and withdraw their patron
age Or can it be possible that Minis
ter Of the Gospel can be found who is toe
fond Of the " article" himself to oppose it,
uso a. a beverages Or is he opposed tc
the various modes that have been adopted
to suppress the vile evils Of incompetence
Or does he believe that the church will ul
timately reform mankind from the dread
ful curse Of iAtemperancel
In replying to the above questions,
would most respectfully ask, does not eve
ry Minister Of the Gospel know that hi
Bible teaches him that "No drunkar
shall inherit the kingdom Of Hearen."-
And il this be true, and drunkenness is th
most crying and soul-destroying sin of tn
age, can the Minister who maintains
studied silence on the subject, love Ii
neichbor as himselfl Or is he clearin
bis skirts as "Watchman on Zion
WALL" Ito warn the people of their dang
while pursuing a course that leads to etc
nal dcath,") whilst he negIscts to raj
his warning voice against this tremendo
evnl Let Ministers endeavor to excu
themselves on the ground that they ha
conscientious scruples about joining al
temperance organization, especially the o
gotten up by the Sons of Temperance
Would il no, be we'll for him to exami
the mattermore closel ly and see whether
close and thorough examination, it mig
not turn out to be mere prejudice!
Are Ministers not aware that the I" {
der Of the Sons Of Temperance" have
ready accomplished (by the blessing
Cody much good, and exerted power
influence in changing public opinion in
ference to the use Of strong drink as "a bey
agsl And might not still more pow
ful and controlling influence be exerted
both the religious and secular Press wo
come to our aid, especially If Minister
the Gospel Of Christ would also come
our aid in this noble causcl Let me, j
most respectful manner, ask the Minis
Of the Gospel every where, and of ev
denomination, to ponder this matter v
and feel assured they will come out
our side and battle nobly, and valiantly
favor Of Temperance.