The Kanzas news., 1859-06-18
Rev. Robert Hail and Tobacco.

widely celebrated for his eloquence and his
eccen.ricities. La looking over the pro-
eeedings of the Congregational Associa-
sion of Michigan. as they sre reported in
the Detroit Adpertisir, We find statements
in regard TO him that We deem too interest
ing to be lost. We therefore condense
them for the readers Of THE News.
discussion arose in the Association
upon the following resolutions reported by
committee appointed to consider the evils
resulting from the use of Tobacco:
RESOLVED. L. That we deem the custom
ary use of tobacco, whether in the way of
chewing, smoking or snuffing. as inconsis-
tent with that exercise of self-denial and
control of appetite required by Christ, in
all his followers, being productive of seri-
Gus injury to health, social worth and NOR
al influence.
RESOLVED, g. That we earnestly and af-
fectionately exhort all persons addicted to
the use of tobacco, and most especially all
persons protesting to be the disciples of the
| Lord Jesus Christ to abandon the practice
without delay.
Rev Mr.. Anderson objected to the Res
olutiou as too strong. and thought it foolish
for the members of that association to meet
together in the little. city of Detroit and de-
nounce the use of tobacco as a moral sin,
while it was well known to them that some
| of the finest minds of the world were sno-
kers. He instanced Rev. Robert Hall and
John Milton.
! In the course of the discussion, Rev.
DR.. Dufield said he had very high opin-
ion of DR.. Hall, but thought he failed in
two particulars. He was great smoker,
and great eater. He would sit down at
meal and eat whole quarter of mutton,
and hind quarter at that
Rev. Mr.. Anderson explained how his
model man became smoker. He said it
was not the custom in England for Clergy
men of the established church to associate
with those of dissenting churches, but DR..
Hall was so remarkable a man that clergy
men of the establishment would sometimes
visit him. There was one Clergyman who
came frequently to Robert Halls study,
who used to smoke SO as completely to en-
velope the study in the fumes of tobacco.
This was before DR.. Hall began to smoke,
and Hall afterwards declared that he took
to smoking in self defence. 1t was the en-
Ijoyment of the old Professors society that
first led him to commence the practice.
Some of his best friends tried to persuade
him to leave it off, and one of them put in
to his hands DR.. Adam Clarke's tract on
tobacco. He took it home and read it and
on returning it to his friend remarked 81
cannot answer the Doctors arguments, but
I cannot leave off smoking! !''
Rev A Mahan said that on recent Wis
it to England he had spent a week two
with Rev. Mr.. Ewing. Pastor of one of the
Baptist Churches in Leicerter, Eng, who
was one of Robert Halls most intimate
friends, and related several incidents which
gave him more hints with regard to DR..
Halls character and habits than he had
ever obtained from books. For instance
Hall had an appointment to preach, and
happened to be belated. He came hastily
into the Minister'S room or Vestry, and
asked the person in attendance: 'fcan you
find hymn with 80 verses in it? Where's
my pipe? If you cannot get hymnswith
30 verses in it, put too hymns together"
He then took two pipes and smoked them
both with all possible power to prepare
himself for preaching! This DIR. Mahan
thought was one great secret of DR.. Halls
passion. He had no control of his temper.
He once took 80 cups of tea, and theE
stopped because, as he said, they would not
give him any more.
The discussion upon the Resolutions was
long and quite interesting, Rev. C. c..
Foote said that be had known one case of
deliriuns tremens brought on by excessive
smoking alone He considered it a proper
subject of church discipline. Others
thought it tended to create an appetite for
ardent spirits and cited DR.. Mussey, of
Cincinnati, as saying that intemperance
could never be removed till the use of to-
bacco was abolished. The resolutions were
finally adopted by large majority.
The subject is one of great Importance,
as the consumption of tobacco in this coun-
try is already enormous and the habit of
using it increasing rapidly. Most assured
ly that young man who commences the use
of it without necessity is making work for
repentance. The cost of it alone should be
a sufficient objection. Many young man
has spent money enough for cigars TO buy
him quarter section of land in Kansas.
What has he to show fer it ASHES