The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-02-16
For the Grand Haven News.
TEMPERANCE.

My DEAR NEWS: Will you permit
me the use OF your columns for the pur-
pose Of offering to your readers few
stray thoughts upon the subject of Tenn
Iperance, and TO yindicate the Good Tenn
plars of our village from the foul asper-
sions cast upon them. The subject of
Temperance is one upon which so much
has been said, and written, that do not
expect to produce anything new; and my
only reason for writing at all is the
fearful amount of intemperance prev
alctt among us, and the apparent apathy
Of many Of our citizens upon the subject,
this, with the avowed hostility of others,
the ten thousand times exploded objec-
lions to the cause which are urged upon
the youth among us, has induced me to
appear in your columns. In Offering my
thoughts ON this subject 10 the public, /
shall do SO fearlcssly, and yet hope of
fectionately-
"Nothing cxtenuato nor set down aught in NAL
ce."
With this object in view, shall now
endeavor to present development of the
principles of Temperance, and answer
such objections as stand in our way.
With the abstract lawfulness of the
moderate use of wine, &c, under ordi-
nary circumstances, we have at present
nothing to do; but admitting that alb
stractly considered it may be both lawful
and right we ~aaii4ftiaaiiyy 4ftiaaiiyy bo Stated that the
scriptures (Which we take as the standard
of practice as well as faith enforce no
imperative injunction requiring the use of
wine or strong drink rs an oIdfnaiy bcvcr-
age, but on the contrary furnish numer-
Gus examples in which tho excellent of
the earth in different ages and dispens@'
tions have abstaincd. Some occasionally
rs the priests, while performing their sa-
cred functions in the sanctuary, and such
Jews rs have under the Nazaritish vow,
while Others abstained during life, rs
Sampson, the Rachabites, Daniel and his
selfdenying associates, and John the Bap-
list.
Every one at all acquainted with his
bible knows that while some Of these
cases of abstinence were in accordance
with divine appointments, others were the
result of free and voluntary determina-
ton. But in the latter case rs well rs
in the former the individuals practicing
abstinence are spoken Of by the inspired
writers, and by the Almighty himself, not
in terms of censure,. but in the language
of appreciation.
Now what do these examples prove?
simply this, that the disuse of wine and
strong drink is lawful and proper. In the
practice of total abstinence therefore, we(
violate no scriptural command, nor areS
guilty as some have charged us witkco'
tempt of the divine goodness. We are
merely exercising a right God has given
It's, a liberty the scriptures acknowledge
without impugning, and liberty Which
some of the best men in every age have
unscupulously used, exercising a right
the bible so clearly Acknowledges, and
GOOD men in all nges have exerciscd.--
With what force docs the epitlict, infidelS,
fanatics, &C., apply to usl However,
while our conduct is sanctioned by the
word of Gcd VIC have no reason TO be
ashamed it; and encouraged by the ex-
ample of holy Daniel, John the Bap-
tist, and a host of Others who have been
the brightest luminaries Of the world,
we have no cause to be ashamed of or
to blush at the company in which we arc
found.
In my next l propose to show that not
only is total abstinence consistent Win
scrinture, but that circumstances may
arise in which the sacrifice of lawful things
becomes a christian duty.
Yours truly, ViNDEA'
Grand Haven, Feb'y 10, go