Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-10-28
GcoMMUyIcATED.1
CHURCH MEMBERS AND TEMPERANCE


improper qualifications; md there is no one graf.
6cation to which men so often resort, and no one
so destructive, as the use of intoxicating liquors
us beverage: 1t tends to form an artificial ap.
petite, which is dangerous and ruinous in its con-
sequences; and as profess to feel the Importance
of temperance, and knowing the responsibility
that rests on those who have enlisted in this good
cause, is my only apology for giving my opin-
ions on this important subject.
Intemperance is subject that is much spoken
of at the present time, and there is an opinion
abroad in the land, that Church members should
not sign q temperance pledge. Iam satisfied that
every man, woman and chill, capable of moral
feeling and reflection, must admit that intemper-
ance is On evil; that it is not only moral but
national evil and as we are trying to reform these
evils, where slould we look for helr, but from
those who are the constituted guardians Of the
public welfare and for the manner in which
they discharge these duties incumbent on them as
citizens of the world, or ms the professed follow
crs of Christ. they arc responsible to God. "To
him that knowcth to DO good and doeth it not, to
him it is SIM
Where is the man that does not know that in
temperance is an evil Cannot every man see
the rapid strides intemperance has and is ma
king in our country-that we have been called to
mourn over the fall Of genius and worth before
its desolating sway? Have we not seen some
sprofessing godness" whose every breath was
nauseous with the efluvia Of ardent spirits? Yet
men will tell US there is no propriety in church
members signing temperance pledge We be-
leve, as q member of the church Of Christ, there
is no impropriety in signing pledge to abstain
from an evil practice.
There has been times in the history Of the
church, when church members entered into SOL
emn compact to adhere to certain doctrines. And
here we would direct attention to coyenant or
pledge entered into by members Of the Jewish
church, recorded in the 9th and 10th chapters Of
Nehemiah Here we find that the Jewish church
became so corrupt that they drew up pledge,
which was signed and sealed BY o goodly number
of persons.
"All they that had separated themselves from
the people of the lands, unto the laws of God,
their wives, their sons and their daughters every
one having knowledge and having understanding,
they cave to their brethren, their mobiles, and en-
tered into curse, and into an oath to walk in
Gods law, which was given by Mosesthe servant
of God, and to observe and do all the command
ments of the Lord, our Lord, and his judgment
and his statues"
We do not pretend to say that the above is o
temperance pledge, but we do say when the Jew
ish church had departed from that low, which
was given by God to Moses as a rule to govern
them until the coming of Christ. The above
transaction shows that they saw no impropriety
in taking on themselves an additional obligation.
that was calculated in its very nature, to fortify
them against temptation, and to be constant ar-
gument for them to use in e1horting and reproving
each other.
Now if the Jewish church saw no impropriety
in signing pledge for the purpose of correcting
an evil that had grown up in the church, there
certainly can be no impropriety in church men,
hers signing pledge Mt the present time, to cor
rect an evil which has caused many professors of
religion to dishonor their Lord and Master.
Yet some are disposed to reason in this way
that we find temperance among the fruits of the
Spirit. With this knd of temperance we have very
little to do as Sons of Temperance We believe
that God by the appropriate means. is alone able
to produce that temperance which is the fruit of
the Spirit But because we cannot exert saving
influence over lost and ruined world, shall we
fold our arms and shut our eyes and do nothing
IF we cannot make men Christians, shall we not
try to make them sober men
It is temperance, as social or n moral virtue,
that we are trying to impress upon the minds n
the people yet at the same time we believe it to
be our duty to mplore the spirit of God to produce
in Us and our fellow men faith, love, joy, temper
perance and all the Christian graces and if Church
members do not set the example of temperance and
sobriety, who do we expect to lead the way
We admit the fact, that if all were Church mem
bers and would live up to their obligation as Chris
fans there would be no necessity for temper
ance organization.
And we do verify believe, that if Church MEM
bers in this vicinity would do their duty as the
professed followers Of Christ and enlist under the
banner of temp erance in short timer we would
sec happy change we would see intemperance
with its train Of evils skuIk back into its native
hell. Groeshops and distilleries would be Danish
cd from our midst 1t would no longer be said
that Church members were the principle supporters
of those dens Of hell Pardon me, dear reader,
for using the expression, for can find no name
more anpropriate. And in conclusion, my Chris
tian friends, allow me to ask you one question and
beg you to give it your most serious consideration:
What is your duty under existing circumstances
what will be your course in the future? Will you
unite with Us in our effort to redeem lost and ruin
ed world from under the power and influence Of
King Alcohol, or will you throw yourself back on
that detestabe neutrality in the cause Of God and
suffering humanity? Can you constantly, with
your obligation as church members, refuse to &C.
cupy that higher ground principle of concerted
action! 81 speak as unto wise men; Judge ye
what say" INDIAN LAM.
r,tracts from the Presentme MT Of the Grand
Jury---York, Fall Term, 1858.
We the Grand Jury for Fall Term, 1858, hav-
ing examined and investigated the report and ac-
counts of Mr.. Adam Ivey, Indian Agent, do, af-
tor rcfnl examination agree that the Report Is,