The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-07-13
6ooS Tfmplars Column.
For the Grand Haven News.
COLLOQUY CONTINUED.

the danger is imminent the remedy must
be proportionately prompt and effective,
or our cause is lost. Do those go too
far who would drag man out of build
ing that was on fire, or a drowning man
out of the water, or if you saw person
just getting into the rapids above Niaga-
ra Falls, would you be very scrupulous as
to the means you used TO save him from
perishing in the cataract?"
Harry" OF course not"
Frank" Well, then, the advocates of
temperance go no further; as total absti-
nence has been found to be the only eff
fectual cure for drunkenness"
Harry-"But your pledge is such a
s,ceeping affair. You not only prohibit
whisky, rum and brandy, but You include
in your prohibition, wine, beer and cider,
which surely can not hurt any one, and
/ can not believe a pledge not TO use them
either necessary or reasonable"
Frank-"lndeed, Harry, you may de-
pend upon it, it is both reasonable and
proper, in the highest degree. Our war
is with drunkenness, and of course every
beverage that is promotive of it we dis
card from ordinary use. You know that
wine, beer, cider, and other drinks, called
cordiais, contain alcohol in sufficient guam
titles to produce intoxication, and TO per-
init their use would be TO surrender the
whole matter. There are no greater sots
than beer drinkers; and even taken in
moderation it produces headache, blunts
the sensibilities, renders the system gross
and bloated, and the user as stupid as a
dray horse"
Harry-"That will do, Frank, you
will never admit that there is any good in
anything that intoxicatcs, so / may as
well give it up. But, after all, when you
reflect, have not your temperance organi-
zations done great deal of harm, by
making discussions in families, and set
ting those in opposition to each other who
would otherwise have been friends"
Frank" 1t may, no doubt, have been
the source of differences between friends
and members of the Same family; but
these are trifling compared with the ben
efits it has conferred, the broken hearts il
has healed, the dismembered families il
has united, and the friendships it has
created. The gospel has been known to
set man at variance with his parents and
nearest friends. Should it therefore be
discarded, even if its profession involved
these consequences"
Harry-"No, | can not say it ought;
but it is much easier admitting the prin.
ciple than practicing it. You know my
friends are altogether opposed 10 temper
ance societies in general, and especially SC
to your Good Templars." "a
Frank-" But their opposition i
wrong, and in all probability would moi
be continued if you were determined. Al
any rate you had better lead them righ
than to let them lead you wrong. DON
you think so!"
! Harry" Perhaps l had; but then, j
l join your lodge, l shall be compelled e
acknowledge the power of other leaders
and l don't know where they would guild
me TO-"
| Frank-"That is not so, Harry; yo,
merely agree to drink no intoxicating Ii
quors as beverage yourself, and to dis
countenance their use by others, and :,
support the constitution and bylaws @
the lodge. You are not committed t.
anything beyond this"
Hmry-"But, as l am temperate my
self, | sec no use in my joining for tb
sake Of others; as l have no inhuenc
over any one, and l am quite sure non
would Join because did,"
Frank" You quite mistake your pc
sition, il you think so; but can hardl
believe you have so low an opinion c
yourself. All have an influence more O
less extensive for good or evil. We ar
young yet, and no one knows what efiec
may be produced by the course we no'
take, if persevered in through life. b
sides you know it is written, He who
not for us is against us, and no man Ii,
eth to himself"